SD 11 SREC: District 129 Session Newsletter

The final countdown to Sine Die has begun, but the House continues to move full steam ahead!

On Monday I passed House Resolution 141 which urges Congress to move NASA headquarters to Houston. The Houston-area would be the perfect landing zone for the facility!

The House passed three bills that I sponsored:

Senate Bill 681, relating to group property and casualty insurance policies;
Senate Bill 995, which addresses the use of mass balance attribution for renewable biomass feedstocks in the production of renewable chemicals; and,
Senate Bill 1330, This bill ensures that suppliers of durable medical equipment do not overcharge Medicare patients.

The Senate passed my House Bill 3041, providing equal opportunity for homeschool students applying to Texas universities by allowing them to utilize the '10% automatic admissions' process. This bill is currently on the Governor's desk awaiting signature.

Earlier this week, Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 4, Senate Joint Resolution 5, Senate Bill 9, Senate Bill 24, Senate Bill 31, Senate Bill 33, and Senate Bill 40. More details on these important measures are provided below.

Finally, the House and the Senate have reached an agreement on House Bill 2 - the historic investiture into Texas public school. More details about House Bill 2 below.

For more information about the legislative session, please continue reading or feel free to contact my staff with any questions.

It is an honor to serve you in the Texas House of Representatives.

House Bill 2: School Funding

Here are some highlights of this historic investment in public education:

$8.5 billion in new funding, the largest single increase in public education funding in Texas history.
$4.2 billion for record permanent teacher and staff pay raises
Expanded incentive pay and teacher training programs
$1.3 billion in Allotment for Basic Costs (ABC) to assist districts with expenses like insurance, utilities, and TRS contributions
Nearly $2 billion to update special education formulas and fund full-day pre-K, early learning interventions, and Career and Technical Education (CTE)
$430 million for school safety.

SJR 2 and Senate Bill 4: Property Tax Reduction

Senate Joint Resolution 2 and Senate Bill 4 will provide additional property tax relief to homeowners in Texas by increasing the homestead property tax exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 while also providing protections for public school districts against a corresponding loss in revenue.

You'll have an opportunity to vote on this constitutional amendment in November.

I'm proud to continue supporting billions in property tax relief for Texas homeowners.

SJR 5, SB 9, and SB 40: Bail Reform

The House passed key measures from Governor Abbott priority Bail Reform package:

Senate Joint Resolution 5 requires the denial of bail for any person changed with certain felony offenses.
Senate Bill 9 will reform pretrial detention laws, strengthen oversight of charitable bail organizations, and enhance bail procedures.
Senate Bill 40 will prohibit cities and counties from using public dollars to pay bail for criminal defendants.

Senate Bill 24: Combating Communism

This bill will add curriculum to teach Texas middle and high schoolers the evils of communism. Texas will firmly uphold the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Senate Bill 31 and Senate Bill 34: Pro-Life Legislation

Senate Bill 31 will protect the life of pregnant women, who face a life threatening condition due to their pregnancy.

Senate Bill 34 will block local governments from sending tax dollars to organizations that pay for out-of-state abortion costs, like flights and hotels. Texas taxpayers should not be compelled to subsidize such atrocities.

How to Track Legislation

Ever wonder how the laws that impact your everyday life originate? While this graphic provides you with a simplified overview, You can walk through the entire legislative process by reading this blog post from the Texas House Republican Caucus on how a bill becomes a law in Texas. From a bill being introduced to it becoming law or vetoed, there are many steps ahead for the many bills that have been filed.