Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Kudos to Lt. Gov. Patrick and Republican State Senators!
CRTX NEWS
Texas Legislative Update
-Steven F. Hotze, M.D.
April 20, 2023
Kudos to Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for providing bold leadership in the Texas Senate, ensuring that a strong, conservative agenda is being advanced to the Texas House!
Kudos also belong to the 19 Republican State Senators who have followed Patrick’s lead and have passed strong, conservative legislation that has been sent to the Texas House for adoption!
Here are several of the key bills that have already been passed in the Texas Senate. These bills still must be passed by the Texas House and signed by the Governor to become law.
-Senate Bill 1, by Sen. Huffman, the State Budget Bill was substituted in the Senate for the House Appropriations Bill. It will be sent back to the House to see if the House concurs. If not, then it will be sent to a Senate House Conference Committee.
-Senate Bill 2, by Sen. Hughes, restores vote fraud, including vote harvesting, to a felony offense. It is currently in the House Elections Committee, chaired by Republican Reggie Smith. 512.463.0297.
-Senate Bill 4, by Sen. Bettencourt, provides for property tax relief by fixing the maximum of the school tax rate. Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Morgan Meyer. 512.473.0367.
–Senate Bill 7, by Sen. Schwertner, makes sure that the ERCOT Energy Grid is reliable. Referred to the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
-Senate Bill 8, by Sen. Creighton, empowers parents’ rights over their children’s education, including school choice. It is currently in the House Public Education Committee, chaired by Republican Brad Buckley. 512.463.0684.
-Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 1601, both by Sen. Hughes, ban children’s exposure to drag queen shows in schools, public libraries and business establishments. Both bills are in the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
-Senate Bill 13, by Sen. Paxton, protects children from obscene books in school libraries. It has not yet been referred to a House Committee. The companion bill, House Bill 5251, by Rep. Toth, is in the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
-Senate Bill 14, by Sen. Campbell, prohibits state funding for transgender sex change drugs and sex mutilation surgery. It has passed the House Public Health Committee, along with its companion House Bill, 1686, by Rep. Oliverson. Both will be sent to the House Calendars Committee, chaired by Republican Dustin Burrows. 512.463.0542. Calendars Committee will set a date for a vote by the House.
-Senate Bill 15, by Sen. Middleton, protects women’s college athletics from being invaded by men who claim to be women. It is currently in the House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Republican John Kuempel. 512.463.0602.
-Senate Bill 16, by Sen. Hughes, bans Critical Race Theory (CRT) at Texas universities. It is currently in the House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Republican John Kuempel. 512.463.0602.
– Senate Bill 17, by Sen. Creighton, prohibits Texas State funded Universities from establishing or maintaining a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) office for hiring which makes them hire on merit. DEI really means Discrimination, Exclusion and Indoctrination. Referred to the House, but not yet placed in a committee. It will probably be sent the House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Republican John Kuempel. 512.463.0602.
-Senate Bill 20, by Sen. Huffman, provides a mechanism for removing district attorneys who refuse to enforce the Texas Criminal Code. It is currently in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Republican David Cook. 512.463.0374.
-Senate Bill 21, by Sen. Huffman, provides a mechanism for impeaching judges who do not enforce Texas civil or criminal law. It is currently in the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Democrat Jarvis Johnson. 512.463.0554.
-Senate Bill 23, by Sen. Huffman, creates a mandatory 10 year prison sentence for committing a crime with a gun. Referred to the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Democrat Rep. Joe Moody. 512.463.0728.
-Senate Bill 29, by Sen. Birdwell, prohibits governmental implementation or enforcement of a vaccine mandate, mask requirement or business and school closures. Referred to the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
-Senate Bill 177, by Sen. Middleton, requires informed consent for vaccines and providing exemptions for vaccine requirements. Referred to the House, but not yet sent to a House committee.
-Senate Bill 1039, by Sen. Bettencourt, establishes processes to address election irregularities in a county and imposes civil penalties. Referred to House Elections Committee, chaired by Republican Reggie Smith. 512.463.0297.
-Senate Bill 1403, by Sen. Parker, establishes interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall. Received in the House on 4/18, but not yet referred to a House committee.
-Senate Bill 1427, by Sen. Flores, increases criminal penalties on the drug cartel. Referred to the House State Affairs Committee, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
-Senate Bill 1562, by Sen. Hancock, creates a criminal felony offense for grooming children to participate in sexual activity. Referred to The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, chaired by Democrat Rep. Joe Moody. 512.463.0728.
–Senate Bill 1600, by Sen. Hughes, requires proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Received in the House, but not yet referred to a committee.
-Senate Bill 1750, by Sen. Bettencourt, abolishes the county elections administrator position in counties with populations greater than 3.5 million. Received in the House, but not yet referred to a committee.
– Senate Bill 2424, by Sen. Birdwell, enforces border protection by creating a criminal offense for illegally entering Texas. Those who have a criminal record and enter illegally would commit a first degree felony offense punishable by a life sentence in prison. Referred to the House State Affairs, chaired by Republican Rep. Todd Hunter. 512.463.0325.
The Texas House has been slow rolling the conservative bills sent to it by the Texas Senate. It has passed no significant conservative legislation of its own.
The Legislative Session ends on May 29th. That leaves just 40 days until Sine Die. The sands of time are sinking.
It is critically important that you contact the offices of the chairmen of the House Committees, where these Senate bills have been sent, Leave word for the chairmen to bring the Senate bills up for a vote before their respective committees.