Here are bills being heard this week related to the RPT Legislative Priorities with a few that relate to Texas Constitutional Enforcement and that interest me.
The big ones for me are grid security bills and the protection of doctors from the Texas Medical Board for saving lives during COVID on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, David Spiller is taking an important step to get us independent, state-level prosecution of statutes of statewide importance.
I also am very much interested in stopping Stan Gerdes' extension of tolls on SH 130 tomorrow. Note the online comments links for Texas House hearings for use if you are not in the Capitol.
Monday, March 31
House Transportation Subcommittee on Funding, chaired by Democrat Terry Canales. Starts at 10:00 am in E2.014. Hearing notice. Online comments for all bills in hearing: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c479
In favor of one bill and opposed to three:
HB 2323 – Matt Shaheen – Removes tolls from toll roads once debt is paid and prevents toll entities from obligating surplus toll revenue to other projects.
OPPOSE HB 2876 – Stan Gerdes – Extends toll contract on SH 130 another 20 years to 2062 beyond the first 50 years. Note that the debt on SH 130 has already been wiped out in bankruptcy.
OPPOSE HJR 58 and HB 542 – John Bucy – Diverts dedicated tax money for roads to mass transit, bike paths, and sidewalks.
OPPOSE HJR 63 – Armando Walle -- Diverts dedicated tax money for roads to mass transit, bike paths, and sidewalks.
SB 119 – Bob Hall – Requires labeling of food containing MRNA vaccine material. In Senate Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs starting at 8:00 am in E1.012. RPT Legislative Priority End Federal Overreach - Medical Freedom.
OPPOSE SB 22 – Joan Huffman – The enabling bill to subsidize the film industry. Dan Patrick has prioritizing devoting half a billion dollars to this subsidy instead of property tax relief. In Senate Finance starting at 10:30 am in E1.036.
Tuesday, April 1
SB 75 – Bob Hall – The big grid resilience bill. In Senate Business & Commerce starting at 8:00 am in E1.012. RPT Legislative Priority Secure the Electric Grid.
SB 715 – Kevin Sparks – Changes applicability of a regulation to increase grid reliability. In Senate Business & Commerce starting at 8:00 am in E1.012. RPT Legislative Priority Secure the Electric Grid.
SB 2148 – Bob Hall – Requires tabletop exercises for coping with physical attacks on high value transformers. In Senate Business & Commerce starting at 8:00 am in E1.012. RPT Legislative Priority Secure the Electric Grid.
SB 2422 – Bob Hall – Stops harassment of doctors by the Texas Medical Board for prescribing or advocating for hydroxycholoroquine, ivermectin, or budesonide or for speaking out against or not wearing masks. In Senate Health & Human Services starting at 1:00 pm or upon adjournment in Senate Chamber. Texas Constitutional Enforcement support of medical freedom.
Wednesday, April 2
HB 933 – David Spiller – Gives Texas Supreme Court final say over Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on interpretation of the Texas Constitution. In House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence starting at 8 am in E2.030. A step towards insuring we have independent state-level prosecution of penal statutes of statewide importance. This is companion to SB 1210 by Bryan Hughes, which is out of Senate State Affairs and on its way to the Senate floor.
Hearing notice. Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c330
HB 3809 – Drew Darby – Requires initial agreement for end-of-life removal of Battery Energy Storage System. In House State Affairs starting at 8 am in JHR 140 (John Reagan Building on north end of Capitol Complex). RPT Legislative Secure the Texas Grid.
Hearing notice. Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c450
OPPOSE HB 17 without substantial closing of loopholes – Cole Hefner – Restrictions on ownership of Texas land by hostile powers. In House Homeland Security starting 10:30 am or upon adjournment in E2.016. RPT Legislative Priority Texas Land is Not for Sale
Hearing notice. Online comments: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c308 If I get more info on why the RPT Legislative Priority Committee opposes, will pass along. I think it is because it does not cover existing land ownership and it has other gaping loopholes like allowing CCP citizens living “domiciled” in Texas or anywhere outside the CCP to own. I think leases are not prohibited, either.