Week 20: 89th Texas Legislature

I’ve been trying to decide on a “label” for the 89^th Session that sums up the tone of the session.  I’m debating between “Big Government/Big Spending” or “Democrats Cheered”. 

Too many bills passed that grow government, grow spending, and impose government controls on local government.  The spending has been phenomenal!  Last session’s budget was the biggest ever, and this one topped it.  They had a $24 billion surplus, plus a $28 billion excess rainy day fund, and they decided to give taxpayers $6.5 billion in property tax relief.  “Big Government/Big Spending” indeed!

The “Democrats Cheered” label comes from the number of Democrat bills that sailed through the House, while Republican bills got left on the floor at the midnight deadline.  Democrats literally cheered when the clock struck midnight, and numerous Republican priority bills were left untouched.  Then there’s also the cheer leading that went on when Burrows was elected Speaker of the House with Democrat support.  Maybe it’s the "Session of Democrats" in the Republican House.  Check out the video.

What do you think?  What label would you put on the 89^th session?  It’s certainly not the “most conservative session ever”!  Though House and Senate members will try to tell us it was.  I hope that TTP has given you enough insight, and taught you to find out for yourself so that you don’t fall for the lies and gaslighting.

Keep reading below for some highlights of the good and bad.  I’ve been compiling a spreadsheet of priority categories and corresponding bills with their status.  I’ll publish that later next week, but for now, I’ll give you a brief summary. 

My lists are not all-inclusive.  Just bills that I’ve been aware of and have worked on this session.  My list has 14 priority categories, and out of 72 bills examined, 35 passed, and 37 are dead.  But we’ll need to look more closely, because so many of the bills that passed, while fitting the criteria of the priority, were small, minor improvements.  And many of the big, comprehensive and “top” priorities died.

THIS WEEK

Our final TTP Tuesday for this session was May 27^th.  We closed out our session involvement with a group of activists pulling a hail Mary for two bills – SB2880 and HB4623.

SB2880 is the one that would ban sale or distribution of abortion pills in Texas.  It missed the deadline for voting on Senate bills in the House, so it’s dead.  We knew it was too late on Tuesday for this bill, but we also know that all things are possible in the TX Legislature, and that if leadership wants something to pass it will pass.  Leadership did want this one to pass, but we got our position on the record anyway.  (We also realize that all things are possible with God, and on this issue, God is on our side, so who knows?  Maybe a special session?)  SB2880 is one of the ones left on the schedule when the clock struck midnight on Tuesday.

HB4623 is maybe the crowning jewel of legislation in the 89^th Session.  This bill finally puts an end to school district employees being immune to civil liability in case of abuse or misconduct with students.  With multiple cases of abuse being reported weekly in public schools, and mostly seeing the incidents covered up, or shoved down the road by school districts, this bill was essential to protecting children in public schools.  Our teams delivered position papers on this bill Tuesday, and asked Senators to sign on as co-authors.  Late Tuesday night, the bill passed the Senate with 19 Senate Co-authors!  There are some amendments that will need to be resolved in conference committee, but the bill is basically strong, and a welcome relief to grassroots activists who’ve been trying to accomplish this for years.

GOOD STUFF THAT PASSED

• SB8 – Requires Sheriffs to sign on to the 287G program and provides funding (cooperate with ICE)
• SB12 – Parental rights and stop DEI & Gender Ideology in schools (But the bill was amended by Jeff Leach with language that literally allows schools to use DEI and gender ideology.  Hopefully it will be stripped out in conference committee)
• SB33 – No taxpayer money for abortion travel
• SB24 – Teach the reality and evils of communism in public schools
• HB4623 – Eliminate qualified immunity for public school employees
• HB229 – What is a Woman?  (there is only male or female, and they are not the same or interchangeable)
• SB412 – Stricter prosecution of child porn offenses
• SB17 - TX land ownership by hostile foreigners (passed, but weakened by Shaheen amendment)
• HB4535/407/1586/3441 – Medical freedom bills & vaccine manufacturers accountability
• SB1362 – Ban Red Flag Laws
• SJR5/SB40 – Constitutional amendment requiring denial of bail to illegals charged with violent crime

GOOD STUFF THAT DIDN’T PASS

• SB19 – End taxpayer funded lobbying
• SB3224 – Require use of E Verify
• SB1798 – End In-State Tuition
• SB18 – No Drag Queen story hours at public libraries
• HB54 – No “Furries” in schools
• SB240 – Private spaces based on biological sex
• HB1549 – Restrict retail displays of obscene devices
• HB1375 – Civil liability for harm resulting from obscene actions and materials
• SB1224  - Requires school misconduct be reported directly to local law enforcement
• SB2880 – Bans abortion pills
• SB715/819 & HB3125 – Bills that strengthen electric grid
• SB16 – Requires proof of citizenship to register to vote
• SB396 – Requires voter registrar to verify voter’s address
• SB618/SB505 – Relating to unlawful altering of election procedures (SOS Waivers)
• SB964 – Requires “not eligible to vote” on drivers licenses of non-citizens
• SJR87 – Constitutional amendment that would deny bail to violent offenders already on bail for something else
• HB796 – Texas Sovereignty Act
• HB170 – Kyle’s Law (no civil action for justifiable use of force when criminal charges are not made or exonerated)
• SB1065 – State Fair Gun Law – would not allow municipal owned properties to impose ban on carrying gun, regardless of who manages the property.

OTHER STUFF THAT PASSED – YOU BE THE JUDGE

• SB2 – School Choice legislation passed - $1 billion allocated to help 100,000 students
• HB2 – Additional $8.5 Billion to public schools for teacher raises, special programs and increase basic allotment
• SB22 – Hollywood subsidies of $2.5 billion over several years
• SB5 – Establishes Dementia Institute of Research
• SB646 – Loan re-payment to students in school counseling
• SB11 – Allocates daily prayer/study time in schools
• HB21 – Restrictions on HFC’s
• HB247 – Exempts increased appraisal value of improvements to help border security
• SB10 – Ten Commandments placed in every classroom
• HB229 – What is a Woman?
• SB3 – THC Ban

NEXT WEEK - ACTION ITEMS

Take the week off!  Relax.  Get a massage.  Take a nap.  Rest up, because after next week, campaign/election and censure season begins and there’s TONS of work to do!

Thanks to all who contributed to the work this session! Whether you did it at the Capitol, from home, or some combination of both, please know how much we appreciate you.  We hope that the experience has broadened your understanding of legislative process, and the ins and outs of getting bills across the finish line.  We’ve all learned and grown together, and I appreciate you all!

Future Friday messages will only happen when there’s something to report.  Once Interim Hearings get started, there will be more work to do, so don’t think we’re off the hook until 2027!  It never ends.

Watch for my status analysis that will come out next week.  I’ll post it on the website and share on social media - and maybe one more Friday Message.

Now go enjoy your summer!

With thanks and love,

Fran Rhodes, President

Help keep our legislative engagement program going.  We need to train up as many people as possible and build the True Texas Army! 

Can you chip in?