Subject: Priority Analysis 89th Session

From	Fran's Friday Message <[email protected]>
Subject	Priority Analysis 89th Session
Date	June 5, 2025 12:07 PM

Links have been removed from this email. Learn more in the FAQ.

------=_Part_17776698_1881502452.1749125246221
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="----=_Part_17776699_318924480.1749125246232"

------=_Part_17776699_318924480.1749125246232
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, https:/=
/api.neonemails.com/emails/content/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evR=
yHE=3D.
[Are these emails too small? Is half of it clipped? At the very top of this=
email, click the link that says "see it online". It will open in normal si=
ze and with full content!]

=20

Welcome to the mid-week edition of Fran=E2=80=99s Friday Message. As promi=
sed last week, here is my 89th Legislature wrap up analysis. Click the but=
ton below to see the spreadsheet with 73 bills and their final status.

But first =E2=80=93 a few definitions. The subject categories for this rep=
ort came from Texas Scorecard=E2=80=99s Priority Consensus Tracker. The Sc=
orecard list compared priorities from several sources:

Texas GOP (TxGOP)

The Governor=E2=80=99s Office

The Lt. Governor=E2=80=99s Office

The Speaker of the House

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR)

Texans for Vaccine Choice (TFVC)

Texas Right to Life (TRTL)

Protecting Texas Children (PTC)

Texas Family Project (TFP)

Texas Gun Rights (TxGR)

True Texas Project (TTP)

They then examined the issues that these groups had in common and came up w=
ith the following categories:

Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

Property Tax Relief

Border Security

Stop Sexualizing Texas=E2=80=99 Kids

Energy Infrastructure

Secure Texas Elections

Ban Sales to Hostile Foreign Governments

Bail Reform

Education Freedom/School Choice

Anti-Squatting Measures

Higher Education Reform

I added a category for 2nd Amendment issues because we worked closely this =
session with TXGR and GOA on their priority bills. I also expanded the =E2=
=80=9CStop Sexualizing Texas Kids=E2=80=9D to include right to life issues,=
and protection of children in general. The issues are listed in order of =
the frequency that they appeared on multiple groups=E2=80=99 priority lists=
.

This must not be seen as all inclusive. I=E2=80=99m sure I=E2=80=99ve miss=
ed some issues and bills important to some, and listed some that people don=
=E2=80=99t care about. I compiled the list of bills based on my own knowle=
dge and observation, plus input from trusted sources like the RPT prioritie=
s committee, and the leaders of the various groups we work with (TFVC, TFR,=
TXGR, TFP, Ed 911, etc.) =20

Also please do not interpret this list as TTP endorsed bills. Some are and=
some are not. I=E2=80=99m hoping this analysis is a good, objective summa=
ry of what actually happened in the 89th Legislature. It=E2=80=99s meant t=
o be =E2=80=9Cjust the facts=E2=80=9D.

One last thing =E2=80=93 I=E2=80=99ll beg mercy for typos and mistakes! It=
took a lot of time, research and editing to put this together, and this so=
rt of thing is not my forte, so I beg forgiveness for whatever minor mistak=
es that might be in here. =20

89th PRIORITIES

=20

If a bill failed =E2=80=93 I included the reason for its failure. I think =
it=E2=80=99s important to consider this when evaluating the overall success=
or lack thereof for the 89th. If the reason is =E2=80=9Cmissed deadline=
=E2=80=9D it means that the bill got scheduled on a calendar, but they didn=
=E2=80=99t get to it before the deadline to consider that type of bill. (Y=
ES =E2=80=93 they ran out of time!!). Most of the good bills that didn=E2=
=80=99t make it were killed in committee somewhere. It=E2=80=99s good to k=
now that and to know who the chairman of that committee was that killed the=
bill!

Other things happening in the 89th that were not on the priority list:

BUDGET: They passed a budget that is bigger than ever before at $338 billi=
on, an increase of 8.3% over last biennium which was $237 billion. Texans =
for Fiscal Responsibility has written an excellent article on the budget if=
you=E2=80=99re interested in diving into details. I=E2=80=99ll just say t=
hat this session seems to be the era of big spending.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF: On this subject, I=E2=80=99ll just say there basicall=
y isn=E2=80=99t any. Although Lt Gov Patrick and most of the Reps and Sena=
tors will tell you it=E2=80=99s a HUGE deal for taxpayers. Out of the $24 =
Billion surplus, they have gifted back $6.5 Billion in property tax reducti=
ons. The bills included increases in homestead exemptions and school M&O t=
ax rate compression. Your tax bill might go down the first year, but that=
=E2=80=99s about as optimistic as we can get. Still waiting on that =E2=80=
=9Cpath to eliminating property taxes.=E2=80=9D

PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING: HB2 passed with a whole laundry list of goodies to t=
he tune of $8.5 Billion ADDITIONAL funding for public education. They are =
bragging about it being the "largest single increase in public education fu=
nding in Texas history". Not sure that's something to be bragging about, b=
ut whatever. It breaks down like this:

$4.2 billion for permanent teacher and staff pay raises

$1.3 billion for increases in Basic Allotment=20

$2 billion to update special education formulas and fund full-day pre-K, ea=
rly learning interventions, and Career & Technical Education

$430 million for school safety.

HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WENT TO: =20

Hollywood Subsidies, SB22

Dementia Institute, SB5

Loan repayment to mental health counseling students, SB46

Pay raises for Judges and legislators=E2=80=99 pensions, SB293

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

SB11 =E2=80=93 Allows prayer/study time in school

HB21 =E2=80=93 Restrictions on HFC=E2=80=99s

SB10 =E2=80=93 Requires 10 Commandments be posted in school classrooms

HB229 =E2=80=93 Finally answers the question, =E2=80=9CWhat is a Woman=E2=
=80=9D? (or a man)

HB1056 =E2=80=93 Transactional Gold

SB3070 =E2=80=93 Lottery Commission dissolved, moved to TDLR but employees =
get to keep their jobs. (the corruption just moves over to a new department=
)

HB2963 =E2=80=93 Right to repair (your own car)

NOT SO GOOD STUFF

=C2=B7 HB5138 =E2=80=93 Restore power to AG to prosecute FAILED! (Conf =
Committee could not agree)

=C2=B7 SB975 =E2=80=93 Allows Teachers to serve on Appraisal Boards PASS=
ED (current law does not allow government employees to serve on CADs. This=
law carves out exception for teachers. A number of people including 42 la=
wmakers urging Governor to Veto)

CONCLUSIONS

When all is said and done, I think the best thing I can say about the 89th =
Session is that it was =E2=80=9Cinteresting=E2=80=9D. We did get some wins=
, and we=E2=80=99re grateful for that. But many of our priorities ended up=
in the trash heap of the 89th Session, as some usually do. The same old t=
ricks and gimmicks were employed this session, with even greater emphasis o=
n the =E2=80=9Cshut up and sit down=E2=80=9D factor that we saw from leader=
ship (both House and Senate). In that respect, very little has changed, it=
's just gotten worse.

MAY I BRAG FOR A MINUTE?

My friend, Brett Rogers, the computer genius who analyzes and compiles legi=
slative data, says that TTP people interacted with Committees, either regis=
tering or testifying, 359 times during this session. That=E2=80=99s AMAZIN=
G!! =20

Congrats to all the activists who came to the Capitol each week, and regist=
ered at the kiosks with those endless lists of bills. I=E2=80=99ve never h=
ad the ability to track that kind of information before, so many thanks to =
Brett.

That=E2=80=99s all for now, folks! I=E2=80=99ll continue to do Friday Mess=
ages, whenever there=E2=80=99s something to report, but for now I=E2=80=99m=
signing off, and wishing you all Happy Trails!

Fran Rhodes, President

=20

=20

True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement. =20
TrueTexasProject.com

=20

=20

To update your profile with a new email address, satellite location, or oth=
er details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please click here.
BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before=
you forward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!

This email was sent to [email protected]. Click here to [link removed]
exasproject.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/truetexasproject/unsubscribeEmail.js=
p?type=3D16&emailId=3Dda419c4be24314bff97ef160a43e52e8dm17469881da4&userId=
=3DYZi1e6b19XtjIQH1mOL5vJCgQrydoB4Fs6tE2c-j8A4%3D.
------=_Part_17776699_318924480.1749125246232
Content-Type: text/html;charset=utf-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "[link removed]
g/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
<html xmlns=3D"[link removed]">=20
<head>=20
<meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">=
=20
<meta name=3D"viewport" content=3D"width=3Ddevice-width, initial-scale=3D=
1.0">=20
<meta name=3D"x-apple-disable-message-reformatting"> =
=20
<link href=3D"[link removed]" rel=3D"styl=
esheet" type=3D"text/css">=20
<link href=3D"[link removed]" rel=
=3D"stylesheet" type=3D"text/css">=20
<link href=3D"[link removed]" rel=3D=
"stylesheet" type=3D"text/css">=20
<link href=3D"[link removed]" =
rel=3D"stylesheet" type=3D"text/css">=20
<link href=3D"[link removed]" rel=3D"st=
ylesheet" type=3D"text/css">  =20
<style type=3D"text/css">
@media only screen and (max-width:596px) {
html {
min-height: 100%;
background: #FFFFFF;
}

.small-float-center {
margin: 0 auto !important;
Margin: 0 auto !important;
float: none !important;
}

.small-float-center,
.small-text-center {
text-align: center !important;
}

.small-text-left {
text-align: left !important;
}

.small-text-right {
text-align: right !important;
}

.hide-for-large {
display: block !important;
width: auto !important;
overflow: visible !important;
max-height: none !important;
font-size: inherit !important;
line-height: inherit !important;
}

table.body table.container .hide-for-large,
table.body table.container .row.hide-for-large {
display: table !important;
width: 100% !important;
}

table.body table.container .callout-inner.hide-for-large {
display: table-cell !important;
width: 100% !important;
}

table.body table.container .show-for-large {
display: none !important;
width: 0;
mso-hide: all;
overflow: hidden;
}

a[x-apple-data-detectors] {
color: inherit !important;
text-decoration: none !important;
font-size: inherit !important;
font-family: inherit !important;
font-weight: inherit !important;
line-height: inherit !important;
}

.menu.small-vertical .menu-item {
padding-left: 0 !important;
padding-right: 0 !important;
}

table.body img {
height: auto;
max-width: 100%;
}

table.body center {
min-width: 0 !important;
}

table.body .container {
width: 95% !important;
}

table.body .column,
table.body .columns {
height: auto !important;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
-webkit-box-sizing: border-box;
box-sizing: border-box;
padding-left: 24px !important;
padding-right: 24px !important;
}

table.body .collapse .column,
table.body .collapse .columns,
table.body .column .column,
table.body .column .columns,
table.body .columns .column,
table.body .columns .columns {
padding-left: 0 !important;
padding-right: 0 !important;
}

td.small-1,
th.small-1 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 8.33333% !important;
}

td.small-2,
th.small-2 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 16.66667% !important;
}

td.small-3,
th.small-3 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 25% !important;
}

td.small-4,
th.small-4 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 33.33333% !important;
}

td.small-5,
th.small-5 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 41.66667% !important;
}

td.small-6,
th.small-6 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 50% !important;
}

td.small-7,
th.small-7 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 58.33333% !important;
}

td.small-8,
th.small-8 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 66.66667% !important;
}

td.small-9,
th.small-9 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 75% !important;
}

td.small-10,
th.small-10 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 83.33333% !important;
}

td.small-11,
th.small-11 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 91.66667% !important;
}

td.small-12,
th.small-12 {
display: inline-block !important;
width: 100% !important;
}

td.small-12.divider,
th.small-12.divider {
display: block !important;
}

.columns td.small-12,
.columns th.small-12,
.column td.small-12,
.column th.small-12 {
display: block !important;
width: 100% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-1,
table.body th.small-offset-1 {
margin-left: 8.33333% !important;
Margin-left: 8.33333% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-2,
table.body th.small-offset-2 {
margin-left: 16.66667% !important;
Margin-left: 16.66667% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-3,
table.body th.small-offset-3 {
margin-left: 25% !important;
Margin-left: 25% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-4,
table.body th.small-offset-4 {
margin-left: 33.33333% !important;
Margin-left: 33.33333% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-5,
table.body th.small-offset-5 {
margin-left: 41.66667% !important;
Margin-left: 41.66667% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-6,
table.body th.small-offset-6 {
margin-left: 50% !important;
Margin-left: 50% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-7,
table.body th.small-offset-7 {
margin-left: 58.33333% !important;
Margin-left: 58.33333% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-8,
table.body th.small-offset-8 {
margin-left: 66.66667% !important;
Margin-left: 66.66667% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-9,
table.body th.small-offset-9 {
margin-left: 75% !important;
Margin-left: 75% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-10,
table.body th.small-offset-10 {
margin-left: 83.33333% !important;
Margin-left: 83.33333% !important;
}

table.body td.small-offset-11,
table.body th.small-offset-11 {
margin-left: 91.66667% !important;
Margin-left: 91.66667% !important;
}

table.body table.columns td.expander,
table.body table.columns th.expander {
display: none !important;
}

table.body .right-text-pad,
table.body .text-pad-right {
padding-left: 10px !important;
}

table.body .left-text-pad,
table.body .text-pad-left {
padding-right: 10px !important;
}

table.menu {
width: 100% !important;
}

table.menu td,
table.menu th {
width: auto !important;
display: inline-block !important;
}

table.menu.small-vertical td,
table.menu.small-vertical th,
table.menu.vertical td,
table.menu.vertical th {
display: block !important;
}

table.menu[align=3Dcenter] {
width: auto !important;
}

table.button.small-expand,
table.button.small-expanded {
width: 100% !important;
}

table.button.small-expanded table,
table.button.small-expand table {
width: 100%;
}

table.button.small-expanded table a,
table.button.small-expand table a {
text-align: center !important;
width: 100% !important;
padding-left: 0 !important;
padding-right: 0 !important;
}

table.button.small-expand center,
table.button.small-expanded center {
min-width: 0;
}
.titan__email-divider {
height: 1px !important;
}
}
</style> =20
</head>=20
<body style=3D"min-width: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-text-s=
ize-adjust: 100%; -moz-box-sizing: border-box; -webkit-box-sizing: border-b=
ox; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: l=
eft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; width: 100%;">
Just The Facts!Hollywood Subsidies, SB22</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
Dementia Institute, SB5</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
Loan repayment to mental health counseling students, SB46</sp=
an></li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
Pay raises for Judges and legislators=E2=80=99 pensions, SB29=
3</li>=20
</ul> <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-f=
amily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0;=
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bot=
tom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">OTHER INTERESTING STUFF=20
<ul style=3D"list-style-position: inside; Margin: 0 0 10px 0=
; padding: 0 0 0 10px;">=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
SB11 =E2=80=93 Allows prayer/study time in school</li>=
=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
HB21 =E2=80=93 Restrictions on HFC=E2=80=99s</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
SB10 =E2=80=93 Requires 10 Commandments be posted in school c=
lassrooms</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
HB229 =E2=80=93 Finally answers the question, =E2=80=9CWhat i=
s a Woman=E2=80=9D?  (or a m=
an)</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
HB1056 =E2=80=93 Transactional Gold</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
SB3070 =E2=80=93 Lottery Commission dissolved, moved to TDLR =
but employees get to keep their jobs. (the corruption just moves over to a =
new department)</li>=20
<li style=3D"display: list-item; line-height: 1.5em; Margin=
: 0; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0; word-break: break-word; overflo=
w-wrap: break-word; list-style: disc outside; mso-special-format: bullet;">=
HB2963 =E2=80=93 Right to repair (your own car)</li>=
=20
</ul> <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-f=
amily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0;=
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bot=
tom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">NOT SO GOOD STUFF <p style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><spa=
n style=3D"font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-f=
ont-family: Symbol;">=C2=B7     <=
!--[endif]-->HB5138 =E2=80=
=93 Restore power to AG to prosecute FAILED! (Conf Committ=
ee could not agree) <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: ari=
al,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0=
; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;=
Margin-bottom: 10px;"><=
span style=3D"mso-list: Ignore;">=C2=B7    SB975 =E2=80=93 Allows Teachers to serve =
on Appraisal Boards PASSED (current law does not allow gov=
ernment employees to serve on CADs.&nbsp=
; This law carves out exception for teachers.  A number of people including 42 lawmakers urging =
Governor to Veto) <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4=
144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">CONCLUSIONS <p class=3D"MsoNo=
Spacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; =
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-=
size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><s=
pan style=3D"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">When all is said and done, I=
think the best thing I can say about the 89th Session is that i=
t was =E2=80=9Cinteresting=E2=80=9D.&nbs=
p; We did get some wins, and we=E2=80=99re grateful for that.  But many of our priorities ended =
up in the trash heap of the 89th Session, as some usually do.<sp=
an style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">  The same old tricks and gimmi=
cks were employed this session, with even greater emphasis on the =E2=80=9C=
shut up and sit down=E2=80=9D factor that we saw from leadership (both Hous=
e and Senate).  In that resp=
ect, very little has changed, it's just gotten worse. <p class=
=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,san=
s-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: le=
ft; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px;">MAY I BRAG =
FOR A MINUTE? <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color:=
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; paddin=
g: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">My friend, Brett Rogers, the computer genius who ana=
lyzes and compiles legislative data, says that TTP people interacted with C=
ommittees, either registering or testifying, 359 times during this session.=
  That=E2=80=99s AMAZING!!<s=
pan style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">  <p class=3D"MsoN=
oSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;=
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font=
-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><=
span style=3D"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Congrats to all the activis=
ts who came to the Capitol each week, and registered at the kiosks with tho=
se endless lists of bills.  =
I=E2=80=99ve never had the ability to track that kind of information before=
, so many thanks to Brett. <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"co=
lor: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; pa=
dding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-hei=
ght: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">That=E2=80=99s all for now, folks!  I=E2=80=99ll continue to do Friday Messa=
ges, whenever there=E2=80=99s something to report, but for now I=E2=80=99m =
signing off, and wishing you all Happy Trails! <p class=3D"MsoNo=
Spacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; =
font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-=
size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><s=
pan style=3D"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;">Fran Rhodes, President</span=
> <p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,he=
lvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; tex=
t-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Marg=
in-bottom: 10px;"> </th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
0; position: relative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; b=
ackground-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;">=
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">  <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists. Can you=
help? We are 100% donation-based. Click <a href=3D"[link removed]
ck-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdz=
MQ-UNxk33m6LBQ8ITEO6jHk=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none;=
font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><sp=
an style=3D"color: #cc0000;">here</a> to donate to our movement.       <a href=3D"h=
ttps://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_Gl=
Wzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMY2F8qFId6_uat5DKqx4wtg=3D" st=
yle=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding=
: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">TrueTexasProject.com</a></=
strong>=20
<table width=3D"1179" data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"border-spacin=
g: 0; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-alig=
n: left; max-width: 100%; width: 100%;">=20
<tbody>=20
<tr data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: t=
op; text-align: left;">=20
<th data-v-45dfea3e style=3D"word-break: normal; overflow=
-wrap: break-word; vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,=
helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; t=
ext-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; border-collapse: collap=
se;">
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px; text-ali=
gn: center;" data-v-45dfea3e>
<a title=3D"Facebook" href=3D"[link removed]
m/emails/tracking/click-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D=
/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMUPWkIbd9n_vbnULBvIEWnM=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"n=
oopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inher=
it; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><img style=3D"outline:=
none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 1=
00%; clear: both; float: none; text-align: center; border: none; display: b=
lock; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; width: 30px; height: auto;" s=
rc=3D"[link removed]" alt=
=3D"Facebook" width=3D"30"></a>  <a title=3D"Instagram" href=3D"h=
ttps://api.neonemails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_Gl=
Wzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMbTxDzTG6BBbu7YNtg_TiF8=3D" ta=
rget=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: =
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;=
"><img src=3D"[link removed]
.png" alt=3D"Instagram" width=3D"30" border=3D"0" style=3D"outline: none; t=
ext-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; cle=
ar: both; float: none; text-align: center; border: none; display: block; he=
ight: auto;"></a>  <a title=3D"Twitter" href=3D"[link removed]
mails.com/emails/tracking/click-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2e=
vRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMSwb5y1EF-DbYIl_C4hhrWw=3D" target=3D"_blank" =
rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weigh=
t: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><img src=3D"ht=
tps://neonstatic.s3.amazonaws.com/email/darkicons/Twitter.png" alt=3D"Twitt=
er" width=3D"30" border=3D"0" style=3D"outline: none; text-decoration: none=
; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; float: non=
e; text-align: center; border: none; display: block; height: auto;"></a>&nb=
sp; <a title=3D"YouTube" href=3D"[link removed]
cking/click-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06=
J8Aj2kKdzMfbIfKKoo5lDeoFPddmi1AI=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" sty=
le=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding:=
0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"><img src=3D"[link removed]
amazonaws.com/email/darkicons/YouTube.png" alt=3D"YouTube" width=3D"30" bor=
der=3D"0" style=3D"outline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-=
mode: bicubic; max-width: 100%; clear: both; float: none; text-align: cente=
r; border: none; display: block; height: auto;"></a>  <a title=3D=
"Website" href=3D"[link removed]
dIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMSDpHpatPHL=
M6AWCbCdiYZE=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9=
; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left=
; line-height: 1.5;"><img src=3D"[link removed]
darkicons/Website.png" alt=3D"Website" width=3D"30" border=3D"0" style=3D"o=
utline: none; text-decoration: none; -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; max-w=
idth: 100%; clear: both; float: none; text-align: center; border: none; dis=
play: block; height: auto;"></a> 
</center>
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px; text-ali=
gn: center;" data-v-45dfea3e>
 
</center>
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px; text-ali=
gn: center;" data-v-45dfea3e>
To update your profile with a new email address, satellite locati=
on, or other details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please <a href=
=3D"[link removed]
yT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMRnm6juZi3DXBiZ7nhhCy6M=
=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; =
padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">click here</a>. BONUS T=
IP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before you fo=
rward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!
</center></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>=20
</table></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; border-collapse=
: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: 0; position: re=
lative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-family: ari=
al,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last" style=3D"v=
ertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
; font-weight: 400; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; ma=
rgin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; padding-top: 24px; padding-bottom: 24px; word=
-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: =
24px; padding-right: 24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0;">=20
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px;">=20
</center> </th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; border-collapse=
: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: 0; position: re=
lative; width: 100%; display: table; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-family: ari=
al,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last" style=3D"v=
ertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif=
; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0=
auto; padding-bottom: 24px; word-break: break-word; overflow-wrap: break-w=
ord; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: 24px; font-size: 14px=
; line-height: 2em; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 10px;">=20
<center style=3D"width: 100%; min-width: 532px;">
This email was sent to bigja=
[email protected]. <a style=3D"font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; t=
ext-align: left; line-height: 1.5; color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none;" =
href=3D"[link removed]
8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evRyHE=3D/aeTTmiQhJ06J8Aj2kKdzMVLiR9gWiXqBapo26iJiQ=
O8=3D" target=3D"_blank" title=3D"Unsubscribe from email list">Click here t=
o unsubscribe.</a>
</center> </th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
</center> </td>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table> =20
<img src=3D"[link removed]
yLink?orgId=3Dtruetexasproject&emailId=da419c4be24314bff97ef160a43e=
52e8dm17469881da4&targetUrl=3Dhttps://truetexasproject.app.neoncrm.com/=
np/images/s.gif" width=3D"1" height=3D"1" border=3D"0">
</body>
</html><img width=3D'1' height=3D'1' border=3D'0' src=3D'[link removed]
ails.com/emails/tracking/open-link/LvddIL2cvQhuG8uxEyT_GlWzqa2LJ2-rJjcb2evR=
yHE=3D'/>
------=_Part_17776699_318924480.1749125246232--

------=_Part_17776698_1881502452.1749125246221--

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online, [link removed].
[Are these emails too small? Is half of it clipped? At the very top of this email, click the link that says "see it online". It will open in normal size and with full content!]

Welcome to the mid-week edition of Fran’s Friday Message. As promised last week, here is my 89th Legislature wrap up analysis. Click the button below to see the spreadsheet with 73 bills and their final status.

But first – a few definitions. The subject categories for this report came from Texas Scorecard’s Priority Consensus Tracker. The Scorecard list compared priorities from several sources:

Texas GOP (TxGOP)

The Governor’s Office

The Lt. Governor’s Office

The Speaker of the House

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR)

Texans for Vaccine Choice (TFVC)

Texas Right to Life (TRTL)

Protecting Texas Children (PTC)

Texas Family Project (TFP)

Texas Gun Rights (TxGR)

True Texas Project (TTP)

They then examined the issues that these groups had in common and came up with the following categories:

Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

Property Tax Relief

Border Security

Stop Sexualizing Texas’ Kids

Energy Infrastructure

Secure Texas Elections

Ban Sales to Hostile Foreign Governments

Bail Reform

Education Freedom/School Choice

Anti-Squatting Measures

Higher Education Reform

I added a category for 2nd Amendment issues because we worked closely this session with TXGR and GOA on their priority bills. I also expanded the “Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids” to include right to life issues, and protection of children in general. The issues are listed in order of the frequency that they appeared on multiple groups’ priority lists.

This must not be seen as all inclusive. I’m sure I’ve missed some issues and bills important to some, and listed some that people don’t care about. I compiled the list of bills based on my own knowledge and observation, plus input from trusted sources like the RPT priorities committee, and the leaders of the various groups we work with (TFVC, TFR, TXGR, TFP, Ed 911, etc.)

Also please do not interpret this list as TTP endorsed bills. Some are and some are not. I’m hoping this analysis is a good, objective summary of what actually happened in the 89th Legislature. It’s meant to be “just the facts”.

One last thing – I’ll beg mercy for typos and mistakes! It took a lot of time, research and editing to put this together, and this sort of thing is not my forte, so I beg forgiveness for whatever minor mistakes that might be in here.

89th PRIORITIES

If a bill failed – I included the reason for its failure. I think it’s important to consider this when evaluating the overall success or lack thereof for the 89th. If the reason is “missed deadline” it means that the bill got scheduled on a calendar, but they didn’t get to it before the deadline to consider that type of bill. (YES – they ran out of time!!). Most of the good bills that didn’t make it were killed in committee somewhere. It’s good to know that and to know who the chairman of that committee was that killed the bill!

Other things happening in the 89th that were not on the priority list:

BUDGET: They passed a budget that is bigger than ever before at $338 billion, an increase of 8.3% over last biennium which was $237 billion. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has written an excellent article on the budget if you’re interested in diving into details. I’ll just say that this session seems to be the era of big spending.

PROPERTY TAX RELIEF: On this subject, I’ll just say there basically isn’t any. Although Lt Gov Patrick and most of the Reps and Senators will tell you it’s a HUGE deal for taxpayers. Out of the $24 Billion surplus, they have gifted back $6.5 Billion in property tax reductions. The bills included increases in homestead exemptions and school M&O tax rate compression. Your tax bill might go down the first year, but that’s about as optimistic as we can get. Still waiting on that “path to eliminating property taxes.”

PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING: HB2 passed with a whole laundry list of goodies to the tune of $8.5 Billion ADDITIONAL funding for public education. They are bragging about it being the "largest single increase in public education funding in Texas history". Not sure that's something to be bragging about, but whatever. It breaks down like this:

$4.2 billion for permanent teacher and staff pay raises

$1.3 billion for increases in Basic Allotment

$2 billion to update special education formulas and fund full-day pre-K, early learning interventions, and Career & Technical Education

$430 million for school safety.

HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY WENT TO:

Hollywood Subsidies, SB22

Dementia Institute, SB5

Loan repayment to mental health counseling students, SB46

Pay raises for Judges and legislators’ pensions, SB293

OTHER INTERESTING STUFF

SB11 – Allows prayer/study time in school

HB21 – Restrictions on HFC’s

SB10 – Requires 10 Commandments be posted in school classrooms

HB229 – Finally answers the question, “What is a Woman”? (or a man)

HB1056 – Transactional Gold

SB3070 – Lottery Commission dissolved, moved to TDLR but employees get to keep their jobs. (the corruption just moves over to a new department)

HB2963 – Right to repair (your own car)

NOT SO GOOD STUFF

· HB5138 – Restore power to AG to prosecute FAILED! (Conf Committee could not agree)

· SB975 – Allows Teachers to serve on Appraisal Boards PASSED (current law does not allow government employees to serve on CADs. This law carves out exception for teachers. A number of people including 42 lawmakers urging Governor to Veto)

CONCLUSIONS

When all is said and done, I think the best thing I can say about the 89th Session is that it was “interesting”. We did get some wins, and we’re grateful for that. But many of our priorities ended up in the trash heap of the 89th Session, as some usually do. The same old tricks and gimmicks were employed this session, with even greater emphasis on the “shut up and sit down” factor that we saw from leadership (both House and Senate). In that respect, very little has changed, it's just gotten worse.

MAY I BRAG FOR A MINUTE?

My friend, Brett Rogers, the computer genius who analyzes and compiles legislative data, says that TTP people interacted with Committees, either registering or testifying, 359 times during this session. That’s AMAZING!!

Congrats to all the activists who came to the Capitol each week, and registered at the kiosks with those endless lists of bills. I’ve never had the ability to track that kind of information before, so many thanks to Brett.

That’s all for now, folks! I’ll continue to do Friday Messages, whenever there’s something to report, but for now I’m signing off, and wishing you all Happy Trails!

Fran Rhodes, President

True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement.
TrueTexasProject.com

To update your profile with a new email address, satellite location, or other details, or to adjust your recurring donations, please click here.
BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before you forward it! Otherwise the recipient may unsubscribe YOU!

This email was sent to [email protected]. Click here to [link removed].

Screenshot of the email generated on import

Message Analysis

Sender: True Texas Project
Political Party: n/a
Country: United States
State/Locality: Texas
Office: n/a