Both the House and Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, March 30 at 10:00 A.M. and XX respectively.
A House Calendar for Tuesday is available.
The Senate Intent Calendar and Regular Order of Business can be found here.
Spotlight on Bills
Winter Storm Legislation
SB 3 (Schwertner) Relating to preparing for, preventing, and responding to weather emergencies and power outages; increasing the amount of administrative and civil penalties was passed out of the Senate Chamber on 3/29 unanimously with a total of six adopted floor amendments. The bill will now move over to the House for further deliberation.
As part of ongoing energy system reform discussions, House State Affairs took up HB 1510 (Metcalf) establishing a securitization financing method for electric system restoration and HB 2000 (Huberty) proposing to create a State Utilities Reliability Fund to support production and generation weatherization. Both bills were left pending for further deliberation.
Freedom to Worship
SJR 27 (Hancock) Proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting a religious service conducted by a religious organization was passed out of the Senate on 3/25 with 28 ayes and 2 nays. SB 26, the enabling legislation for SJR 27, also passed out of the Senate with 28 ayes and 2 nays on 3/25. SJR 27 and its enabling legislation will now move over the House for further deliberation.
The House companion of this resolution HJR 72 by Leach and its enabling legislation HB 1239 were both also heard in the House Committee of State Affairs on 3/25 and left pending.
Election Omnibus Bill
HB 6 (Cain) the omnibus elections bill was laid out in House Elections on 3/25 for discussion but before witnesses were called Chair Cain took a recess. Upon gaveling back in Chair Cain noted he did not recess to a time certain, so the hearing concluded and no further discussion or testimony was taken on HB 6. This bill has now been posted for hearing on 4/1.
SB 7 (Bettencourt) the Senate companion omnibus elections bill, the election integrity bill, was laid out in Senate State Affairs on 3/26. The bill passed out of committee as substituted.
Pandemic Liability Protection
SB 6 (Hancock et al.) relating to liability for certain claims arising during a pandemic or other disaster or emergency, as substituted, was laid out in Senate Business & Commerce on 3/23. The bill extends liability protections for first responders, businesses, places of worship, hospitals, nursing homes, higher education institutions, etc. who acted in “good faith” during the pandemic. The bill was left pending in committee. Its companion in the House, HB 3659 (Leach) has been referred to committee.
Entertainment Bills
HB 2127 (C. Turner et al.) relating to consumption of alcoholic beverages in public entertainment facilities and zones and HB 2168 (Krause) relating to ticket sales for charitable raffles conducted by the charitable foundations of certain professional sports teams were laid out and left pending in House Licensing & Administrative Procedures on 3/24. HB 393 (Moody) relating to the definition of a bet for purposes of gambling criminal offenses was laid out and left pending in State Affairs on 3/25.
Spotlight on Upcoming Hearings
Upcoming Senate Committee Meetings
- Business & Commerce – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: Senate Chamber - Criminal Justice – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:30 AM, Location: E1.016 (Hearing Room) - Veteran Affairs & Border Security – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:30 AM, Location: 2E.20 (Betty King Cmte. Rm.) - Finance – 3/30/2021
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: E1.036 (Finance Room) - Transportation – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E1.016 (Hearing Room) - Health & Human Services – 3/31/2021
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: Senate Chamber - Higher Education – 3/31/2021
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: Ext. Auditorium - State Affairs – 3/31/2021
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: E1.028 (Hearing Room) - Jurisprudence – 4/1/2021
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: 2E.20 (Betty King Cmte. Rm.)
Upcoming House Committee Meetings
- Appropriations – 3/30/2021
Time: 7:30 AM, Location: E1.030 - Business & Industry – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.028 - Human Services – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.030 - Land & Resource Management – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.010 - Natural Resources – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: JHR 120 - Public Education – 3/30/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: JHR 140 - Insurance – 3/30/2021
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: E2.014 - Transportation – 3/30/2021
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: Capitol Extension Auditorium, E1.004 - Appropriations – 3/31/2021
Time: 7:30 AM, Location: E1.030 - Corrections – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.026 - International Relations & Economic Development – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.012 - Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.014 - Pensions, Investments & Financial Services – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.036 - Public Health – 3/31/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: JHR 140 - Licensing & Administrative Procedures – 3/31/2021
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: JHR 120 - Urban Affairs – 3/31/2021
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: E1.026 - Appropriations – 4/1/2021
Time: 7:30 AM, Location: E1.030 - Agriculture & Livestock – 4/1/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.010 - Elections – 4/1/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.028 - Higher Education – 4/1/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: JHR 120 - State Affairs – 4/1/2021
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: JHR 140 - Redistricting – 4/1/2021
Time: 10:00 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: Capitol Extension Auditorium, E1.004 - County Affairs – 4/1/2021
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: E2.014 - Homeland Security & Public Safety – 4/1/2021
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted, Location: E2.030
