Taxes/Elections
HB 25, Simmons, relating to the elimination of straight-party voting, was given tentative approval in the House on 5/5 when it was voted to third reading with one adopted amendment (85-59).
HB 273 (Gonzales), relating to the content of local and state propositions on the ballot, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
HB 332 (Meyer), relating to the use of school district buildings as polling place locations, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
HB 2228 (Murphy), relating to deadlines for performing various functions in connection with the ad valorem tax system, was unanimously passed out of the House with one adopted amendment on 5/4.
Open Meetings Law/Quorum
HB 3394 (Larson), relating to the attendance by a quorum of a governmental body at certain candidate events under the open meetings law, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
Education
SB 179 (Menendez), relating to cyberbullying, passed out of the Senate with on May 3 with 6 adopted amendments (31-0). Amendments include technical changes, making certain policy and reporting requirements permissive, altering causal language, and removing the cause of action for money damages against parents.
SB 1005 (Campbell), relating to the use of the SAT or the ACT as a secondary exit-level assessment instrument to allow certain public school students to receive a high school diploma, passed unanimously out of the Senate on 5/4.
HB 22 (Huberty), relating to public school accountability was unanimously voted out of the House with 17 adopted amendments on 5/4.
HB 23 (Huberty), relating to a grant program to fund innovative programs for public school students with autism, was unanimously passed out of the House on 5/4 after the bill author confirmed his commitment to maintain the House bill language as it moved through the Senate process.
HB 1776 (Ashby), relating to the United States history end-of-course assessment instrument for public high school students, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (139-6).
HB 3593 (Bernal), relating to instruction in career and technology education provided by public schools, including instruction in technology applications, cybersecurity, and computer coding, and to consideration of completed practicums, was passed out of the House with one adopted amendment on 5/4 (124-21).
HB 2442 (King), relating to the minutes of operation required for public school districts, charter schools, and other education programs and to calculating the average daily attendance for certain education programs, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (142-1).
HB 1081 (Arevalo), relating to the new instructional facility allotment under the foundation school program, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (93-49).
HB 515 (VaDeaver), relating to eliminating certain state-required assessment instruments and certain end-of-course assessment instruments not required by federal law, was passed out of the House with four adopted amendments on 5/4 (141-3).
Health Care
SB 833 (Hughes), relating to the regulation of certain health organizations, passed out of the Senate on May 3 (30-1)
SB 1021 (Nelson), relating to the Texas system of care framework, was passed out of the Senate on May 3 (31-0).
HB 2286 (Klick), relating to limiting the liability of certain health care providers, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
HB 1917 (Raymond), relating to contract requirements for prescription drug benefits provided by Medicaid managed care organizations, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (102-41).
HB 935 (Zerwas), relating to emergency medical air transportation funding, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (137-8).
HB 1407 (Sheffield), relating to the establishment of the emergency medical services assistance program, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (128-18).
Environment
HB 3177 (Lucio), relating to the delegation of matters to the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
HB 2377 (Larson), relating to the development of brackish groundwater, was passed out of the House unanimously on 5/4.
HB 3417 (King), relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit, was passed out of the House on 5/4 (141-3).
Pensions
HB 3976 (Ashby), relating to the administration of and benefits payable under the Texas Public School Retired Employees Group Benefits Act, was passed unanimously out of the House on 5/4.
HB 3158 (Flynn), relating to the retirement systems for and the provision of other benefits to police and fire fighters in certain municipalities, was unanimously passed out of the House with 3 adopted amendments on 5/4.
Miscellaneous
SB 1289 (Creighton), relating to the purchase of iron and steel, passed out of the Senate on May 3 with 2 adopted amendments (22-8)
HB 986 (Guerra), relating to an exemption from licensing requirements for certain physicians and athletic trainers employed by sports teams, passed out of the House on the Local and Consent Calendar on 5/4.
HB 1774 (Bonnen), relating to insurance claims and certain prohibited acts and practices in the business of insurance, after four hours of debate on second reading, was finally voted out of the House with 4 adopted amendments on 5/5 (92-55).