The House and Senate will reconvene Thursday, May 20, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. respectively.
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Upcoming Committee Hearings: Legislative News from Texas
Budget
The Conference Committee on SB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, met on 5/19 to take up and adopt each article in the Issue Docket Decisions.
HB 2, the supplemental appropriations bill, has been scheduled for a public hearing in Senate Finance on 5/20.
Bills on the Move
On 5/17 the Senate refused to concur on House amendments to SB 7 (Hughes) relating to elections, including election integrity and security. The Senate appointed the following conferees: Hughes (Chair), Buckingham, Bettencourt, Kolkhorst and Powell. On 5/19 the House appointed the following conferees: Cain (Chair), Canales, Clardy, Collier and Jetton.
SB 601 (Perry) relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water Consortium passed the House on 5/18 (143-0) with one third reading amendment which reduces the amount of fees a conservation district may charge. SB 601 will now return to the Senate for concurrence or to resolve changes made by House amendments.
SB 2094 (Taylor) to the commissioner of education’s authority regarding the assessment of public school students and accelerated instruction was passed out of the Senate on 5/17 (24-6). The bill moved to the House and on 5/18 has been referred to Public Education.
HB 1603 (Huberty) relating to the use of individual graduation committees was passed unanimously as amended by the Senate on 5/18. The bill removes the Sunset date on IGCs and was amended on the Senate to clarify TEA investigative authority. HB 1603 will now move back to the House for to concur on amendments or to conference to resolve differences.
Spotlight on House Calendar
To view the complete calendar with all bills posted: House Calendars by Date
SB 6 (Hancock) relating to liability for certain claims arising during a pandemic or disaster related to a pandemic is set on the House calendar for 5/21. The bill would establish liability protection for individuals, organizations, and institutions that attempt to follow applicable governmental standards, guidelines, or protocols for minimizing the spread of a pandemic disease.
SB 338 (Powell) relating to the adoption of uniform general conditions for building construction contracts entered into by school districts is set on the House calendar for 5/20. The bill would give public school districts the option of adopting uniform general conditions developed by the Texas Facilities Commission.
SB 713 (Buckingham) relating to the sunset review process and certain governmental entities subject to that process is set on the House calendar for 05/20. The bill is the sunset schedule bill and updates a provision in the sunset review process to allow for exemptions during a declared disaster.
SB 1116 (Bettencourt) relating to a county, city, or independent school district posting election results on an Internet website is set on the House calendar for 5/20. The bill would require cities, counties, or independent school districts that maintain a website to post election results on that website.
SB 1365 (Bettencourt) relating to public school organization, accountability, and fiscal management is set on the House calendar for 5/20. The bill modifies statute regarding the operations of the accountability system and interventions process, sanctions and related powers of the commissioner, and certain commissioner appointees.
SB 2154 (Schwertner) relating to the membership of the Public Utility Commission of Texas is set on the House calendar for 5/20. The bill would increase the number of commissioners composing the PUC from three to five and revise the eligibility requirements for appointment as a commissioner.
Spotlight on Senate Intent Calendar
To view the complete calendar with all bills posted: Senate Calendars
The Senate Intent Calendar is a list of all legislation where notice has been filed to bring a bill up for floor debate out of its regular order, so any bill on the calendar may possibly be taken up. Before the 130th calendar day of the regular session, the rules may not be suspended to consider a bill or resolution out of order until the second day the measure has been listed on the Intent.
HB 1525 (Huberty) relating to the public school finance system and public education is set on the Senate intent calendar. The bill addresses local taxation and revenue, charter school funding, changes to certain allotments, and literacy training requirements, among others.
HB 1600 (Canales) relating to the review date for certain governmental entities subject to the sunset review process is set on the Senate intent calendar. The bill extends the Sunset date of 18 agencies that underwent the Sunset review this biennium. The agencies would be continued for two years and subject to a full Sunset review again during the 2022-2023 biennium.
HB 1925 (Capriglione) relating to prohibitions on camping in a public place is set on the Senate intent calendar. The bill amends current law relating to prohibiting camping in a public place and to a political subdivision’s designation of property for camping by homeless individuals and creates a criminal offense.
HB 2219 (Canales) relating to the issuance of Texas Mobility Fund obligations is set on the Senate intent calendar. The bill repeals prohibitions on issuing Texas Mobility Fund obligations with the intent of having the fund operate as a revolving fund.
HB 3514 (Canales) relating to the functions of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is set on the Senate intent calendar. The bill modifies various statutes related to TxDMV including modifications to the delegation of authority and modifying car dealer declarations.
SB 859 (Johnson) allowing regional water planning and regional flood planning entities to hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call or videoconference call is set on the Senate intent calendar.