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The House will reconvene on Monday, May 1 at 2 p.m.
The Senate will reconvene on Monday, May 1 at 1 p.m.
 
Budget Discussions
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released a video affirming  his stance on the use of the Rainy Day Fund (RDF), also referred to as the economic stabilization fund. Patrick said his SB 1 appointees share his commitment, “we will not raise taxes, we will keep the budget well within the state’s population times inflation, and we will not use the Rainy Day Fund (RDF) for ongoing expenses – that has never been its purpose and we should not do that in this budget time.”  
 
The SB 1 Conferees met this last week for an organizational hearing and received a brief update from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). The LBB has also posted committee documents which contain side by side details on the House and Senate versions of the budget. The rider document will only show the differences between the two versions.

  • House conferees Reps.: John Zerwas (R-Richmond)-chair, Oscar Longoria (D-Mission), Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), Sarah Davis (R-West University Place), Larry Gonzales (R-Round Rock).
  • Senate conferees Sens.: Jane Nelson (R- Flower Mound) Chair, Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D- McAllen), Joan Huffman (R-Houston), Charles Schwertner (R- Georgetown), and Lois Kolkhorst (R- Brenham).  

Upcoming Key Deadlines
Monday, May 8, 2017 (119th day) Last day for house committees to report house bills and house joint resolutions
 
Thursday, May 11, 2017 (122nd day) Last day for the house to consider house bills and house joint resolutions on 2nd reading on the Daily or Supplemental Calendar
 
Friday, May 12, 2017 (123rd day) Last day for the house to consider consent house bills o on 2nd and 3rd reading and all 3rd reading house bills or house joint resolutions on the Supplemental Calendar
 
Lists of ALL Legislative Deadlines
Dates of Interest
End of Session Deadlines – Calendar Format
 
Calendars
Note there are calendars in the House for Monday-Thursday and Saturday. Calendars will be updated through the week and bills can be added to calendars throughout the week.
 
Monday, May 1 Spotlight

  • HB 2561 (Thompson), Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. 11 amendments were pre-filed.  
  • HB 3987 (Larson), Relating to the authority of the Texas Water Development Board to use the state participation account of the water development fund to provide financial assistance for the development of certain facilities.

Click on link to view complete list of bills on Monday calendar.
 
Tuesday, May 2 Spotlight

  • HB 20 (Capriglione), Relating to the review, oversight, and reporting of certain state agency contracts.
  • HB 2950 (Burkett), Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Nursing and to the regulation of the practice of nursing. Prefiled amendments are due by 10 a.m., Monday, May 1.
  • HB 727 (Guerra), Relating to the use of home telemonitoring services under Medicaid.
  • HB 486 (VanDeaver), Relating to school district ad valorem tax rates.
  • HB 579 (Turner), Relating to notice of certain state agency contract cost that exceeds the amount of the contract.
  • HCR 106 (Deshotel), Urging Congress to provide sufficient federal funding for the construction of a storm surge barrier along the Texas coast.

Click on link to view complete list of bills on Tuesday calendar.
 
Wednesday, May 3 Spotlight

  • SB 21/SJR 38 (Birdwell/Estes), regarding delegates (SB21) and cancelling applications (SJR 38) for a convention called under Article V of the United States Constitution.
  • HB 22 (Huberty), Relating to public school accountability.
  • HB 1917 (Raymond), Relating to contract requirements for prescription drug benefits provided by Medicaid managed care organizations.
  • HB 2377 (Larson), Relating to the development of brackish groundwater.
  • HB 1081 (Arevalo), Relating to the new instructional facility allotment under the foundation school program.

Click on link to view complete list of bills on Wednesday calendar.
 
Bills on the Move Spotlight
HB 28 (Bonnen), which would allow for the franchise tax to phase out provided there is a surplus of state revenue, was passed out of the House on Friday, April 28 with 96 ayes and 39 nays. There will not be appropriations for the bill but rather the bill requires the Comptroller to make determinations and calculations to lead to the phase out and expiration of the franchise tax. The current fiscal note on the bill estimates a direct impact of revenue loss to the Property Tax Relief Fund and General Revenue of up to $3.5 billion for the 2020-21 and subsequent biennia. HB 28 will now move over to the Senate for further deliberations. 
 
SB 4 (Perry/Geren), referred to as the “sanctuary cities” bill was passed out of the House on April 27. After 16 hours of debate the divisive discussion ended after a motion was made to consolidate remaining amendments as considered and failed. SB 4 as passed had a total of 11 adopted floor amendments with 94 ayes and 53 nays. The bill will now head back to the Senate where either: 1) the changes can be accepted and the bill can be sent to the Governor or 2) the Senate can appoint conferees to work out the work out the differences between the two bills.
 
HB 180 (Lucio), relating to the review of groundwater conservation districts by the state auditor was passed out of the House on April 27 (145-2).
 
HB 2948 (Larson), relating to the state and regional water planning process was passed out of the House on April 27 unanimously.
 
HB 1428 (Smithee), relating to mediation of the settlement of certain out-of-network health benefit claims involving balance billing for members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas was passed out of the House on April 27 unanimously.
 
HB 1861 (Elkins), relating to the confidentiality of certain information related to a computer security incident was passed out of the House unanimously on April 27 as substituted with one adopted amendment.
 
SB 457 (Campbell), which would provide funding to charter schools for their facilities was amended by Watson when the bill came to the floor for debate. The adopted amendments capped the total amount of funding at $100 million and split the funding between public school facilities and charter school facilities. The bill passed out of the Senate on April 27 (20-10).

SB 2006 (Watson), relating to erecting or maintaining certain outdoor signs regulated by the Texas Department of Transportation, was passed out of the Senate with one adopted amendment by Watson on April 26 (26-4).
 
SB 1633 (Perry), relating to the provision of pharmacy services through a telepharmacy system; establishing a remote dispensing site license, was passed out of the Senate unanimously on April 27.
 
SB 518 (Miles/ et al.), relating to a franchise tax credit for entities that employ certain students in certain paid internship or similar programs, was passed out of the Senate with four adopted amendments on April 27 (21-10).
 
Upcoming Senate Committee Meetings
Intergovernmental Relations – 5/1/2017
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: E1.028 (Hearing Room)
Nominations – 5/1/2017
Nominee Kevin J. Lilly for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will appear
Time: 9:30 AM, Location: 2E.20 (Betty King Cmte. Rm.)
Finance – 5/1/2017
Time: 10:00 AM, Location: E1.036 (Finance Room)
State Affairs – 5/1/2017
Time: 11:00 AM, Location: Senate Chamber
Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs – 5/1/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon adjournment, Location: E1.012 (Hearing Room)
Administration – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E1. 714
Business & Commerce – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E1.016 (Hearing Room)
Education – 5/2/2017
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: E1.028 (Hearing Room)
Natural Resources & Economic Development – 5/2/2017
Time: 9:00 AM, Location: E1.012 (Hearing Room)
 
Upcoming House Committee Meetings
Human Services – 5/1/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.030
Business & Industry – 5/1/2017
Time: 10:00 AM, Location: E2.016
Criminal Jurisprudence – 5/1/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.014
Government Transparency & Operation – 5/1/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.028
Licensing & Administrative Procedures – 5/1/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.026
Pensions – 5/1/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.012
Environmental Regulation – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E1.026
Homeland Security & Public Safety – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.014
Insurance – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.016
Public Education – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.036
Public Health – 5/2/2017
Time: 8:00 AM, Location: E2.012
Urban Affairs – 5/2/2017
Time: 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.028
Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence – 5/2/2017
Time: 2:00 PM or upon final adjourn./recess, Location: E2.026
 
Upcoming Committee Hearings
The latest hearing information can be found by visiting HillCo’s “Legislative News from Texas.” Please note that dates and times are subject to change and additional hearings dates may also be added at any time so you will want to re-visit the page frequently to confirm hearings. Formal hearings may not be broadcast.
 
Video Broadcasts:   House | Senate
 
To access complete articles and hearing reports under the “read more” links below, please use your HillCo Client log-in or create an account.