The Texas House is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m.*
The Texas Senate is scheduled to reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m.
*Moments ago HillCo sent out the THDC statement which states Democrats intend to break quorum “to fight back against state Republicans’ continued attacks on Texans’ freedom to vote.” See link for the complete THDC statement.
Of note, there is not technically a lack of quorum until the absence of a quorum is established on the floor. The next step under House Rules would require when the House reconvenes to have a motion and a vote to place a quorum call on the absent members.
House Speaker Dade Phelan has released a statement as well. He noted the “Texas House will use every available resource under the Texas Constitution and the unanimously-passed House Rules to secure a quorum to meaningfully debate and consider election integrity, bail reform, benefits for retired teachers, Child Protection Services reform, Article X funding, and the other important measures Gov. Abbott placed on the special session agenda. The special session clock is ticking – I expect all Members to be present in our Capitol in order to immediately get to work on these issues.”
Governor Greg Abbott has also released a statement: Texas Democrats’ decision to break a quorum of the Texas Legislature and abandon the Texas State Capitol inflicts harm on the very Texans who elected them to serve. As they fly across the country on cushy private planes, they leave undone issues that can help their districts and our state. Issues like property tax relief, funding to support Sheriffs and law enforcement in high crime areas, funding for children in foster care, and, funding for retired teachers. The Democrats must put aside partisan political games and get back to the job they were elected to do. Their constituents must not be denied these important resources simply because their elected representative refused to show up to work.”
Standing committee hearings and the chamber proceedings held at the Capitol, live and archived, can be listened to at the following links: House | Senate.
Spotlight of Bills on the Move:
HB 2 (Smith) Relating to rules for setting the amount of bail, to the release of certain defendants on a monetary bond or personal bond, to related duties of certain officers taking bail bonds and of a magistrate in a criminal case, to charitable bail organizations, and to the reporting of information pertaining to bail bond. Reported favorably out of House Select Constitutional Rights & Remedies on 7/10 (9-6).
HB 3 (Murr) Relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state; increasing criminal penalties; creating criminal offenses. Reported favorably out of House Select Constitutional Rights & Remedies on 7/11 (9-5).
HJR 1 (Kacal) Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring a judge or magistrate to impose the least restrictive conditions of bail that may be necessary and authorizing the denial of bail under some circumstances to a person accused of a violent or sexual offense or of continuous trafficking of persons. Reported favorably out of House Select Constitutional Rights & Remedies on 7/11 (10-5).
SB 6 (Huffman) Relating to rules for setting the amount of bail, to the release of certain defendants on a monetary bond or personal bond, to related duties of certain officers taking bail bonds and of a magistrate in a criminal case, to charitable bail organizations, and to the reporting of information pertaining to bail bonds. Reported favorably out of Senate Jurisprudence in a formal meeting on 7/12 (4-0).
SJR 3 (Huffman) Proposing a constitutional amendment requiring a judge or magistrate to impose the least restrictive conditions of bail that may be necessary and authorizing the denial of bail under some circumstances to a person accused of a violent or sexual offense or of continuous trafficking of persons. Reported favorably out of Senate Jurisprudence in a formal meeting on 7/12 (4-0).
SB 8 (Bettencourt | et al.) Relating to the authority of a person who acquires a residence homestead to receive an ad valorem tax exemption for the homestead in the year in which the property is acquired. Reported favorably out of Senate Local Government in a formal meeting on 7/12 (8-0).
SB 12 (Bettencourt | et al.) Relating to the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed by a school district on the residence homestead of an individual who is elderly or disabled to reflect any reduction from the preceding tax year in the district’s maximum compressed rate. Reported favorably out of Senate Local Government in a formal meeting on 7/12 (8-0).
SJR 4 (Bettencourt | et al.) Proposing a constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead. Reported favorably out of Senate Local Government in a formal meeting on 7/12 (8-0).
Left Pending
SB 9 (West) Relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence. Left pending in Senate Jurisprudence on 7/10.
In Committee Today
SB 2 (Perry | et al.) Relating to requiring public school and public institution of higher education students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex.
SB 32 (Perry | et al.) Relating to requiring public school students to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex.