The House and Senate will both reconvene on Monday, March 20 at 2pm.
Video Broadcasts: House | Senate
Budget
House Appropriations met on Thursday and took up HB 2 (Zerwas) relating to supplemental appropriations. The bill as substituted appropriates $5.2 billion in all funds which includes $957.1 million in general revenue (GR) and $2.4 billion from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) also known as the Rainy Day Fund (RDF). For a quick infographic on items funded – HB 2 funding at a glance. The bill was left pending. House Appropriations then took up subcommittee riders and any unfinished or pending business for HB 1.
Senate Finance met on March 15 to take up and adopt workgroup recommendations on the budget bill, SB 1. They concluded discussions on workgroup recommendations on March 16. Senate Finance Chair Nelson Nelson told members she expects to take a vote on the final budget as a whole by the middle of next week, and send it to the full Senate for consideration.
Contracts
During House Appropriations discussions, this week, Rep. Caprioglione presented a Contract Cost Containment Rider that was ultimately approved in committee. The rider would impact all agencies and institutions, directing them to implement certain contract cost containment strategies which would result in achieving $500 million in GR and GRD savings in HB 1.
TxDOT Sunset legislation (SB 312) was taken up in committee this week. Section 19 relates to contracting reforms including requiring the Commission to develop a contractor performance evaluation tool and process.
Recent Committee Postings or Changes
The House Educator Quality Subcommittee will meet on March 20 and take up a full agenda.
SB 3, the voucher bill, has been moved and will now be heard in Senate Education on March 21.
House Pensions has canceled their March 20 meeting and as a result the following bill will not be heard on that day: HB 43 (Flynn) relating to the public retirement systems of certain municipalities.
Invited testimony on Cybersecurity and Gun Laws in Texas will be heard in House Homeland Security & Public Safety on March 21.
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.
Bill Filing Deadline Passed
HillCo Partners published an update last week regarding the bill filing deadline. It was a record number of bills filed and to date there have been 6,499 House & Senate bills filed. The Legislative Reference Library has published more statistics regarding both bills and joint resolutions in three quick graph overviews.
Legislative Deadline
The 85th Legislature deadline calendar is available with deadlines for actions under the House and Senate Rules.
Sunset
Sunset legislation continues to move through the 85th. Senate Health and Human Services on Monday, March 20 will take up several bills regarding the continuation of several regulatory agencies. HB 1818 relating to the Railroad Commission has been passed out of committee and is now waiting in Calendars. Also, as noted below SB 312 – TxDOT has been placed on the Senate Intent calendar. Texas Sunset Advisory Commission has published a list of all Sunset bills on agencies/entities moving through the process.
Bill on the Move Spotlight
In Chambers
SB 6 (Kolkhorst) Relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility was passed out of the Senate as amended (21-10) on March 15 where it will move to the House and wait for further consideration.
SB 8 (Schwertner) Relating to certain prohibited abortions and the treatment and disposition of a human fetus, human fetal tissue, and other tissue resulting from pregnancy was passed out of the Senate (24-6) on March 15 and will now move to the House for further consideration.
SB 26 (Estes) Relating to the Texas emissions reduction plan and other related programs and measures to reduce emissions was passed out of the Senate (28-3) on March 14 with 3 adopted floor amendments and will now move to the House for further consideration.
HB 62 (Craddick) Relating to the use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle was passed to out of the House as amended on March 16th with 113 ayes and 32 nays. HB 62 will now move over to the Senate for further consideration.
In Committee
If a HillCo Client Report on the committee hearing is available, the key subject will be hyperlinked to the report.
HB 25 (Simmons) Relating to the elimination of straight-party voting was reported out favorably (5-2) from House Elections on March 13.*
HB 101 (Craddick) Relating to the development of and contracting for reclaimed water facilities in certain municipalities has been put on the House General State Calendar for March 21.
SB 2 (Bettencourt) Relating to ad valorem taxation was voted favorably from Senate Finance as substituted as is on the Senate Intent Calendar. The committee substitute is now available.*
SB 4 (Perry) Relating to the enforcement by certain governmental entities of state and federal laws governing immigration and to the duties of law enforcement agencies concerning certain arrested persons was heard in House State Affairs on March 15. The bill was left pending.*
SB 5 (Huffman) Relating to requiring a voter to present proof of identification was reported on March 14 from Senate State Affairs as substituted.*
SB 23 (Schwertner) Relating to requiring state contractors to participate in the federal electronic verification of employment authorization program, or E-verify was voted favorably as substituted from Senate Business and Commerce on March 14.
SB 31 (Zaffirini) Relating to the use of a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle was first placed on the Senate Intent Calendar on March 15.
SB 312 (Nichols) Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Department of Transportation was reported favorably from Senate Transportation on March 15 and was first placed on the Senate Intent Calendar for March 20. *
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