Both the House and the Senate will reconvene on Monday, March 27 at 2pm.
Video Broadcasts: House | Senate
Budget Bill
The committee substitute for SB 1 was voted out of committee this week and is anticipated to be on the Senate floor for further consideration on Tuesday, March 28. Finance Chair Jane Nelson listed some of the appropriations made in the bill which includes:
- $2.6 billion for enrollment growth
- $25 million for E-Rate for all public schools
- $65 million new public-private partnership for high quality pre-k in addition to the $1.6 billion for formula funding.
- $316 million to fund SB 788 to address TRS shortfall
- Increase funding for graduate medical education by $44 million
- $40 million for infrastructure projects at Texas ports
- $430 million increased funding to CPS
- $244 million increased funding to mental health
Bills on the Move Spotlight
Taxes
CSSB 2 (Bettencourt), which passed out of the Senate in an 18-12 vote with four adopted floor amendments, could require taxing entities to hold an election if the amount of maintenance & operating funds (M&O) they plan to collect from property taxes is 5 percent more than what they took in the previous year. There is an exception in the legislation if any part of the taxing unit is in a declared disaster area. This bill will now move over to the House for further consideration.
SB 17 (Nelson), which passed out of the Senate in a 23-7 vote, would decrease the rates of franchise tax under certain circumstance. The bill will now move over to the House for further consideration.
House Ways and Means took up several tax bills on March 22 and left them pending including but not limited to:
- HB 382 (Murphy) & HJR 38 (Murphy) relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of real property leased to and used by certain school. Proposing a constitutional amendment to limit the time that a person may serve as a member of the Texas Legislature.
- HB 1890 (Capriglione) relating to the information required to be included in or with a school district ad valorem tax bill.
- HB 513 (Davis) relating to the reappraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of property damaged in a disaster.
Contracts
HB 1295 (Capriglione) relating to the disclosure of interested parties by business entities contracting with governmental entities and state agencies; authorizing a civil penalty – was left pending after a public hearing in the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics on March 23.
HB 1610 (Kuempel) relating to the disclosure of interested parties by business entities contracting with governmental entities or state agencies penalty – was left pending after a public hearing in the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics on March 23.
Health Care
SB 267 (Schwertner), which unanimously passed out of the Senate as substituted with one adopted floor amendment, would require periodic inspections of licensed hospitals and could increase the administrative burden and amount of penalties imposed on certain hospitals.
Transportation
SB 312 (Nichols) the TxDOT Sunset bill passed out of the Senate unanimously with three adopted floor amendments on March 21. The bill will now move over to the House for further consideration.
Environment
HB 101 (Craddick), which passed out of the House unanimously on March 22, relates to the development of and contracting for reclaimed water facilities in certain municipalities. The bill will now move over to the Senate for further consideration.
HB 1818 (Gonzales) the Railroad Commission of Texas Sunset bill is on the House Calendar for March 28. Proposed amendments will need to be filed on Monday, March 27 by 10:00am.
SB 28 (Creighton), as substituted, which was voted unanimously from the Senate Transportation Committee on March 22, would create a ship channel improvement revolving fund.
Election
SB 5 (Huffman) which would require a voter to present proof of identification has been placed on the Senate Intent Calendar and could be pulled up by the Senate to debate next week.
HB 25 (Simmons) relating to the elimination of straight-party voting was voted favorably out of House Elections in a 5-2 vote on March 23.
Education
SB 3 (Taylor) school voucher legislation was taken up in Senate Education on March 21 and the committee heard just over 9 hours of testimony and legislation on the bill. The committee substitute was laid out but was not available on TLO at the time of publication. Although not technically a school finance bill, the discussions were intertwined said Sen. West during his remarks. The bill as substituted was passed out of Senate Education on March 23 with 7 ayes and 3 nays.
HB 21 (Huberty) relating to the school finance system was heard in the House Public Education committee on March 21 as substitute. The latest version has a different structure for hardship grants and $250 million has been added that will put additional funds in HB 21 that could go towards a CTE or bilingual weight, however discussions will continue as that bill, which now totals $1.9 billion, was left pending. HB 21 will come up again in committee on March 28 – it is possible at that time a version of the bill will be voted out and sent to the floor.
Pensions
SB 2190 (Huffman) relating to the public retirement systems of certain municipalities was heard on Monday, March 20 in Senate State Affairs and voted favorably from committee as substituted.
HB 43 (Flynn) relating to the public retirement systems of certain municipalities will be heard in House Pensions on Monday, March 27.
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.