House Budget Floor Debate Next Week
The General Appropriations Bill (HB 1) is on the Tuesday, March 31 House Calendar. All amendments that will be offered will need to be filed by noon on Saturday. In the last five previous sessions anywhere between 200 and 475 amendments have been filed. Not every amendment filed will be brought up on the floor for debate but it is expected the debate could easily go into the following day. During the last session the budget bill was voted out of the House after 11 hours of discussion.
The House has adopted a calendar rule for HB 1 that states any amendments offered that increase funds must have an offsetting reduction. This would not apply to riders that are added to Article XI.
HB 1, includes $104.6 billion in general revenue spending (GR).
Summary of Committee Substitute for House Bill 1
Committee Substitute for House Bill 1
The marathon discussion on budget is expected to continue as the House Supplemental Appropriations bill (HB 2) is scheduled on the Wednesday, April 1 House Calendar. The House has adopted the same calendar rule in regards to amendments that increase funds must an offsetting reduction. All amendments for HB 2 must be filed by 10 am this Sunday.
Supplemental Bill Highlights: CSHB2
Committee Substitute for House Bill 2
Committee Spotlight
*If you are a HillCo client but have not yet set up your website access, please visit the following to do so in order to access the HillCo client links listed below: https://www.hillcopartners.com/user/register.
Budget – Senate:
The Senate Finance Committee has completed markups and given final instructions to the LBB. Adopted decisions are posted on the LBB.
Environment: Bills in both House Energy Resources and Senate Natural Resources addressed the subject of express preemption of regulation of oil and gas operations. House Natural Resources met on March 25 and took up HB 200 (Keffer) relating to the regulation of groundwater. During the committee, the bill author stated the bill is intended to provide an appeal process to challenge desired future conditions and establish an administrative hearing process. HillCo Client hearing reports are available for all clients on all these hearings.*
Health Care:
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met to consider Sunset bills for the Health and Human Services Commission, Department of State Health Services, Department of Aging & Disability Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Family and Protective Services. The committee also took up a bill that would abolish three health related task forces and advisory committees. There is a HillCo Client hearing report available for this hearing.
The House Committee on Public Health met to discuss bills relating to the state immunization registry and reporting of immunization exemption waivers by school districts. Additionally, the committee addressed “right to try” legislation which would give terminally ill patients easier access to drugs that have not been approved by the FDA. There is a HillCo Client hearing report available for this hearing.
The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services met and discussed a bill that would transfer the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program from the Department of Public Safety to the State Board of Pharmacy, according to the author Chairman Charles Schwertner, the program could be improved by having oversight by an agency that deals with pharmacies on a regular basis. The committee also heard a bill related to sanctions placed on certain providers of long term services and supports and a bill that would allow emergency room doctors to detain patients with mental illnesses who they believe present a danger to themselves or others. There is a HillCo Client hearing report available for this hearing.
*If you are a HillCo client but have not yet set up your website access, please visit the following to do so in order to access the HillCo client links listed above: https://www.hillcopartners.com/user/register.
Upcoming Hearings
House and Senate Committee hearing will continue next week, the latest 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.
There will not be a committee hearing for House Public Education this Tuesday since the appropriations bill will be on the House floor. The agenda for Senate Education has not been posted at time of publication. The House Elections Committee will take up several bills regarding ballot language and November-only elections on Monday at 2:00 pm.
The standing committee hearings as well as floor discussions, live and archived, can be listened to at the following links: House | Senate. Please note that formal hearings may not be broadcasted.
Spotlight on Bills on the Move:
SB 1/SJR 1 (Nelson) proposes to increase the homestead exemption to 25 percent of the Texas home median market value. The bill would hold harmless the school districts as a result of the increased homestead exemption. SB 1 was passed out of the Senate Chamber with 26 ayes and 5 nays and will move to the House for further consideration. SJR 1 would put the issue before voters on September 12, 2015. SJR 1, with one floor amendment, was passed out of the Senate with 23 ayes and 8 nays and will now move the House for further consideration.
SB 7 (Nelson) cuts franchise taxes by 15 percent across the board. The bill would It would also increase the availability of the E-Z tax calculation to businesses with revenue of $20 million or less, decrease the E-Z tax rate and directs the Comptroller's office to provide the Legislature with a report on how the franchise tax could be eliminated completely. Two floor amendments were adopted during debate. SB 7, as amended, passed with 24 ayes and 7 nays and will now move to the House for further consideration.
SB 8 (Schwertner) businesses from the franchise tax who gross under $4 million annually. The bill passed out of the Senate with 24 ayes and 7 nays and will move to the House for further consideration.
Chamber
The House will reconvene Monday, March 30 at 2pm.
The Senate will reconvene Monday, March 30 at 2pm.
Video Broadcasts: House | Senate