Thread by @bradj_TX

Today is #txlege 88R bill prefiling day. Legislators will begin filing their bills after 8 am.

You can look at them here: capitol.texas.gov/Reports/Genera…

I'll post notable ones in this thread once they begin coming in.

First bill loaded to TLO is @jamestalarico's HB21 that would establish the Texas Independent Redistricting Commission: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@ValoreeforTexas has officially filed the Save Women's Sports Act, #HB23, that'd require collegiate athletes to compete within their biological sex -- extension of last year's version for K-12 sports to college.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Background: thetexan.news/texas-lawmaker…

First Senate bill filed is @JudithZaffirini's bill to connect the ERCOT grid to adjacent grids. No bill pdf is loaded yet.

Rep. Andrew Murr has re-filed his bill from last session to eliminate the school district M&O property tax rate component -- the single largest part of ad valorem tax bills.

#HB29 text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Some background on the issue: thetexan.news/abbott-backs-e…

Murr has also filed #HB39 that would restore the election fraud penalty to a state jail felony under last year's SB1 reforms.

It was reduced to a misdemeanor by a House amendment last year and remained in the final version.

Some background: thetexan.news/abbott-tasks-l…

.@BrooksLandgraf's #HB33 prohibits state employees/agencies from "contract[ing] with or in any other manner provide assistance to a federal agency or official" on enforcement of oil and gas regulations that do not already exist in the state.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Two gender modification-related bills:

#HB42 by @BryanforHD2 classifies those surgeries explicitly as "child abuse": capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

#HB41 by @Toth_4_Texas that prohibits doctors from conducting those surgeries: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Exceptions in #HB41:

Toth's bill also removes liability coverage for doctors on procedures under these categories:

.@cvasut's #HB60 would establish within the state's enrichment curriculum teachings that "human life begins at conception and has inherent dignity and immeasurable worth from the moment of conception." #txlege

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@CandyNobleHD89's #HB61 would prohibit Texas local governments from using taxpayer dollars to help individuals obtain abortions.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Some background on the issue: thetexan.news/austin-approve…

.@RepMattSchaefer has filed #HB69 that would restrict the use of civil asset forfeiture by law enforcement by raising the standard from "preponderance of evidence" to "clear and convincing evidence."

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@DonnaHowardTX's #HB70 would eliminate sales taxes on tampons and other feminine hygiene products.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@ErinForYall's #HB75 would add to the list of acceptable voter ID docs a college ID for a school in Texas.

Ooh, this is twisty.

@RepMattSchaefer's #HB119 would establish judicial review of local disaster orders. Disaster powers reform faltered last session but this is a new approach I haven't seen yet. #txlege

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Related to disaster powers reform, @RepMattSchaefer's #HB154 would ban state and local mask mandates.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@BucyForTexas' #HB160 would add a one-time 10% cost-of-living adjustment to the @TRSofTexas benefits for retired teachers.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@DavidSpillerTX's #HB170 restricts local taxpayer-funded lobbying to certain qualifications, namely if the contract is not passed by majority vote of the governmental body.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@TomOliverson has filed the @TPPF proposal to eliminate the ISD M&O rate using 90% of state surplus dollars to buy down school property tax rates. #txlege

#HB174 text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@VikkiGoodwinTX's #HB178 would prohibit individuals from displaying firearms at or near protests "in a manner calculated to alarm."

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

#HB187 by @BrooksLandgraf would require all bond elections to be held on the November uniform election date, no longer on May local election dates.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@ValoreeforTexas' #HB190 would require local ballot propositions to mirror exactly the caption on the circulated petition.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

This is an issue b/c some local governments have altered ballot language from petitions in the past.
thetexan.news/austin-city-co…

.@lina4texas' #HB193 would allow localities to set their own minimum wage higher than the state's.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Howard filed a similar bill but for child and adult diapers:
capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/His…

.@DiegoBernalTX has filed a bill to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

It came the closest it has to succeeding last session when 9 Republicans signed onto the bill, but then 8 reneged when the vote came up: thetexan.news/medicaid-expan…

.@Toth_4_Texas' #HB221 would make school board elections partisan -- noted as R or D on the ballot.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@ValoreeforTexas' #HB232 raises the filing fee for state rep from $750 to $1,250.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@BryanforHD2 has filed a bill to close primaries in Texas.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

Some background on the issue from the @TexasGOP convention:
thetexan.news/texas-gop-rebu…

.@brianeharrison has filed #HB81 that would ban vaccine mandates. Legislative efforts to pass the ban during the special session last year failed.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@JaredLPatterson and @joanhuffman have filed companion bills that boost benefits for @TXMilitary members along with death benefits for their widows.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

https://twitter.com/JaredLPatterson/status/1592218463204167680?s=20&t=71HD0wK8cR1pCW-hVcSGKw

.@CortezPhilip's #HB167 would put the final nail in the coffin for any remaining red light cameras across the state.

They were banned in the 2019 session but contracts in place were allowed to run their course.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@mayes_middleton's first batch of legislation as a Senator-elect include...

-#SB175, taxpayer-funded lobbying ban: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…
-#SB176, creating a school choice program (no text yet): capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/His…
-#SB177, vax mandate ban: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

.@DonnaCampbellTX has filed three education-related bills, including one that requires ISDs to provide a class "on the founding principles of the US, evidenced in the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Federalist Papers, and writings of the founders of the US."

#txlege will take another whack at adopting Daylight Saving Time full-time with @RepSchofield's #HB417.

Another by @RepSchofield would prohibit localities spending money on a project greater than the amount approved on an approved bond proposition.

#HB445 also establishes standing for voters to sue localities if they violate that restriction.#txlege

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

#HB450 by Rep. Craddick creates a private cause of action against "bad faith washouts" which is a deliberate effort to devalue or eliminate an oil and gas royalty interest.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

This bill got vetoed by @GovAbbott last year:
mrt.com/business/oil/a…

Among her first #txlege bills, Rep-elect @EllenTroxclair files #HB553 aimed at her old stomping ground, Austin.

Prohibits localities from creating Universal Basic Income programs.

Text: capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/bi…

ATX got the ball rolling on this in April: thetexan.news/1000-per-month…