This week the Texas Senate welcomed DJ Daniel to the chamber. DJ is a 13 year old from the Houston area who is battling terminal brain and spine cancer. His dream is to become a police officer and he has set a goal to be sworn in by 1,000 law enforcement agencies across the country, which would be a record. This week, he moved one step closer to that goal when he was sworn into as an officer with the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Senate passes bill to increase business personal property tax exemption

This week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 32 by Senator Paul Bettencourt. This bill increases the business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $25,000. This will alleviate the tax burden on small businesses around the state. The bill also changes the exemption from a de minimis exemption to a universal exemption, meaning all businesses with business personal property can claim the exemption. The bill also provides a 20 percent inventory tax credit to reduce a business’s franchise tax liability. The total amount of credits that can be issued in a fiscal year is $500 million. Supporting small businesses by alleviating their tax burden is why Texas is one of the best places to start a business in the country.

2. House unanimously passes Trey’s Law, protecting sex abuse victims from non-disclosure agreements

The Texas House passed House Bill 748, also known as Trey’s Law, by Representative Jeff Leach this week. This bill would ban the use of non-disclosure agreements in civil settlements related to sexual abuse and sex trafficking cases. When cases are settled out of court, abusers have used confidentiality agreements to ensure that victims are forced to stay silent about what happened to them. The bill would subject all agreements, even those already in existence, to the provisions of the law. The bill is named after Trey Carlock, a Texas resident who died by suicide in 2019 after years of sexual abuse at a Christian summer camp. He signed an NDA as part of civil settlement, which led to the feeling he had to “suffer in silence,” as his sister said at the House hearing on the bill. The bill passed the House unanimously and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

3. Texas DOGE bill goes to Governor

The very first bill to make it through both chambers is on its way to the Governor this week. Senate Bill 14 is a measure that seeks to improve government efficiency by creating the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office within the Governor’s Office to identify rules and regulations at state agencies that are no longer necessary or useful and provide changes to rules that can reduce costs or improve effectiveness. The bill also codifies a Supreme Court decision related to federal regulations. The principle of Chevron deference required courts to defer to an agency’s reasonable interpretation of an otherwise ambiguous statute. Recently, that standard was overturned at the federal level. This bill would codify the same principle at the state level that courts are not required to defer to agencies’ legal determinations.

4. Appeals court rules TEA can release A-F ratings

This week a judge ruled that the Texas Education Agency can move forward with releasing A-F school accountability ratings from the 2023 school year. The grades were delayed by a lawsuit filed by more than 100 districts after the agency changed the grading system mid-year. Under the new methods, districts would have had to reach higher benchmarks to get desirable ratings. The ratings are based on a number of factors including percentage of students who are college, career, or military-ready, graduation rates, and STAAR test scores. TEA announced it intends to release the ratings on April 24. A separate lawsuit over the 2024 ratings is still in litigation and is waiting on a decision.

5. East Texas non-profit places 400 foster children in homes

Almost a decade ago, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 11, which create Community Base Care model for foster care. It took the responsibility of placing foster children in homes from Child Protective Services to local contractors, like Texas Family Care Network (TFCN). TFCN started case management in the Deep East Texas Region a little over a year ago. Since then, the community-based network has removed more than 400 children from the foster care system and placed them in homes. I applaud the good, hard work Texas Family Care Network is doing in our community to help these children find a home.

This week we welcomed the Texas Forestry Association (TFA) to sthe Texas Capitol. TFA, which has been active since 1914, has members in a variety of fields including logging, consulting, conservation, planting, and prescribed burning. We were proud to have this group (including Smokey the Bear) join us for a day at the Capitol!

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Senate Bill 16 passes Senate to stop non-citizen voting

This week the Senate passed SB 16 by Senator Bryan Hughes, which would require Texans to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in state and local elections. Senator Hughes shared that between 2021and 2024 DPS removed 6,500 non-citizens from voter registration rolls. There are two primary ways to register to vote – either when you renew your drivers license with a DPS office or by mail application. Most voters register through a DPS office. This bill would require that applicants present proof of citizenship, such as US passport, birth certificate, citizenship papers for naturalization, or a federal ID issued by immigration authorities, when registering for the first time. For those registering by mail, a drivers license number, official ID number, or the last four digits of a Social Security number must be provided. As a coauthor of this bill, I am confident that this will improve the integrity of our state and local election systems.

2. Senate Bill 22 creates opportunity for movie industry in Texas

This week the Senate Finance Committee passed SB 22 by Senator Joan Huffman out of committee. The bill seeks to enhance funding for the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program. The program launched in 2007 to lure film production to the state with both partial reimbursements and tax breaks. Projects were eligible if more than half the cast and crew were Texas residents and the majority of production occurred within the state. The program has proved to be financially beneficial with $2.5 billion dollars of economic impact and 200,000 jobs brought to the state. However, other states have launched similar programs that have proved to be more competitive. SB 22 will dedicate $500 million each biennium for the next decade to enhance the program. Testimony from actors and native Texans Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson shed light on what improvements will increase the film industry’s presence in Texas. SB 22 will bring billions of dollars to the Texas economy and give Texas a prominent place on the silver screen.

3. Senate Bill 8 creates partnership between sheriffs, federal ICE agents

On Tuesday, the Senate passed SB 8 which will increase the cooperation of local sheriff offices and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The 287(g) program is an initiative by ICE for counties to identify and detain illegal immigrants. Currently, only 35 Texas counties participate in the program. SB 8 will mandate that counties with a population over 100,000 participate in the program. Also included in the proposed legislation, grants will be available to smaller counties that wish to participate. The 287(g) rule has three programs. The primary program, known as the jail model, trains jailers to identify immigration status within ICE’s system. Another program is the Warrant Service Officer program, which trains officers in issuing administrative warrants to hold an inmate in ICE custody within a local jail. Lastly, the Task Force program trains local law enforcement and deputizes officers to exercise limited immigration authorities in the course of their regular duties.

4. SJR 4 will raise cap on Rainy Day Fund

In 1988, the Texas Legislature created the Emergency Stabilization Fund (ESF) commonly known as the “rainy day fund.” The fund is a reserve that the state has available in economically volatile times. Currently, the state constitution caps the maximum balance at 10 percent of General Revenue. The comptroller projects to reach this cap in 2026, which will cause $5.6 billon to “spill over” back into General Revenue. Instead, the proposed resolution would raise the cap on the ESF from 10 to 15 percent for the maximum biennial balance, capturing the spill over in what is functionally the state’s savings account. The creation of the ESF and continual support through constitutionally-dedicated funding safeguards the fiscal prosperity of our state.

5. 3.5 magnitude earthquake detected in Nacogdoches

Friday night, residents of Nacogdoches County reported feeling a tremble that felt like a storm hit. The US Geological Service confirmed a 3.5 magnitude earthquake just southwest of Lake Nacogdoches. Deputies and local fire departments responded immediately concerned about potential gas line breaks. No injuries or significant damage have been reported.

In 1969, our nation made history by putting a man on the moon. A lesser known fact the astronauts who joined us on the floor this week shared is that Texas is the only state with a flag on the moon, and now we have two!

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. State budget for the next biennium passes the Senate

This week the Senate unanimously passed its version of the state budget for the next two years. The proposed budget, Senate Bill 1 by Senator Joan Huffman, will spend $153.5 billion in state revenue, and with federal funds included will spend $336 billion. The budget included money to lower school property taxes, and allotted money to raise the homestead exemption to $140,000. Public schools will receive a $500 million increase to school safety funding. I had the opportunity to chair a Finance Committee’s workgroup on 36 state agencies and roughly 56 billion dollars. The House version of the  budget is making its way through the Appropriations Committee. Once the House passes their bill, a conference committee will convene to resolve differences between the chambers. Once a final proposal has been made, it will go before both chambers for approval.

2. Major water infrastructure bill passes out of committee

Senate Bill 7 by Senator Charles Perry passed out of committee on Monday. SB 7 would provide $1 billion dollars in dedicated funds every year to support water projects in the state. Senator Perry noted that half the states rural water associations fear they could run out of water in the next 20 years. The agriculture industry has seen significant negative effects from the impending water shortage. SB 7 will ensure that after this session the state can take monumental steps to make sure this doesn’t happen. The bill will provide funding to support and encourage “non-traditional water supply development.” Senator Perry stated that the bill will protect existing water supplies by prohibiting projects that move freshwater to alternative locations, ensuring that existing sustainable resources are not depleted. This funding will go before the voters for final approval. I was proud to coauthor SB 7 and I think it will be a historic step in improving our water infrastructure.

3. Bill passes to provide for safer pedestrian railroad crossings

Senate Bill 1555 and accompanying Senate Concurrent Resolution 25 passed on the Senate floor this week. I was proud to author SB 1555 which creates a grant program for political subdivisions to construct pedestrian railroad crossings. The accompanying resolution SCR 25 by Senator Carol Alvarado, urges Houston to build a pedestrian crossing in honor of Sergio Ivan Rodriguez. In December, Sergio tragically lost his life at 15 at a railroad crossing near Milby High School. SB 1 includes $350 million for this program and $10 million is included to build the crossing near Milby High School where Sergio was killed.  This new program will protect lives and create safer communities. Our sympathy is with the family and friends of Sergio.

4. Health and Human Services Commission announces $239 million in grants for mental health care in rural Texas

This week the Governor announced that $239 million in construction grants were awarded to expand access to rural mental health care. The funding will support up to 332 beds for patients in four communities including, $64 million to improve and add on to facilities in Beaumont. The funding allows for facilities to use at least 50% capacity for patients who are admitted through the criminal justice system to determine if the patients are fit to stand trial. This expansion will combat rising mental health concerns in rural areas and will relieve a burden from the criminal justice system by ensuring individuals are treated fairly and appropriately.

5. East Texas cowboys land in world rankings after the Houston Rodeo

Two cowboys from East Texas are now in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Top Five after their performances Sunday night at the Houston Rodeo. Steer wrestler, Holden Myers had a 5.2 second performance placing second in the PRCA world rankings for his event. Kincade Henry, a tie-down roper, placed second with his 8.1 second time. Henry is now ranked third in the world rankings for his event. Two other East Texans had impressive performances. Lighting Aguilera placed sixth in team roping in the championship round placing him at sixth place worldwide for his event. Logan Cook a saddle-bronc rider now sits at 28^th on PRCA world rankings. I am glad to see East Texas so well represented in a cultural staple of Texas!

After the flurry of bills filed on the deadline, we have the final number of bills filed and an accurate picture of the universe of topics we will work on. In total, both the House and Senate together filed 8,898 bill – almost 800 more bills than last session.

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Senate passes parental rights in education bill

This week the Senate passed Senate Bill 12 by Senator Brandon Creighton. This bill seeks to strengthen parental rights, eliminate DEI in public schools, reform the transfer process, and increase transparency and accountability of schools. The bill dictates that parents have a clear right to direct the moral, religious, and educational upbringing of their children. It also directs TEA to develop a process for districts to notify parents of changes in their child’s mental or physical health status and encourage parent-child communication.

The bill also addresses diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in public schools. It prohibits race- or gender-based hiring preferences, compelled diversity statements by staff, and other ideological influence. One other major change is in the process for public school students to transfer to another public school. It standardizes open-enrollment and inter-district transfers and creates a lottery process for open seats with more applications than openings. Priority would be given to returning students, dependents of district employees, military or law enforcement dependents, and siblings of current students.

2. Nasdaq announces opening of new headquarters in Texas

Nasdaq is the latest company announcing expansion in Texas. The stock exchange operator said it would open a new regional headquarters in Dallas. This comes on the heels of the creation of the Texas Stock Exchange, which will launch early next year, and the announcement that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is moving its Chicago operation to Texas. The Lone Star State accounts for the largest number of listings on the NYSE and is home to over 200 companies listed on the Nasdaq. In recent years, many of these companies have moved operations to Texas due to our favorable tax policies, lower cost of living, and lower energy costs. Texas is open for business and will continue supporting business-friendly policies.

3. THC ban passes Senate

This week, the Senate passed Senate Bill 3 by Senator Charles Perry. This bill would ban all forms of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. Several sessions ago, the Legislature passed a bill allowing the sale of hemp products with less than 0.3% of THC. However, consumable products with THC levels that exceed the state’s limitations are being sold in retail stores statewide. Over 7,000 retailers have opened in the six years since the state legalized consumable hemp products. Though intended to help the Texas agricultural industry, the result was the proliferation of gummies, candies, drinks, vapes and other products with more than 0.3% concentration of THC, which the state classifies as marijuana. The bill now moves to the House, which has it’s own proposal for imposing much stricter regulation of the products rather than an all-out ban.

4. Broadband Development Office awards grants, opens pre-registration

The Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO) announced it has made $9.8 million worth of awards to 8 applicants in 121 counties through the office’s Pole Replacement Program. This is the second round of awards for the program which aims to support retail broadband services by reimbursing the cost of replacing thousands of utility poles statewide. In 2023, voters passed Proposition 8 which created the Broadband Infrastructure Fund and dedicated $75 million to the Pole Replacement Program. Of those funds, almost $30 million has been allocated.

The BDO also announced pre-registration opened for the Texas Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. BEAD is a federally-funded program that seeks to provide broadband access to every residential and commercial location statewide. Texas was allocated $3.3 billion to support infrastructure deployment, mapping, and adoption. Pre-registration is not required, but participants will get early feedback on information they submit. The pre-registration period opens March 17 and closes April 4.

5. Senate passes bill penalizing production of obscene AI material

Senate Bill 441 by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa passed the Senate unanimously this week. SB 441 creates civil penalties for the creation of nonconsensual intimate visual materials, often called “deepfakes.” These deepfakes have gotten more perverse with the use of AI to digitally create intimate photos. This bill imposes civil penalties on individuals, websites, and payment processors involved in producing or distributing this content without consent. It also allows for an extensive statute of limitations of 10 years for victims to sue for damages.

The pace of session continues to pick up and important deadlines are around the corner. Committee hearings, voting, and debating on the Senate Floor take up most of my days. Only a little over 80 days left!

Here are five things happening around your state:

1. Bill filing deadline approaching

Friday, March 14 is the sixtieth day of session and marks the bill filing deadline for the 89th Legislative Session. After Friday, only local bills and emergency item bills are allowed to be filed. At this time, over 2,500 bills and joint resolutions have been filed in the Senate and almost 5,000 have been filed in the House. By the end of the day Friday, there may be even more bills filed. From this point forward, the pace of session accelerates and the days get longer. As always, if there are bills of interest, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

2. Senate Committee on Transportation holds first hearing

This week, the Senate Committee on Transportation, which I chair, held our first hearing. We heard testimony on 9 bills and 1 concurrent resolution from several different members. I authored Senate Bill 1555 which was heard in committee. SB 1555 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 25, by Senator Alvarado, stem from a tragic incident in Houston last December. Sergio Ivan Rodriguez was on his way to school and tragically lost his life while crossing a set of train tracks near Milby High School. Senate Bill 1555 would create a grant program through the Texas Department of Transportation to award grants for railroad grade separation projects. The grants would go to political subdivisions for rail-roadway projects, which could include a pedestrian bridge. Relatedly, SCR 25 is a resolution urging the City of Houston to construct a pedestrian bridge over the rail crossing near Milby High School to ensure students can get to school safely. Further, the Legislature would ask the City name the bridge in honor of Sergio Rodriguez.

3. Senate Bill 16 filed

Senator Bryan Hughes filed Senate Bill 16 this week to further secure our elections by ensuring that only legal citizens vote in Texas elections. The bill would require anyone registering to vote to supply proof of citizenship at that time. That proof could include a passport, birth certificate, citizenship papers, or other identification issued by the United States. If citizenship cannot be verified, the person would be registered to vote only for federal elections, not state elections. It also creates a mechanism for registrars to verify the citizenship of existing registered voters. Protecting our elections from non-citizens who are not eligible to vote is the next step in ensuring our elections are free, fair, and secure.

4. Bills expanding FCIC authority pass committee

This week, the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, chaired by Sen. Pete Flores, heard testimony on three bills I filed related to the Financial Crimes Intelligence Center (FCIC). FCIC was created in 2021 by the Legislature initially to combat card skimming devices at motor fuel terminals, especially at gas stations. Today, the FCIC is the statewide fusion center that coordinates investigations for various types of organized financial crime. One of the bills I authored would expand the Center’s statutory authority to include all kinds of payment fraud. Senate Bill 1499 changes statute to reflect FCIC growing role in combating financial crime.

As evidence of the value FCIC brings the state, this week two people were arrested in the Dallas area for their role in a multi-million dollar credit card fraud scheme. FCIC played a central role in investigating the case in coordination with local police departments, US Customs and Border Protection, and Texas DPS. The operation is estimated to have prevented more than $5.2 million in potential losses to victims. Authorities seized a fully operational card skimmer factory which was designed to affix skimmers to ATMs. They also discovered hundreds of altered credit cards, $16,000 in cash, and other card skimming tools and equipment.

5. UT System approves new ag and forestry building at SFA

Late last month, the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved an additional $5 million for the construction of a new forestry and agriculture building at Stephen F. Austin State University. The additional funding will support an Agricultural Engineering and Technology Building. The project will be funded in part by the Permanent University Fund, a fund exclusively benefiting UT System and A&M System schools. SFA joined the UT System officially in 2023 after extensive community input.