Four of my bills were voted out of their respective committees this week. Moving a bill out of committee is a huge step forward in the legislative process, and it made for an incredibly busy week for both myself and my staff. I was able to come up for air long enough to watch the Lufkin High School Boys Soccer team as they competed in the State Tournament in Georgetown. Here’s an update on what else is happening at your State Capitol…
Realtors and more
I was able to visit with many members of the district this week who made their way to Austin. We were especially happy to host realtors from around the district for Texas Realtor Day and had a chance to visit with them on the House floor. I always appreciate seeing those of you who are able to make the trip to Austin, and if you haven’t yet, I encourage you to schedule a visit to your State Capitol.
Open Carry
This week was a prime of example of how quickly a bill can live, die and then find new life during a legislative session. House Bill 910, a proposed measure that I supported and would establish lawful open carry in Texas, made it to the floor of the House on Tuesday morning but ran into some trouble. A vote on the proposal was held up when a legislator who opposed the bill pointed out a computer glitch that had occurred while the bill was in the committee stage. This technical error meant that the bill did not comply with the House’s procedural rules and had to be sent back to the committee. However it was only a minor setback, and the bill was back on the floor for a vote by Friday. The measure ultimately passed 96-35 and will be sent to the Senate. If approved in the Senate and signed into law, this bill would expand the rights of Texans to include the licensed carry of a handgun regardless of concealment. The bill includes measures to ensure the proper instruction on the use of restraint holders during the handgun safety classes required to obtain or renew a license.
Key Bills in Committee
The House Ways and Means Committee passed multiple bills out of their committee this past week — including a measure that seeks to make the first cut to Texas’ sales tax in our state’s history. This proposal would save Texans $4.9 billion in taxes and create a real and tangible form of tax relief that consumers would be able to see on every receipt. The House Committee on Public Education has laid out legislation that would tackle our state’s school finance system. The bill, HB1759, looks to amend several components of the funding structure between the state and our public school districts, and in doing so create a more adequate and equitable funding method.
For the convenience of constituents not wanting to travel far from home, the mobile office will continue its regular Wednesday travel schedule throughout the District.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at (936) 634-2762 or (512) 463-0508 if we can ever be of assistance, and remember that our door is always open.
