Special Session Wrap-Up

State Representative Wayne Faircloth Pursuant to Article III Section 5 and Article IV Section 8 of the Texas Constitution Governor Greg Abbott called for an extraordinary session of the the 85th Legislature. We concluded the special session last night and therefore within this edition is a wrap-up from the special session. If you have any questions or comments that you would like to share particularly if it pertains to a certain bill you can contact my office via this link. Key Legislation Passed During the First Called Special Session of the 85th Legislature Senate Bill 20 (SB 20) and Senate Bill 60 (SB 60) will extend the expiration dates for the Texas Boards of Medical Examiners Examiners of Psychologists Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists Examiners of Professional Counselors and Social Worker Examiners and allow these agencies to continue their regular operations and remain fully functional. This essential legislation failed to pass during the 85th regular legislative session and was the first item added to the Governors special session call. Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) will increase penalties for mail-in ballot fraud in Texas. This bill will improve the integrity of the ballot box and ensure voter confidence in Texas elections. Having the most accurate data available in order to create good policy to promote health and safety of women is important. House Bill 13 (HB 13) will expand reporting requirements for complications resulting from abortion procedures. This bill will result in more accurate data being provided to the state. Senate Bill 6 (SB 6) will reform and restrict the municipal annexation process. Under the new law Texans will now be able to vote on whether a city can annex areas outside of its limits. This legislation will now give citizens a voice when it comes to the annexation practices of local governments. Yesterday the Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 214 (HB 214) which limits insurance coverage for abortion procedures. Under this new law Texans will not be forced to pay for elective abortions through their insurance plans. Senate Bill (SB) 17 will help combat the increase in maternal mortality and morbidity rates in Texas by continuing the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force until 2023. House Bill (HB) 7 will require a municipality that imposed a tree mitigation fee for tree removal on a persons property to allow that person to apply for a tree planting credit to offset the fee. The bill will help reduce the burden of homeowners from local regulations and fees. House Bill (HB) 21 has several components to improve our education system in Texas: House Bill 21 takes $351 million in General Revenue appropriations made by Senate Bill 1 Eighty-fifth Legislature Regular Session for the 2018-19 biennium to the Texas Education Agency for the same biennium to implement certain provisions of the legislation as below: $150 million to fund financial hardship grants relating to the continuation of Additional State Aide for Tax Reduction (ASATR) for school districts who would see a substantial reduction in funding $60 million to fund payments to open enrollment charter schools $60 million to support the existing foundation school program debt allotment $41 million to fund the increase in the small district adjustment and $40 million to fund the grant programs for services to students with autism and dyslexia. The bill will also transfer from the Health and Human Services Commission $212 million in General Revenue appropriations made by Senate Bill 1 85th Legislature Regular Session for the 2018-19 biennium to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) to be used to provide support to participants in the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program (TRS-Care) by: 1) reducing costs for participants including premiums deductibles and prescription drugs during the 2018 and 2019 plan years; and 2) reducing the premium and maximum out-of-pocket cost for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or a physical incapacity during the 2018 and 2019 plan years. The bill also creates the Texas Commission on Public School Finance which would have the responsibility to develop and make recommendations for improvements to the current public school finance system or for new methods of financing public schools. House Bill 21 also includes language that would remove ambiguity from Senate Bill 1353 during the regular session. This will ensure that Texas City ISD gets an additional $18 million in funding necessary to enhance the facilities in La Marque as part of La Marque ISD annexation into Texas City ISD. Texas House Republican Caucus The Republican House Caucus met today after Special Session.  We agreed unanimously to select  a Speaker candidate following the November 2018 general election.  Whoever wins the caucus vote can be assured of full undivided caucus support going forward. Our goal is to grow a stronger more resilient Texas.