Texas House Champions Strongest Border Security Policies in the Nation

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – As a result of a marathon floor session last Wednesday, the Texas House approved three monumental border security bills and legislation banning COVID-19 vaccine requirements by private employers.

With over 200,000 illegal border crossings in September alone, open border policies put Texans at risk – so Texas is stepping up to stop the flood of illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling entering our state.

During the 88th Regular Session, the Texas Legislature appropriated $5.1 billion toward securing the Texas border. The funds have been used to station Texas military and DPS Troopers on the border, build a wall, install floating buoys and razor wire, operate thousands of cameras, and other border security measures.

Here's what's next for those bills

On Its Way to the Governor's Desk

• SENATE BILL 4: Creates minimum sentences on criminal activities, raises the mandator minimum sentenes for human smuggling and the operationof a stash house to deter such criminal activities and its harmful effects.

Scheduled for Senate Border Security Committee Hearing on 11/1

• HOUSE BILL 4: Makes illegal entry a state-level offense and creates start-level offenses for “illegal entry from a foreign nation” so Texas law enforcement can order those entering illegally to return to their country.

Needs to be Considered in Senate Committees

• HOUSE BILL 6: Appropriates $1.5 billion for constructing border wall infrastructure to the Office of the Governor’s Trusteed Programs to construct, operate, and maintain border barrieers.

The Texas House also designated drug cartels as terrorist organizations and increased penalties on fentanyl smuggling that is coming across the border. 

While these efforts made headway on addressing the border crisis, the Texas House is taking the 3rd Special Session as an opportunity to continue fighting President Biden’s Border Crisis. Prohibiting Covid Vaccines

We are 2 years removed from the pandemic and there is no longer a place in Texas for COVID mandates. While the Texas Legislature passed laws protecting Texans from government-mandated vaccine and mask policies and prohibited business and school closure during the regular legislative session, the House is now addressing private employers pushing the COVID vaccine. 

House Floor Amendments Considered by the Full Senate

• SENATE BILL 7: Banning private employers from requiring the COVID-19 vaccine

A Texans livelihood shouldn't be put at risk because of a private medical decision. That's why Texas House Republicans are proud to support Senate Bill 7 to prohibit private employers from adopting COVID vaccine mandates so your medical freedom is protected.