The Texas House has introduced 157 bills in the third special session not counting House Resolutions and Joint Resolutions. Seventy-seven percent (121 bills) have not been referred to committee as of today. Today the House is taking up HB1 which calls for approval of the Redistricting Committee map. There were 70 prefilled amendments to be debated. Changes are likely to be modest if at all before the bill passes.
The House Redistricting Committee has passed SB4, the Senate redistricting map, without amendment and it is on its way to the full House for likely approval. SB6, the Senate passed redistricting map for the US Congress has been referred to the House Redistricting Committee for approval.
In other major legislative news, the House is about to place on a calendar for consideration by the full House, SB5 which deals with unlawful restraint of a dog. The House has also passed out of committee HB25 which requires high school athletes to compete in interscholastic athletic competitions based on biological sex. Both are expected to pass and be signed by the Governor.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is about to consider SB8 which lays out the state uses of the $16 billion in federal ARPA funds. The North Texas Commission submitted a letter to Chairman Nelson today supporting SB8. (The Greater Arlington Chamber was a signatory on the letter.) The bill would, among other things, replenish the state unemployment compensation trust fund depleted by the pandemic, appropriate $500 million for broadband in under served areas and provide $257 million for a mental health hospital in Dallas.
State Representative Dan Huberty has introduced HB116 which would reauthorize Chapter 313 for one year. This is an economic development bill that the business community supported during the regular session but failed to pass. It has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Without the one-year extension Texas will have at least 9-months with no opportunity for School Districts to participate in economic development incentives.
We have seven more days. The prospect of a fourth special session looms likely if redistricting is not completed or if one of the Governor’s special items fails to pass and reach his desk. Stay tuned.