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88th Texas Legislature | NTC State Report
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
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The Third Called Special Session of the Texas Legislature will come to a close today by operation of law. However, it effectively ended late last week with leaders on both sides taking action, or rather not taking action, to continue to advance legislation to the Governor. Governor Greg Abbott initially convened the legislature on October 9th and directed them to deliver him legislation related to “education freedom, border security, public safety, and ending covid restrictions.” Governor Abbott subsequently amended the call twice. On October 17th, he expanded the call with additional illegal immigration items and again on October 31st by adding public school finance, including teacher pay raises, school safety, and special education. Lawmakers in both chambers filed more than 275 bills during the current special session, but only two have reached the governor’s desk: SB 4 and SB 7. Senate Bill 4, filed by Senator Pete Flores, increases criminal penalties and establishes mandatory minimums for certain criminal conduct involving human smuggling or the operation of a stash house. The bill passed along party lines in the Senate with all Republicans voting for the bill and all Democrats voting against it. Eight Democrats joined all of the Republicans in the House in support of final passage of SB 4. Senate Bill 7, by Senator Mayes Middleton, prohibits private employers from mandating that their employees or contractors receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Both bills await action by the governor.
Although no official announcement has been made, there is widespread speculation Governor Abbott will call the legislature back to Austin for a fourth special session immediately upon expiration of the current one and as soon as today. In anticipation of that action, last Friday Representative Brad Buckley, chairman of the House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity & Enrichment, released a new draft and summary of legislation that establishes education savings accounts and addresses public school finance. Chairman Buckley intends to file it as soon as the governor reconvenes the legislature, and the bill will serve as the starting point for the House on education-related legislation. If the Fourth Special Session is called today, we expect Chairman Buckley to call a hearing as early as Thursday of this week.
The Grow Texas Talent Initiative has continued growing support across the state. Chambers from the Gulf Coast and Central Texas have joined this week. Be on the lookout for a call to action related to School Vouchers in the coming days.
Texans are going to the polls today to consider fourteen propositions passed by the legislature earlier this year that require voter approval before final implementation. The NTC Board approved support of 9 of the 14 propositions last month. The Secretary of State’s website has a link to the explanatory statements for each of the fourteen propositions. Some voters will also be casting votes for candidates in local elections including determining the next Mayor of Houston. State Senator John Whitmire and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee are the frontrunners to replace Houston Mayor and former State Representative Sylvester Turner. A special election to fill their unexpired term will be triggered if one of them is elected mayor. A few hours to the north, voters in Texas House District 2 have a special election on the ballot to fill the vacancy in the seat previously occupied by former State Representative Bryan Slaton who was expelled by the House in May. There are six candidates on the ballot, including five Republicans and one Democrat. The runoff election, if necessary, will be held on December 9th.
The filing period for the March 2024 primary election opens November 11th and ends December 11th. Eleven House members have confirmed their plans to retire from the legislature with Representative Craig Goldman being the latest to announce his intentions to leave the legislature. He recently announced his candidacy for the open seat to replace longtime North Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger. Meanwhile, Democratic State Representative Rhetta Bowers announced last week she was abandoning her congressional campaign for the open seat currently held by Colin Allred who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate. Instead, Bowers intends to run for reelection to the Texas House. Other House members not seeking reelection include Doc Anderson, Abel Herrero, Tracy King, Lina Ortega, Four Price, John Raney, Matt Schaefer, Carl Sherman, and Ed Thompson. More retirement announcements may occur before the end of the filing period in December. Today, Senator Drew Springer announced he will not be seeing reelection, creating an open race for State Senate District 30 in the 2024 elections.
In other news, last week Governor Abbott was joined by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for a brief trip to Israel in support of the Middle Eastern nation. Also last week, the state district judge presiding over the felony securities fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton scheduled the related trial for April 15, 2024 in Harris County. Finally, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s office announced over the weekend that he has been diagnosed with viral pneumonia and will be working from home this week.
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