SPECIAL REPORT 88th Texas Legislature | NTC State Report  Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Election Results:  The results from the November Constitutional Election are in. This election had the highest turnout for a constitutional election since 2005, at 14.4%. Thirteen of the fourteen proposed constitutional amendments were approved by Texas voters. Proposition 13, which would have raised the mandatory retirement age of judges in Texas from 75 to 79, failed to gain approval with only 37% voting in favor of the amendment. This now raises an interesting question for Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, who will meet the current mandatory retirement age (75) before the end of his term in 2024 and is not up for reelection until 2026. This could mean he will have to resign from the Texas Supreme Court and be replaced by an appointee from Governor Abbott until an election is called to fill the seat.   The special election called to fill the vacant seat in House District 2 is headed to a runoff between Brent Money and Jill Dutton. The only pro-public school Republican in the race, Heath Hyde, came short of making it to the runoff. Early voting for the runoff election will begin on November 27th and end on December 5th. Election Day for this race is December 9th.   4th Called Special Session   The third special session ended yesterday, Tuesday, November 7th, with only two bills making their way to Abbott’s desk: SB 4 by Sen. Flores, focusing on human smuggling and stash houses, and SB 7 by Sen. Middleton, creating a COVID-19 vaccine mandate ban on private employers. An hour after the chambers adjourned, ending the third called session, the Governor issued a proclamation for a fourth special session. The Governor’s call includes plans for Education Savings Account vouchers, school funding, school accountability, and border security, issues that have yet to make it to Abbott’s desk in previous sessions.   On Tuesday Chairman Brad Buckley filed HB 1, a proposed omnibus education bill that includes school vouchers. The bill provides funding increases for schools and teacher pay raises as well as a universal voucher program. A committee meeting to discuss this bill has been set for Tomorrow, Thursday, November 9th, at 9:00 a.m. The NTC Team will be down in Austin at the Capitol, continuing our work in opposing school vouchers on behalf of the Grow Texas Talent Initiative.   For questions, please contact Christopher Lee (christopher@ntc-dfw.org), director of State Relations.

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