State
BY EMILY LINCKE, JESSICA SHORTEN & AUBREY VOGEL
5 legislative updates from Houston-area lawmakers
With the 89th Texas legislative session underway as of Jan. 14, Houston-area lawmakers have begun working on hundreds of bills they hope to pass into law. Priorities for local representatives and senators include power line durability, enhancing Texas’ electric grid and school board elections. Lawmakers across the state have been ling bills for the 89th session since Nov. 12 with a ling deadline of March 14. The session is scheduled to end June 2, barring no special sessions being called. 1 Houston could see buried power lines following study to analyze cost After more than 2.2 million customers lost power during Hurricane Beryl, Texas lawmakers are requesting a study through House Bill 842 on the cost and feasibility of burying power lines in the Gulf Coast region. The bill, led by Rep. Suleman Lalani, D-Sugar Land, calls for the study to include all areas in the state within 150 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, according to the draft legislation. The study would explore the potential: • Cost of burying existing power lines • Cost of maintaining and repairing underground power lines • Cost saving analysis with reduced outages • Technologies developed or tested by the Department of Energy
3 New bill targets ban on e-cigarette stores near schools Governments would be able to ban e-cigarette stores from operating within 300 feet of a campus through House Bill 1183. The bill was led by Rep. Charles Cunningham, R-Humble.
2 House bill seeks to change school board elections House Bill 955 from Rep. Steve Toth, R-The
Woodlands, aims to make school board candidates sign on with a political party to run for o ce as well as expand the mandatory term period from three to four years. The Texas Election Code outlines school boards as nonpartisan positions
Number of U.S. students who have ever used tobacco as of 2024
3.87M
E-cigarettes Cigarettes Cigars
Rep. Steve Toth, R The Woodlands
1.57M
1.05M
that are subject to election for three- or four- year terms. However, the new bill would require school board candidates to run in both a primary and general election before gaining the seat. If passed, independent school districts would have until December to reschedule their regular election timeframes to adhere to the new requirements. Toth’s o ce did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.
SOURCES: ANNUAL NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT
4 Lawmakers seek the creation of a statewide grid security commission Texas lawmakers are seeking to create a Texas Grid Security Commission to provide oversight into the state’s electric grid stability. According to the draft legislation for Senate Bill 75, co-authored by 17 senators, the commission would evaluate municipalities across the state.
5 Maintenance district to be considered for Lake Houston
Lake Houston
Harris County
Texas coastal counties
A new board-governed maintenance district will be created for Lake Houston, should House Bill 1532 be approved. Filed by Cunningham, HB 1532 would establish the Lake Houston Dredging and Maintenance District, which would cover Lake Houston in Harris County’s boundaries. According to the bill, the district would:
90
69
8
N
• Coordinate the removal of lake sediment and debris • Have the ability to issue bonds • Not be allowed to impose a tax or charge a fee • Be permitted to seek grants
GULF OF MEXICO
Mexico
N
SOURCE: MAPS OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY IMPACT
BE A HERO learn CPR today and gain the skills you need to save a life! CPR and First Aid courses, including:
FEELING SCATTERED? TROUBLE SLEEPING, IRRITABLE, FAMILY ISSUES, CAREER BURNOUT?
• Basic Life Support (BLS) • Heartsaver First Aid AED • CPR Instructor Training Mobile & Night Courses: On-demand. Contact us for requests.
• PERSONALIZED COUNSELING • ENERGY HEALING SESSIONS
• MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION • TRANSFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS
Ready To Begin Your Journey? Scan Here or Visit www.transformationalenergetics.space
Visit me2youcpr.com or call (936) 337-9091 to learn more and register for a course today!
6601 Cypresswood Dr. Ste #105 Spring, TX 77379 | (346) 342-3339
17
SPRING KLEIN EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook