The Woodlands Edition | June 2023

AT THE CAPITOL

News from the 88th legislative session

NUMBER TO KNOW have set aside in a 1,030-page budget, which will fund a variety of state programs for scal years 2024 and 2025. $321B That’s how much Texas lawmakers UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS

Attorney General Ken Paxton impeached, suspended

BY HANNAH NORTON

A TIMELINE OF THE IMPEACHMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON

The Texas House impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 27 over allegations of bribery, conspiracy and other forms of misconduct. House lawmakers voted 121-23 to adopt 20 articles of impeachment against the third-term Republican. The House General Investigating Committee began a probe into Paxton’s alleged misconduct in March after he asked the Texas Legislature to use public funds to pay for a $3.3 million settlement between Paxton and four of his former employees. Paxton is suspended from oce without pay and barred from performing his ocial duties. Former Secretary of State John Scott will serve as interim attorney general, Gov. Greg Abbott announced May 31. Next, the Texas Senate will conduct a trial to determine if Paxton will be reinstated or permanently removed from oce. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will serve as the judge. Houston attorneys Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin will prosecute Paxton during the trial, and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee will lead the legal team representing Paxton. If two-thirds of senators vote to convict Paxton on the impeachment charges, he will not be allowed to run for re-election or hold any other state oce in Texas. Paxton, who has denied the allegations, called the House’s vote to impeach him a “sham” and said he looked forward to “a quick resolution in the Texas Senate.”

FEB. 10 Paxton enters into a $3.3 million settlement agreement with four former employees who said they were wrongfully red in 2020. FEB. 21 Paxton asks the Texas Legislature to fund his settlement with taxpayer money. MARCH 820 House General Investigating Committee opens an investigation into Paxton and the proposed settlement. MAY 24 Attorneys present material from the investigation during a four-hour committee hearing. MAY 25 The committee unanimously adopts 20 articles of impeachment against Paxton. The articles and a full transcript of the hearing are shared with House lawmakers. MAY 31 Gov. Greg Abbott appoints former Secretary of State John Scott to serve as interim attorney general. MAY 27 After four hours of debate, Texas House votes 121-23 to impeach Paxton. He is immediately suspended from oce. JUNE 20 Seven state senators will present the proposed rules for the impeachment trial to the full Senate. Once the rules are adopted, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will set a date for the trial. JUNE 1 Houston attorneys Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin are selected as prosecutors for the Texas Senate trial. SOURCE: TEXAS HOUSE GENERAL INVESTIGATING COMMITTEECOMMUNITY IMPACT

SEN. BRANDON CREIGHTON The Woodlands Republican Elected: 2014

Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY giving preference to a person based on their race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin for employment or other functions. Senate Bill 17 A bill prohibiting the establishment of a diversity, equity and inclusion group at public institutions of higher education was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature May 29. The bill also prohibits such an institution

Notice and Opportunity to Comment I-45 AT SH 242 DIRECT CONNECTOR From I-45 to 0.66 Miles East of I-45 CSJ: 0110-04-205 | Montgomery County, Texas

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing a direct connector from northbound Interstate Highway 45 (I-45) to eastbound State Highway (SH) 242 in Montgomery County, Texas. This notice is affording an opportunity to comment as part of the environmental review process for this project. This notice and opportunity to comment is also being provided to the public, affected local governments, businesses, and public officials. Proposed improvements would include the construction of a direct connector that would begin on northbound I-45 approximately 550 feet south of SH 242 and end on eastbound SH 242 just east of Boney Road. The proposed direct connector would consist of a single 14-foot wide travel lane with 8- foot wide inside shoulders and 4-foot wide outside shoulders. The eastbound SH 242 frontage lanes, within the project limits, would be shifted slightly to the south to accommodate the direct connector. This is the last of three direct connectors between I-45 and SH 242 that were environmentally approved in 2012. The total project length is 0.7 mile. No right of way acquisition or displacements are proposed for this project. Any environmental documentation or studies, maps showing the project location and design, tentative construction schedules, and other information regarding the project are on file and available by appointment for review Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at 7600 Washington Avenue Houston, TX 77007. Appointments may be made at the TxDOT Houston District Office by contacting Susanna Scott, Environmental Specialist, at (713) 802-5766 or Susanna.Scott@txdot.gov. Additionally, responses to comments received will similarly be on file and available for review once they have been prepared. The project materials are written in English. If you need an interpreter or document translator because English is not your primary language or you have difficulty communicating effectively in English, one will be provided to you. If you have a disability and need assistance, special arrangements can be made to accommodate most needs. If you need interpretation or translation services or you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation to review the project materials or submit information, please contact TxDOT’s Public Information Office, TxDOT Houston District, at (713) 802- 5022 no later than 4 p.m. CT, at least three business days before the date on which you would like to review the project materials or submit information. Please be aware that advance notice is required as some services and accommodations may require time for TxDOT to arrange. You may submit written comments on this project. Written comments may be submitted by mail to the TxDOT Houston District Office, Advanced Project Development Director, P.O. Box 1386, Houston, Texas 77251-1386. Written comments may also be submitted by email to HOU-PIOwebmail@txdot.gov . All comments must be received on or before Thursday, July 6, 2023. If you have any general questions or concerns regarding the proposed project or this opportunity to comment, please contact Susanna Scott, Environmental Specialist, at (713) 802-5766 or Susanna.Scott@txdot.gov. If you have questions or concerns regarding the proposed project design, please contact Grant Chim, P.E, at (713) 802-5259 or at Grant.Chim@txdot.gov.

THE WOODLANDS EDITION • JUNE 2023