AT THE CAPITOL
News from the 88th legislative session
QUOTE OF NOTE
School choice, property taxes top issues
ABBOTT'S EMERGENCY ITEMS
Sign up for our newsletter at communityimpact.com for daily updates throughout the session. SUBSCRIBE TODAY Patterson also filed a bill that was sent to the Ways & Means Committee on Feb. 23. The bill is relating to a sales and use tax exemption for child and adult diapers. Rep. Jared Patterson, representing District 106 in east Denton County, filed a bill that has been referred to as the Defense & Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Feb. 23. The bill was authored by Patterson and four other representatives. The bill is relating to benefits for certain members of the Texas military forces and survivors of members of the Texas military forces. HOUSE BILL 199 NUMBER TO KNOW The amount Gov. Greg Abbott wants lawmakers to spend on lowering property taxes for Texans in the 2024-25 biennial state budget. $15 Billion EFFORTS TO BUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, GROW THE ENERGY SECTOR, IMPROVE JOB TRAINING AND PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND ENSURE HEALTH CARE ACCESS.” GOV. GREG ABBOTT DURING THE FEB. 16 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS “WE MUST CONTINUE THE STATE’S UNRELENTING HIGHLIGHTS HOUSE BILL 90
BY HANNAH NORTON
COVID-19 restrictions by preventing local governments from creating mask mandates or requiring people to be vaccinated against the virus. Govern- ments would also not be allowed to close schools or businesses due to the coronavirus. On school choice, Abbott said he wants to give Texas parents more power to choose where their children go to school through state-funded Education Savings Accounts. “To be clear, under this school choice program, all public schools will be fully funded for every student,” Abbott said. Abbott’s other top issues include making schools safer; ending the “revolving door” bail policies and creating stronger restrictions; increasing border security; and tack- ling the fentanyl crisis by pushing for state funding for Narcan, a medica- tion used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
During his Feb. 16 State of the State address, Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled seven emergency action items lawmakers could immediately work on prior to the 60th day of the session, or March 10, that they are usually limited to.
Gov. Greg Abbott outlined seven emergency action items, which lawmakers can vote on immediately, during his biennial State of the State address Feb. 16. Lawmakers typically cannot vote on or pass legislation until the 60th day of the session—March 10. But when the governor designates an emergency legislative item, lawmakers can vote on related bills earlier, according to the Legislative Reference Library of Texas. “This session, we will ensure Texas remains the leader of this nation as an unflinching force in this world,” Abbott said. “Together, we will build a Texas for the next generation—the Texas of tomorrow.” One of Abbott’s top issues is ensuring lasting property tax relief by spending $15 billion in state funds, proposed in the preliminary budget bills filed in the House and Senate. Abbott also seeks to end all
Cut property taxes
End COVID-19 restrictions permanently
Expand school choice
Make schools safer
Tighten bail requirements
Increase border security
Address the fentanyl crisis
SOURCE: GOV. GREG ABBOTT/COMMUNITY IMPACT
First filed bills reveal legislature priorities
TOP BILLS
Some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top priorities for 2023 include: Making voter fraud a felony offense Providing property tax relief Strengthening the power grid Expanding school choice
BY HANNAH NORTON
legislation that is important to the lieutenant governor. Similarly, House Bills 1-20 are reserved for House Speaker Dade Phelan’s priority bills. SB 1, the 1,033-page state budget, is the only one of Patrick’s 30 priority bills to be filed so far. The budget, which determines how the state funds various programs for 2024-25, is
the only bill lawmakers are required to pass. “I believe Texans support
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released his top 30 priori- ties for the 2023 legislative session Feb. 13. His top goals include cutting property taxes, improving Texas’ power grid, and expanding access to health care as well as school choice. Senate Bills 1-30 are typically reserved for
our priorities, because they largely reflect the
policies supported by the conservative majority of Texans. Most will pass with bipartisan support,” he said. As of Feb. 20, state sena- tors had filed nearly 1,300 prospective bills but could only pass about 600.
Increasing pay for existing and retired teachers
SOURCE: LT. GOV. DAN PATRICK/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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FRISCO EDITION • MARCH 2023
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