LWVTX Blog

The regular session is behind us. The first of what promises to be a series of special sessions is underway. Many thanks to everyone who responded to our Action Alerts. We were joined by many coalition partners in opposing a lot of legislation this session and while direct cause and effect if difficult to measure, the effort clearly made a difference. It is sad to measure success in terms of what didn’t happen in the session, but that is the world we live in right now.

Of the bills we were following, these failed:

• SB 8 - Educational Savings Accounts
• HB 636 - Allowing Certain Election Judges to Carry Firearms at Polling Locations
• SB 220 - Election Marshals
• SB 1600 - Violating the NVRA by Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration
• SB 1195 - Giving the Attorney General Jurisdiction over Election Law and Abortion Rights
• SB 190, SB 1911, SB 1950 - Increasing Criminal Penalties for Violation of Election Code
• SB 1039 - Conservatorships for Local Elections
• SB 990 - Eliminating Countywide Polling Program on Election Day
• SB 1807, SB 1938 - Creating Civil Penalties for Election Code Violations
• HB 5053 - Allowing Criminal Cases under the Election Code to be Tried in Adjacent Counties

Of the bills we opposed despite a strong response to League and partner alerts, the following passed in this session:

• HB 5127 - The Death Star Preemption Bill Prohibiting/Eliminating Many Local Ordinances
• SB 1045 - Creating a Statewide Court of Appeals
• SB 14 - Prohibiting Gender Affirming Care for Youth
• HB 17 - Limiting Prosecutorial Discretion (House version of SB 20)
• SB 1070 - Withdrawing from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
• SB 5180 - Allowing Access to Voted Ballots 61 Days After an Election
• SB 1750 - Eliminating the Election Administrator Position in Harris County on 9/1/23
• SB 1933 - Allowing the SOS to Assume Administrative Oversight of Elections in Harris County

On a more positive note, HB 12, which extends postpartum Medicaid Coverage from 2 to 12 months, passed, and SB 477, which makes curbside voting more accessible, also passed. For a full list of bills in our priority areas that passed this session, click here.

We will be watching this summer and fall as the Governor calls more special sessions. We fully expect that vouchers will be the subject of at least one session. It remains to be seen as legislative leaders continue to negotiate where any of the failed election bills make another appearance. Please watch for our Action Alerts in our Take Action Center, because even when it’s over these days, it’s not over.