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by Elisabeth MacNamara, LWVTX Vice-President of Advocacy
The 89th session of the Texas legislature adjourned sine die last night. Here is how the League’s priority issues fared in this session:
Voting Rights and Election Law:
The chief focus of our advocacy this session wasSB 16requiring voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. The bill passed easily in the Senate and was passed out of the House Elections Committee, but died in House calendars. Thanks to all of our members and supporters who responded to our action alerts and to our wonderful Capitol Corps volunteers who visited every House member’s office to deliver factual information about the disruption that would result if the bill passed.
In other good news,SB 396, dubbed the use it or lose it bill, died this session. The bill would have made it easier for the voters to be placed on the suspense list. Efforts to expand the power of the Attorney General to prosecute election fraud cases also died in the house.
Public Education:
It was inevitable, given the amount to money expended in the last election to unseat opponents of educational savings accounts, thatSB 8would pass this session and it did. But the legislature also gave final approval toHB 2an $8.5 billion public school funding package that includes pay raises for most teachers, funding for a comprehensive early literacy program, investments in special education reforms, and additional dollars for school security measures that were previously mandated but not adequately funded. While not closing the financial gaps most districts are currently facing, it was a welcome relief to see a measure providing new funding as the legislature has not made significant investments in public schools since 2019.
The funding is part of the final $338 billion spending bill which must be certified by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts before being sent to Governor Abbott for his review. The governor has until June 22nd to veto individual items in the budget.
We are grateful to all who contacted their representatives throughout the session in support of our public schools!
Women’s Healthcare and Reproductive Rights:
The Texas legislature joined the club of elected officials solving problems of their own making with the passage ofSB 31. In the wake of theDobbsdecision reversingRowe v. Wade,the legislature outlawed abortion with a confusing array of new and existing legislation that has forced pregnant women to leave the state to get the therapeutic abortions that they need.SB 31intends to clarify the only exception to the Texas abortion ban, the life and health of the mother. Whether the bill does so remains to be seen. On the other hand,SB 2880which aimed to ban everyone, everywhere, all at once from providing any assistance or information to women seeking to legally terminate a pregnancy did not make it to the house floor in time.
Gun Safety:
Two bills—SB 1362andSB 1596— passed both chambers and been sent to the Governor for consideration:
- SB 1362prohibits state and local government agencies from adopting or enforcing any policy that would support or implement a red flag law, even if passed at the federal level. We continue to oppose this measure, as it limits the tools available to prevent firearm access in situations of demonstrated risk.
- SB 1596removes short-barrel firearms from the list of prohibited weapons under Texas law, leaving enforcement solely to federal authorities. This would limit local law enforcement’s ability to intervene under state law when these weapons are unlawfully possessed or transferred.Meanwhile,HB 1128andHB 1794, which would have allowed concealed carry of firearms at polling places, were referred to the Senate Committee on State Affairs but were not scheduled for hearings. We are thankful these proposals did not advance further, and we remain committed to efforts that support safe and accessible elections for all Texans.
Thank you for your continued advocacy and engagement throughout the session. We’ll continue to monitor the Governor’s actions on SB 1362 and SB 1596 and will share updates as they become available.
Water Infrastructure:
HJR 7andSB 7addressed the looming water shortage in Texas. Both bills allocated an additional $1 billion to the Texas Water Fund, but differed as to how that money should be allocated. The Senate version required that 90% of the money go to new water sources while the House version was more flexible. The measure that finally passed and will be voted on in November, is a constitutional amendment allocating the $1billion to the Fund with a fifty-fifty split between new water sources and support for existing infrastructure and sources.
Children’s Issues:
While we didn’t see the Legislature pass every positive policy it could have for Texas children and families, there are several key victories to be celebrated this Sine Die, with certain key bills that the League acted on crossing the finish line! Here are the high points of this session when it comes to issues impacted children across the state.
- SB 1946addresses the preventable and alarmingly frequent tragedy of family violence homicide in Texas. The bill establishes a two-year task force to develop policy recommendations to help the state better address family violence homicide. Thanks to our members and supporters who sent over 1,500 messages urging legislators to vote yes sent in response to our action alert!
- HB 451received overwhelming support from our members and supporters and requires DFPS to screen children entering foster care and children under the jurisdiction of a juvenile probation department for risk of commercial sexual exploitation— a problem that disproportionately impacts foster and other at-risk youth.
- HB 1211expands access to continuing education benefits for current and former foster youth transitioning to adulthood by extending the deadline forthe Tuition and Fee Waiver available to all foster youth when pursuing higher education at state public institutions from age 25 to age 27.
- HB 2350supporting relative caregivers in foster care, would expand and affirm the standing of a child’s relatives and relative caregivers to intervene legally on the child’s behalf, while also ensuring that only those with a legitimate and direct interest in the child’s wellbeing are able initiate legal action. … but as always, alongside the steps forward, there are some are some steps backward, with the Legislature passing some bills that are sure to negatively impact Texas children and families and neglecting to pass some great bills that could have enacted some truly beneficial progress. Here are the lows.
Key bills that died in the Senate include:
- HB 215would have appropriately assigned support rights and benefits to relative caregivers involved in foster care.
- HB 1784, which would have implemented measures to assist homeless and current or former foster students at public institutions of higher education, also received no consideration from the Senate.
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