Advocacy in the 3rd Special Session
Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy
The 3rd Special Session began Sept. 20 and ended on Oct. 19. The League focused on three areas:
Redistricting - Issue Chair Stephanie Swanson (LWV Texas) testified before the Senate Redistricting Committee on Sept. 30 against SB 6. She objected to the lack of remote access, the lack of time to review the maps, and the fact that people of color actually would get less representation in this proposed map in spite of their contribution to the majority of population growth to Texas in the past decade.
A letter was also sent from the Fair Maps Coalition on Sept. 29 making these same points.
An Action Alert also went out on Sept. 30 asking members to submit comments on the public portal.
This bill passed from committee and was before the full Senate on Oct. 8.
Transgender Children - Issue Chair Amber Briggle (LWV Denton) wrote testimony for an Oct. 6 hearing against HB 25 and all other bills that seek to deny the rights of transgender children in schools.
An Action Alert went out on Oct. 5 against six bills that discriminate against transgender kids, SB 3,SB 27, HB 10, HB 24, HB 25, and HB 84.
HB 25 was signed by Governor Abbott on Oct. 25.
Voting Rights & Election Law - Issue Chair Cinde Weatherby wrote an Action Alert against SB 10, which would increase criminal penalties for election officials to a felony for any mistake. The Action Alert letter was sent to House members because the Senate had already passed this bill on Oct. 5. It was sent to the House Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies. SB 10 died in committee. |