Texas Senate

Subject: Emergency Powers Reform, Senate Joint Resolution 58 (SJR 58)

• Author: State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SJR 58 seeks to limit the disputed authority of the executive branch as originally envisioned by the Texas Disaster Act of 1975. SJR 58 establishes reasonable criteria by which an emergency declaration can be called by the executive branch while also ensuring that after 30 days, the Legislature, or the representatives of the people, can be called into a special legislative session to determine whether the emergency declaration and any of the directives require extension, alteration, or termination. For these reasons, TFR supports SJR 58.

Subject: Emergency Powers Reform, Senate Bill 1104 (SB 1104)

• Author: State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 1104 seeks to limit the disputed authority of the executive branch and acts as the enabling legislation for SJR 58. SB 1104 explicitly specifies that during a declared state of disaster, only the Legislature, or the representatives of the people, has the authority to restrict or impair the operation of businesses. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 1104.

Subject: Prohibition on Public Funds for Gender Transitioning, Senate Bill 14 (SB 14)

• Author: State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 14 seeks to prevent public funds from being used for procedures and treatments on children for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 14.

Subject: Protecting Women’s College Sports, Senate Bill 15 (SB 15)

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 15 seeks to require collegiate athletes to compete on a team according to their biological sex, as correctly stated on their birth certificate. SB 15 provides whistleblower protections and allows for a civil suit of action by an individual against a higher education institution or athletic team that violates the legislation. This bill seeks to protect students at colleges that use taxpayer dollars. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 15.

Subject: Academic Transcript Sales Tax Exemption, Senate Bill 65 (SB 65)

• Author: State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background:  SB 65 seeks to exempt a transaction for an academic transcript at a private university from the sales tax, something that public universities do not consider, given that they are exempt from the tax as a whole. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 65.

Texas House of Representatives

None

Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public in advance of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.