Texas Senate

Subject: Decrease Barrier to Entry, House Bill 1846 (HB 1846)

• Author: State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 1846 seeks to require the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to test and issue Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to out-of-state students, thereby reducing barriers to entry for an industry already short on potential workers. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 1846.

Texas House of Representatives

Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, Senate Bill 1648 (SB 1648)

• Author: State Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SB 1648 is the enabling legislation for SJR 74. SB 1648 seeks to create the centennial parks conservation fund and provide for a dedicated funding source for both the ability to buy and maintain state parks. Texas already has enough public land, and we certainly should not be in the business of buying up even more. Instead, tax dollars should be given back to taxpayers, so they in turn can buy more land. For these reasons, TFR opposes SB 1648.

Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, Senate Joint Resolution 74 (SJR 74)

• Author: State Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SJR 74 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the centennial parks conservation fund. Ultimately SJR 74 seeks to provide for a dedicated funding source for both the ability to buy and maintain state parks. Texas already has enough public land, and we certainly should not be in the business of buying up even more. Instead, tax dollars should be given back to taxpayers, so they in turn can buy more land. For these reasons, TFR opposes SJR 74.

Subject: Property Tax Exemption at Expense of Other Taxpayers, Senate Bill 1145 (SB 1145)

• Author: State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SB 1145 seeks to allow counties and municipalities to provide property tax exemptions for childcare facilities. Although well intended, property tax exemptions ultimately hurt those that do not qualify for such an exemption, shifting the burden. The priority of the legislature should be to provide as much tax relief as possible to Texas taxpayers and SB 1145 will ultimately result in higher taxes for everyone else. For this reason, TFR opposes SB 1145

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 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 part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.