Texas Senate

Subject: Protecting Children from Obscene Books in Libraries, Senate Bill 13 (SB 13)

• Author: State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 13 sets in place restrictions to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used only for age-appropriate material in public libraries. In the recent epidemic of inappropriate content made available to children in public schools and libraries, voters have demanded accountability in the selection of books. SB 13 puts in place a process for reviewing what books make it into libraries, providing transparency and accountability. It is the appropriate role of government to ensure that tax dollars are not spent on pushing agendas, but rather on core education. For this reason, TFR supports SB 13.

Subject: Election Integrity, Senate Bill 1039 (SB 1039)

• Author: State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 1039 seeks to provide additional transparency in the electoral process by providing a vehicle for election judges, candidates, and proponents/opponents of a measure to inquire with the county election officials about identified irregularities and in return receive a rationale for the highlighted irregularity with a plan to improve the situation if justified. Elections should be as secure as possible. For this reason, TFR supports SB 1039.

Subject: Expanding Corporate Welfare, Senate Bill 1158 (SB 1158)

• Author: State Sen. John Whitmire (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SB 1158 seeks to expand the list of qualified recipients under the major events reimbursement program to that of the World Cup. Government should not be in the business of stealing from taxpayers to give corporate welfare in the form of reimbursement for major events. This practice is antithetical to free enterprise and TFR opposes all subsidies and corporate welfare.

Subject: Border Security, Senate Bill 1403 (SB 1403)

• Author: State Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 1403 seeks to create an interstate compact allowing participating states’ law enforcement agencies to share resources and intelligence for purposes of border enforcement, and allowing states to share funding and other assistance in creating and maintaining defensive border structures, including comprehensive surveillance technology. SB 1403 amends current law relating to an interstate compact for border security, including building a border wall and sharing state intelligence and resources. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 1403.

Subject: Government Overreach, Senate Bill 1705 (SB 1705)

• Author: State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SB 1705 seeks to have the state continue to interfere with private political party processes by requiring that all political parties that meet specific criteria select candidates via the primary election process. The state has no business meddling in the nomination process of a private political organization, especially when it would result in the expenses currently borne by the private organization being passed on to taxpayers. The state should have no role in the operations of private political parties and should let them police themselves. For this reason, TFR opposes SB 1705.

Subject: Disincentivizing Destructive Behavior, Senate Bill 1820 (SB 1820)

• Author: State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 1820 seeks to amend the current law to make it illegal to play lotto games on the Internet or by phone via a third-party courier or mobile application or website. The lottery is a destructive government venture that should be eliminated completely as it preys on primarily lower-income Texans and encourages destructive behavior in the form of gambling addictions. Texas should strive to regulate its use as much as possible until we are able to eliminate this immoral program. For these reasons, TFR supports SB 1820

Texas House of Representatives

Subject: Government Overreach, House Bill 1635 (HB 1635)

• Author: State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1635 seeks to have the state interfere with private political party processes ultimately preventing a political party from controlling who affiliates with them. HB 1635 represents a complete overreach by the government seeking to protect individuals that wish to not be disciplined by the party and the will of the delegates that make up that party’s apparatus. The state should have no role in the operations of private political parties and should let them police themselves. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 1635.

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