Texas Senate

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Subject: Streamline Specific Restaurant Regulations, Senate Bill 577 (SB 577)

• Author: State Sen. Drew Springer (R-Muenster)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 577 seeks to streamline specific restaurant regulations across the state by getting rid of the patchwork of regulation that currently exists. One thing we learned from the COVID-19 lockdowns is that local governments have way too much latitude and ability to regulate businesses. Burdensome regulation infringes upon free enterprise. SB 577 would make sure that businesses are able to conduct themselves without having to jump through hoops at the local level. For this reason, TFR supports SB 577.

Subject: Hotel Occupancy Tax for Allen Convention Center Hotel Project, Senate Bill 720 (SB 720)

• Author: State Sen. Angela Paxton (R-McKinney)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: SB 720 would add the City of Allen to the list of cities that may use the hotel occupancy tax (HOT) for a convention center hotel project. The continued use of HOT to finance projects is antithetical to free enterprise. Cities are overfunded and lack accountability. There is no reason to create new taxes and grow the government to build buildings not crucial to infrastructure. For this reason, TFR opposes SB 720.

Subject: Protecting Parental Rights, Senate Bill 1072 (SB 1072)

• Author: State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 1072 seeks to require public schools to adopt a policy regarding whether an employee may discuss human sexuality with a student outside of a class dedicated to such purposes as well as requires a public school to adopt a policy on when extracurricular events related to human sexuality may be held. SB 1072 also allows the Texas Attorney General or a County/District Attorney to bring a cause of action against a school that violates such provisions. The government school system should not have the ability to disregard parental rights over sex education curricula. For this reason, TFR supports SB 1072.

Texas House of Representatives

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Subject: Broadband Socialism, House Joint Resolution 125 (HJR 125)

• Author: State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HJR 125 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the broadband infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of broadband and telecommunications projects. HJR 125 has a negative fiscal impact of nearly $436 million through the biennium and attempts to transfer $5 billion from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) or “Rainy Day Fund”. Continuing on efforts from the previous legislative session, collectivizing the building of broadband infrastructure by using taxpayer money, while the private sector is simultaneously making that technology obsolete is not only a terrible use of public funds but an egregious use of the Rainy Day Fund. The ESF was not designed as a slush fund for the pet projects of lawmakers. For these reasons, TFR opposes HJR 125.

Subject: Broadband Socialism, House Bill 9 (HB 9)

• Author: State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 9 is the enabling legislation for HJR 125. HB 9 seeks to create a broadband infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of broadband and telecommunications projects. Continuing on efforts from the previous legislative session, collectivizing the building of broadband infrastructure by using taxpayer money, while the private sector is simultaneously making that technology obsolete is not only a terrible use of public funds but an egregious use of the Rainy Day Fund. The ESF was not designed as a slush fund for the pet projects of lawmakers. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 9.

Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, House Bill 11 (HB 11)

• Author: State Rep. Harold Dutton Jr. (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 11 seeks to amend the Education Code to set out provisions relating to the rights and certification of public school educators, including financial and other assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) related to public school educators, methods of reading instruction in public schools, certain allotments providing for compensation for certain public school teachers under the foundation school program, and to rules adopted by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). HB 11 has a negative fiscal impact of nearly $504 million through the biennium and an increasing taxpayer burden every year thereafter. School districts in Texas are already flush with cash, with many also sitting on taxpayer money sent by the federal government. Instead of appropriating additional money for these purposes, school districts should be forced to provide for such things from existing resources. A good start would be to address the administrative bloat. HB 11 does not do this. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 11.

Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, House Bill 100 (HB 100)

• Author: State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 100 seeks to increase public education funding, including through enrollment-based funding under the foundation school program and increasing and restructuring the minimum salary schedule for specified employees. HB 100 also provides for an increase to the basic allotment, the establishment of a rural pathway excellence partnership program, the establishment of a fine arts allotment, and the incorporation of recommendations from the special education finance commission to revise the funding mechanism relating to students receiving special education services. HB 100 has a negative fiscal impact of almost $4.36 billion through the biennium and it is estimated to cost nearly $4 billion every year thereafter. School districts in Texas are already flush with cash, with many also sitting on taxpayer money sent by the federal government. Instead of appropriating additional money for these purposes, school districts should be forced to provide for such things from existing resources. A good start would be to address the administrative bloat. HB 100 does not do this. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 100.

Subject: Raising Mandatory Retirement Age for State Justices and Judges, House Joint Resolution 107 (HJR 107)

• Author: State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HJR 107 seeks to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges from 75 to 79 years of age. The current trend of the state, country, and overall judiciary consisting of largely octogenarians is a bad trend, providing for a generational disconnect and entitled aging state employees that cost additional resources. If anything we should be reducing the age for retirement, not raising it. For this reason, TFR opposes HJR 107.

Subject: Net Worth Tax Proposition, House Joint Resolution 132 (HJR 132)

• Author: State Rep. Cole Hefner (R-Mount Pleasant)
• TFR Position: Support/Amend
• Background: HJR 132 seeks to allow the people of Texas to decide whether or not Texas opposes a net worth tax. Although this is a good bill, we simply should just ban it from being a possibility in Texas, much like the income tax. TFR, suggests an amendment for an outright ban. TFR supports HJR 132 and also suggests a strengthening amendment.

Subject: Incentivizing Unreliable “Green” Energy, House Bill 1158 (HB 1158)

• Author: State Rep. Drew Darby (R-San Angelo)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1158 seeks to revise the qualifications for unreliable green energy and expand the projects eligible for consideration for a grant under the new technology grant program under the plan. We should not be incentivizing unreliable green energy and carbon capture. Giving tax dollars to support woke, environmental extremist policies does not help Texas produce more energy and ultimately hinders free enterprise. If the market wants “greener” energy then allow the market to decide, do not steal from taxpayers to give grants to alternative energy sources. TFR opposes HB 1558.

Subject: Medicaid Expansion for Telemonitoring Services, House Bill 2727 (HB 2727)

• Author: State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 2727 seeks to provide for telemonitoring services under Medicaid for certain high-risk pregnancies and certain other diagnosed medical conditions. Adding more Medicaid services results in negative fiscal impacts to Texas taxpayers. This is a Medicaid expansion and instead we favor a policy that provides a free enterprise solution to Medicaid, not growing taxpayer dependence on government healthcare. Lawmakers should spend their time reducing Medicaid and offering free market solutions by lowering regulation on the medical industry, not expanding socialist programs. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 2727

Subject: Expanding Corporate Welfare, House Bill 1950 (HB 1950)

• Author: State Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1950 adds several new events on the list of events that are eligible for funding from the major events reimbursement program. The list includes the Bassmaster Classica and Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, LLC, Federation Equestre Internationale World Cup Final and the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), a Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) World Supercross Championship race and SX Global, and the Professional Bull Riders World Finals and Professional Bull Riders, LLC. HB 1950 also changes language restricting the qualification of the National Reined Cow Horse Association Championship Series and each series of games for the World Cup soccer tournament. 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: Registration Fee on Electric Vehicle, House Bill 2199 (HB 2199)

• Author: State Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 2199 seeks to impose an additional registration fee on an electric vehicle due at the time of registration or renewal of registration to be deposited in the state highway fund. Currently, though these vehicles use Texas roads, they do not pay into the gasoline and diesel fuels tax revenue. HB 2199 would ensure equitable contribution to maintain infrastructure needs from vehicles that use Texas roadways. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 2199.

Subject: Medicaid Expansion for Multisystemic Therapy, House Bill 2638 (HB 2638)

• Author: State Rep. Ann Johnson (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 2638 seeks to provide for Medicaid reimbursement services that are qualified as MST or Multisystemic therapy and requires the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to establish a separate provider type for MST providers. Adding more Medicaid services results in negative fiscal impacts to Texas taxpayers. This is a Medicaid expansion and instead, we favor a policy that provides a free enterprise solution to Medicaid, not growing taxpayer dependence on government healthcare. Lawmakers should spend their time reducing Medicaid and offering free market solutions by lowering regulation on the medical industry, not expanding socialist programs. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 2638.

Subject: Medical Nutrition Program Pilot Program, House Bill 2983 (HB 2983)

• Author: State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 2983 seeks to create a pilot program for medical nutrition programs in coordination with community-based organizations and medical providers to provide services to women who are pregnant or in the postpartum period. Adding more Medicaid services results in negative fiscal impacts to Texas taxpayers. This is a Medicaid expansion and instead, we favor a policy that provides a free enterprise solution to Medicaid, not growing taxpayer dependence on government healthcare. Lawmakers should spend their time reducing Medicaid and offering free market solutions by lowering regulation on the medical industry, not expanding socialist programs. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 2983.

Subject: Medicaid Expansion for Functional Family Therapy, House Bill 2404 (HB 2404)

• Author: State Rep. Ann Johnson (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 2404 seeks to provide for Medicaid reimbursement for functional family therapy for delinquent youth who are at risk for involvement with the child welfare, criminal justice, or juvenile justice systems. Adding more Medicaid services results in negative fiscal impacts to Texas taxpayers. This is a Medicaid expansion and instead, we favor a policy that provides a free enterprise solution to Medicaid, not growing taxpayer dependence on government healthcare. Lawmakers should spend their time reducing Medicaid and offering free market solutions by lowering regulation on the medical industry, not expanding socialist programs. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 2404.

Subject: Prevention for Use of ESG Scores in Insurance, House Bill 1239 (HB 1239)

• Author: State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 1239 seeks to protect against the movement of ESG scores that infringe upon the rights of individuals. HB 1239 prevents insurance companies from using social credit scores to adjust rates on insured. This protects consumers, specifically conservatives from being prosecuted under leftist economic policies. For this reason, TFR supports HB 1239.

Subject: Legalizing Damage to Personal Property, House Bill 3756 (HB 3756)

• Author: State Rep. Lulu Flores (D-Austin)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 3756 seeks to provide civil liability protections to a person who enters a motor vehicle to remove a domestic animal that they believe is in imminent danger. HB 3756 seeks to set a dangerous precedent and the terms are too subjective to protect people who did something like enter a store for a small period of time. TFR also believes that pets are property and HB 3756 seeks to legalize the damaging of your property, to remove your property. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 3756.

Subject: Providing Luxuries to TDCJ Inmates, House Bill 1708 (HB 1708) – Third Reading

• Author: State Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1708 seeks to require all Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facilities to maintain a temperature between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. HB 1708 would have a negative impact of nearly $1.125 billion over the next biennium for Texas taxpayers for the initial construction costs of air conditioning units and nearly an additional $20 million every year thereafter to maintain them at all facilities. Lawmakers should not be giving inmates a luxurious experience in prison, better than 90% of all humans throughout history, especially proposing to spend this absurd amount of money, when it could better be used on things like property tax relief. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 1708.

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