Texas Senate

Subject: Farming Freedom, House Bill 1750 (HB 1750)

• Author: State Rep. DeWayne Burns (R-Cleburne)/State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 1750 seeks to limit certain municipal government requirements on all agricultural operations within city limits. Known as an update to the Right to Farm Act from 1981, HB 1750 seeks to put an end to the extreme overreach on a part of some cities with overburdensome regulation of such activities. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 1750.

Subject: Anti-Taxpayer, House Bill 1755 (HB 1755)

• Author: State Rep. Angie Chen Button (R-Garland)/State Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1755 seeks to establish the Lone Star Workforce Future Fund. HB 1755 would effectively grow the government and ultimately it should not be involved in “incentivizing” jobs. The only thing that is needed for a successful job market is for the government to get out of the way and let the market decide. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 1755.

Subject: Removing Barriers to Work, House Bill 1859 (HB 1859)

• Author: State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler)/State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 1859 seeks to remove barriers to entry for HVAC workers by creating an opportunity for both high school and community college students to receive their licenses, after taking the required classes and passing a licensing exam. The current requirements do not allow for this. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 1859.

Subject: Declaring an Invasion of the State of Texas, Senate Concurrent Resolution 29 (SCR 29)

• Author: State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SCR 29 declares an invasion of the State of Texas by transnational cartel terrorists, urges the governor to accelerate the construction of a wall along the Southern Border, and urges Congress to deploy military forces to combat transnational cartels. The ongoing crisis on the Texas-Mexico border represents a severe safety issue for communities all across Texas for a myriad of reasons. The reluctance of action by the federal government has caused Texas to expend vast resources in efforts to secure its own border. For these reasons, TFR supports SCR 29.

Texas House of Representatives

Subject: Sale of Bonds for Certain Special Districts, House Bill 2436 (HB 2436)

• Author: State Rep. Frederick Frazier (R-McKinney)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 2436 seeks to provide for the sale of bonds by certain special districts for both private and public sale. Allowing these special districts to sell bonds similar to how municipalities, counties, and school districts currently do can potentially result in a lower interest rate, being beneficial to Texas taxpayers. For this reason, TFR supports HB 2436.

Subject: Unequal Representation on Texas Transportation Commission, House Bill 101 (HB 101)

• Author: State Rep. Lina Ortega (D-El Paso)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 101 seeks to require that one commissioner of the Texas Transportation Commission reside in and be a registered voter of a border county. Under the current statute, one commissioner is already required to reside in a rural district. Ultimately, if implemented, HB 101 would only allow for the remaining three commissioners to reside in other parts of Texas. As the Commission is supposed to effectively address issues from all across the state, HB 101 represents an overreach to favor specific regions of the state over others. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 101.

Subject: Prohibition of ESG Consideration for TxDOT Bid Contracts, House Bill 2977 (HB 2977)

• Author: State Rep. Caroline Harris (R-Round Rock)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 2977 seeks to prohibit the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from giving preference to bid contracts that propose using materials based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria if the proposed materials are less cost-effective or durable than alternative materials for that project. This approach to bid contracts is in the best interest of Texas taxpayers. For this reason, TFR supports HB 2977.

Subject: Increase in Statute of Limitations for a Healthcare Liability Claim, House Bill 888 (HB 888)

• Author: State Rep. Shelby Slawson (R-Stephenville)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 888 seeks to provide for an increase in the statute of limitations on medical malpractice cases related to gender reassignment procedures or treatments to 7 years beyond adulthood. The current statute of limitations is that of 2 years, which could take place before a child even reaches adulthood. Ultimately, HB 888 would provide for an increase in the statute of limitations for a healthcare liability claim by their 25th birthday. HB 888 seeks to protect children who have been irreversibly chemically or surgically altered. For this reason, TFR supports HB 888.

Subject: Establishment of a Texas Gold-Backed Digital Currency, House Bill 4903 (HB 4903)

• Author: State Rep. Mark Dorazio (R-San Antonio)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 4903 seeks to make the Texas Bullion Depository more accessible and usable by Texans by providing for the issuance of gold and silver specie and the establishment of a digital currency based on gold and silver. Ultimately HB 4903 seeks to protect the economic interests of Texans. For this reason, TFR supports HB 4903.

Subject: Study on Cost of Child Care Compared to Family Income, House Bill 423 (HB 423)

• Author: State Rep. Ray Lopez (D-San Antonio)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 423 seeks to provide for a study on the cost of child care in Texas in comparison to family income. This is not the proper role of government. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 423.

Subject: Self-Protection Reciprocity, House Bill 3138 (HB 3138)

• Author: State Rep. Carrie Isaac (R-Wimberley)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 3138 seeks to provide for the recognition in Texas of all valid out-of-state handgun licenses. Ultimately, HB 3138 seeks to allow visitors to Texas to be afforded the same right to carry a weapon and self-protection as Texans. For this reason, TFR supports HB 3138.

Subject: Increasing Transparency, House Bill 1828 (HB 1828)

• Author: State Rep. Chris Turner (D-Grand Prairie)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 1828 seeks to make personal financial statements easily accessible to the public requiring them to be posted on the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) website. HB 1828 increases transparency. For this reason, TFR supports HB 1828.

Subject: Creation of a License for Health Aides, House Bill 3807 (HB 3807)

• Author: State Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 3807 seeks to require the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in consultation with the Texas Board of Nursing and STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee to develop and implement a family health aide program. HB 3807 also seeks to develop a license for health aides and impose a fee for training. This represents just another burdensome regulation placed by the state on hardworking Texans and ultimately makes it more difficult to work in Texas. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 3807.

Subject: Election Integrity, House Bill 3449

• Author: State Rep. Candy Noble (R-Lucas)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 3449 seeks to revise the practices and procedures for processing mail-in ballots by setting a minimum retention period for signature images and establishing requirements regarding the delivery of applications and certain signature records to early voting ballot boards and signature verification committees and the use of those signature records by those entities. HB 3449 seeks to improve the security of our elections. For this reason, TFR supports HB 3449.

Subject: Reforming Asset Forfeiture, House Bill 3758

• Author: State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 3758 seeks to prohibit the seizure of homestead property, motor vehicles valued at $10,000 or less, and U.S. currency valued at $200 or less, specifying the process by which property may be forfeited, requiring assets seized through forfeiture to be connected to a chargeable offense, providing for the speedy return of property once charges are dropped, and prohibiting the state from seeking a money judgment against a defendant. Ultimately HB 3758 repeals civil asset forfeiture provisions and establishes criminal asset forfeiture in this state. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 3659.

Subject: Burdensome Regulation, House Bill 870 (HB 870)

• Author: State Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 870 seeks to prohibit pet stores from selling cats or dogs unless they are obtained from animal control agencies, animal shelters, or animal rescue organizations, requiring the stores to retain records of where the dogs or cats were obtained, and providing a civil penalty for violations of its provisions. Ultimately, HB 870 seeks to provide for burdensome regulation on businesses and is not the proper role of government. For these reasons, TFR opposes HB 870.

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.