Texas Senate

Subject: Oyster Tyranny, House Bill 1809 (HB 1809)

• Author: State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi)/State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 1809 seeks to add a bureaucratic arm to the already growing regulation of the Texas oyster industry. Government is too large already. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 1809.

Subject: Farming Freedom, House Bill 2308 (HB 2308)

• Author: State Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin)/State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: HB 2308 seeks to close a statutory loophole by adding protections to certain types of agricultural operations and services to conform with the Texas Right to Farm law to end the exploitation of nuisance actions on behalf of local government jurisdictions to shut down or restrain ongoing agricultural operations. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 2308.

Subject: Protecting Medical Freedom, Senate Bill 666 (SB 666)

• Author: State Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood)
• TFR Position: Support
• Background: SB 666 seeks to address complaint information and the rulemaking and disciplinary procedures of the Texas Medical Board (TMB). SB 666 gives important checks and balances to frivolous complaints to the TMB regarding physicians that practice alternative medicine. It is the right of every citizen to seek medical care in the form they see fit, without fear of a lawsuit for either the patient or the physician. SB 666 protects the medical freedom of Texans. For this reason, TFR supports SB 666.

Texas House of Representatives

Subject: Expanding Corporate Welfare, House Bill 4419 (HB 4419)

• Author: State Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 4419 seeks to expand the definition of “event” under the major events reimbursement program to include a film or television production, among other items. HB 4419 also creates the Film Events Trust Fund (FETF) and the Film Production Tax Rebate Trust Fund (FPTRTF). HB 4419 is estimated to have a negative impact on Texas taxpayers in the amount of $127.4 million over the biennium and an increasing amount above $70 million every year thereafter. 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: Expanding Corporate Welfare, House Bill 4539 (HB 4539)

• Author: State Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Fort Worth)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 4539 seeks to decrease the percentage of the production crew that must be Texas residents to qualify for a grant under the moving image industry incentive program. Ultimately, HB 4539 would make it easier for those seeking corporate welfare to get it. 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: Reintroduction of Early Agreement Credit, House Bill 3028 (HB 3028)

• Author: State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas)
• TFR Position: Oppose
• Background: HB 3028 seeks to reintroduce the early agreement credit (eliminated in HB 3 from 2019) which allows a school district that submits a signed agreement to the education commissioner before a specific date to reduce the total amount required to be paid for recapture by 4%. HB 3028 is estimated to negatively impact Texas taxpayers in the amount of $384 million through the biennium and a growing number every year thereafter. For this reason, TFR opposes HB 3028.

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.