IN FOCUS: What has your East Texas lawmaker filed for the special session?

AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) — In this edition of East Texas In Focus, KETK’s Tyler Henderson previewed the upcoming special session of the 89th Texas Legislature and the bills some East Texas lawmakers have already started filing.

Gov. Greg Abbott called the special session on July 9, outlining 18 agenda items that he says must be addressed. A significant portion of the agenda focuses on the recent catastrophic floods in the Texas Hill Country, including proposals for improved flood warning systems, disaster relief funding, and enhanced measures for natural disaster preparedness and recovery. 

Other key priorities include redistricting, support for human trafficking victims, incentives for water infrastructure projects and regulation of products containing THC.

KETK News has compiled a list of East Texas representatives’ bills filed. 

Rep. Brent Money, House District 2, represents Hunt, Hopkins and Van Zandt counties.

House Bill 127

• Filed 7/18
• Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.
• If passed HB 127 would ban political subdivisions like counties, municipalities, special districts, school districts, junior college districts and housing authorities from using public money to hire lobbyists to influence members of the state legislature.
• It would also ban those subdivisions from paying nonprofit state associations that primarily represent political subdivisions and hire or contract lobbyists.

Rep. Daniel Alders, House District 6, representing various towns in Smith County. 

House Bill 96

• Filed 7/16
• Relating to the date and requirements regarding an election to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds or other debt obligations payable from ad valorem taxes or to approve an increase in an ad valorem tax rate.
• If passed HB 96 would amend the Texas election code to require that general obligation bond elections, like school bond or city bond elections, be held on the uniform election date in November of every year.
• The bill would also require these bonds to have the support of three fifths of the voters to be approved rather than the current 51%. This supermajority of voters requirement for bond elections won’t go into effect unless voters pass an amendment to the Texas Constitution.

House Joint Resolution 14

• Filed 7/15
• Proposing a constitutional amendment to require a supermajority vote to authorize a political subdivision to issue general obligation bonds or other debt obligations payable from ad valorem taxes.
• This resolution proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution that would ask voters if they would like bond elections to require a three fifths majority of voters to be approved.

Rep. Jay Dean, House District 7, representing Gregg, Harrison and Marion counties. 

House Bill 116

• Filed 7/17
• Relating to the repeal of or limitations on certain state and local taxes, including school district maintenance and operations ad valorem taxes, the enactment of state and local value-added taxes, related school finance reform, and directing the comptroller to identify alternatives to local ad valorem taxes; imposing taxes.
• This bill would ban school districts from imposing the maintenance and operations (M&O) ad valorem tax that currently fund them and allow them to start levying a new 6.72% value-added tax (VAT) that would take effect on Jan. 1 2030.
• This would only go into law if a constitutional amendment is passed to ban school districts from collecting M&O ad valorem taxes.

House Bill 118

• Filed 7/17
• Relating to the use of certain federal funds received by the state to provide property tax refunds to Texas homestead owners.

House Bill 119

• Filed 7/17
• Relating to requiring voter approval for certain local tax rate increases adopted pursuant to a disaster declaration.

In a Facebook post, Dean said he would file four bills for the special session. 

Rep. Joanne Shofner, House District 11, represents several cities such as Henderson, Carthage, Nacogdoches and Center.

House Bill 84

• Filed: 7/14
• Relating to a statewide order issued by the commissioner of state health services authorizing a pharmacist to dispense ivermectin.

As of now, no East Texas state senators have filed any bills. To watch this week’s full episode of East Texas In Focus, check out the video at the top of this page. Click here for the full list of House bills filled in the special session.

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