News Archives - Bastrop County Conservatives https://bastropcc.com/blog/category/news/ We Are Bastrop United Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:58:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://bastropcc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/cropped-cropped-Site-Icon-32x32.png News Archives - Bastrop County Conservatives https://bastropcc.com/blog/category/news/ 32 32 May 2024 Political Subdivision Election Voter Guide https://bastropcc.com/blog/2024/04/23/may-2024-political-subdivision-election-voter-guide/ Tue, 23 Apr 2024 16:00:08 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=5275 The post May 2024 Political Subdivision Election Voter Guide appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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While national elections often capture the lion’s share of public attention, the significance of participating in small, local elections cannot be overstated. These elections, which determine the leadership and policies of our immediate communities, have a direct and tangible impact on our daily lives. From school board members who shape educational curricula to city council representatives who decide on local infrastructure projects, the officials elected in these races make decisions that affect everything from the quality of our roads to the safety of our neighborhoods. Bastrop County Conservatives are pleased to provide the Bastrop County Voter Guide for the May 2024 elections, complete with our recommended candidates, endorsements, and sample voter ballots.

May 2024 Conservative Election Voter Guide:

  • Carol Armstrong – BISD School Board Place 1
  • Tracy Norris-Samuels – Elgin ISD District 6
  • Jimmy Crouch – Bastrop City Council Place 4
  • Casey Hanchey – Smithville ISD Place 3
  • Brandon Dunham – Smithville City Council Place 5
  • Bill Satterfield – Bastrop County Appraisal Board
  • Michelle Gaertner – Bastrop County Appraisal Board

Local Election Importance

Local elections often have lower turnout rates, meaning that each individual vote carries more weight and has a greater potential to influence the outcome. This amplified impact allows citizens to have a more pronounced voice in shaping their community’s future. Local elections also serve as a crucial training ground for democracy, fostering civic engagement and political awareness at the grassroots level. They provide an opportunity for citizens to become familiar with the democratic process, engage with candidates on a personal level, and develop a deeper understanding of the issues affecting their community. Furthermore, local politics often serve as a stepping stone for future state and national leaders, making these elections instrumental in shaping the broader political landscape. By participating in local elections, voters not only address immediate community needs but also contribute to the long-term health of our democratic system. Additionally, local elections frequently deal with specific, tangible issues that directly impact residents’ quality of life, such as zoning laws, public transportation improvements, or funding for local services. This immediacy can make the results of these elections more relatable and relevant to voters than sometimes abstract national policies. Ultimately, consistent participation in local elections strengthens the fabric of our communities, ensures responsive and accountable local governance, and upholds the fundamental principles of representative democracy at its most accessible level.

Are you registered to vote in Bastrop County?

Visit the Bastrop County voter resource page.

Voter Guide  click images to view

Nonpartisan Election Voter Guide 1

202405 Voter Guide 1

Nonpartisan Election Voter Guide 2

202405 Voter Guide 2

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]]> Engage with Candidates in Our Upcoming Forum Series https://bastropcc.com/blog/2024/01/21/engage-with-candidates-in-our-upcoming-forum-series/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 04:38:18 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=4271 The post Engage with Candidates in Our Upcoming Forum Series appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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We’ve organized several upcoming meetings to accommodate the multitude of candidates running. To ensure an effective and engaging session for both candidates and attendees, we’ve divided the forums into three distinct meetings—Federal, State and County; City; and Schools. This segmentation allows candidates ample time to articulate their views and address questions while ensuring that attendees can actively participate in shorter, more focused sessions. Keeping meetings concise is essential for maintaining productivity and engagement.

While we aim to evenly distribute the workload among the three meetings, adjustments may be made based on the dynamics of the first meeting. Currently, we have seven confirmed speakers for the January 15 meeting, spanning from Federal to County levels, with the possibility of two or three additional participants.

During the January 15 meeting, our County Constables will provide a brief overview of their roles, shedding light on the significance of the position. Additionally, we’ll take the opportunity to acknowledge all candidates running for office, irrespective of our support, spanning from the Federal to local levels. It promises to be a comprehensive and informative evening.

Save the date:

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]]> November 7th – Constitutional Amendment Breakdown https://bastropcc.com/blog/2023/10/04/november-7th-constitutional-amendment-breakdown/ Wed, 04 Oct 2023 20:34:28 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=3399 The post November 7th – Constitutional Amendment Breakdown appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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Serving the counties of District 2:
Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall, Van Zandt, and parts of Dallas, Ellis, and Collin County

November 7, 2023 Constitutional Amendments

There are 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot. In order to make the ballot, these measures received a vote of 2/3 of all members of the legislature. It is up to you to determine whether these measures ultimately go into effect. Below is a brief summary of each proposition:
 
 

Proposition Number 1 (HJR126) 

HJR 126 proposes a constitutional amendment to protect a person’s right to engage in generally accepted farm, ranch, timber production, horticulture, or wildlife management practices on real property that the person owns or leases. The proposed amendment would not affect the authority of the legislature to authorize the regulation of these practices by: (1) a state agency or political subdivision as necessary to protect the public health and safety from imminent danger;

(2) a state agency to prevent a danger to animal health or crop production; or (3) a state agency or political subdivision to preserve or conserve the natural resources of the state under the Texas Constitution. Additionally, the proposed amendment would not affect the legislature’s authority to authorize the use or acquisition of property for a public use, including the development of natural resources under the Texas Constitution.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.” 

Proposition Number 2 (SJR64)  

SJR 64 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the governing body of a county or municipality to exempt from property taxation all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility. The proposed amendment would authorize the governing body to adopt the exemption as a percentage of the appraised value of the property, but that percentage could not be less than 50% of the appraised value of the property. The proposed amendment also would allow the legislature to define the term “child-care facility” and to establish additional eligibility requirements to receive the property tax exemption.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility.”

Proposition Number 3 (HJR132)
HJR 132 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax based on the wealth or net worth of an individual or family. The proposed amendment also would prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax based on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows:“ The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.”
 
Proposition Number 4 (HJR2-Second Special Session)
HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to modify certain provisions of the Texas Constitution related to property taxes. The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to temporarily limit the maximum appraised value of real property for property tax purposes in a tax year. The proposed amendment also would increase the mandatory homestead exemption for school district property taxation from $40,000 to $100,000. The proposed amendment would require the legislature to provide for a reduction in the amount of the limitation on school district property taxes imposed on the residence homestead of the elderly or disabled. Additionally, the amendment would exempt appropriations not dedicated by the Texas Constitution and used for property tax relief from being considered as appropriations when determining whether the rate of growth of appropriations in a biennium has exceeded the constitutional tax spending limit. The proposed amendment would further authorize the legislature to provide that members serving on an appraisal board in a county with a population of at least 75,000 serve terms not to exceed four years.
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts.”
Proposition Number 5 (HJR3)
HJR 3 proposes a constitutional amendment to redesignate the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund (TUF), and to appropriate funds from the economic stabilization fund to the TUF. The proposed amendment would appropriate to the TUF an amount equal to the interest income, dividends, and investment earnings attributable to the economic stabilization fund for the preceding state fiscal year. The appropriation amount could not exceed $100 million for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2023, or an amount adjusted for the increase in the general price index, not to exceed two percent, in subsequent state fiscal years. The proposed amendment also would prohibit any state university that is entitled to participate in dedicated funding provided by Article VII, Section 18 of the Texas Constitution from receiving money from the TUF.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.”

Proposition Number 6 (SJR75)
SJR 75 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Texas water fund. The Texas water fund would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) or its successor to assist in financing water projects in the state. The proposed amendment would direct the Texas water fund administrator to use the fund only to transfer money to other TWDB funds or accounts. The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to appropriate money for deposit to the water fund to be available for permitted transfers. No further legislative appropriation would be required for the water fund administrator to transfer money from or restore money to the fund, including the transfer of money to or the restoration of money from certain designated TWDB funds and accounts. The water fund would consist of: (1) money transferred or deposited to the fund by general law; (2) other revenue that the legislature by statute dedicates for deposit to the fund; (3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts credited to the fund; (4) money from gifts, grants, and donations to the fund; and (5) money returned from any authorized transfer. The proposed amendment would require the legislature, by general law, to provide for the manner in which money from the Texas water fund may be used. The proposed amendment also would require that at least 25% of the money initially appropriated to the Texas water fund be transferred to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.” 

Proposition Number 7 (SJR93)
SJR 93 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas energy fund. The Texas energy fund would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) or its successor. Money in the Texas energy fund could be used, without further appropriation, only by PUC or its successor to provide loans and grants to finance or incentivize the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities necessary to ensure the reliability or adequacy of an electric power grid in the state. The proposed amendment would require PUC to allocate money from the fund for loans and grants to eligible projects for electric generating facilities that serve as backup power sources and in each region of the state that is part of an electric power grid in proportion to that region’s load share. The Texas energy fund would consist of: (1) money credited, appropriated, or transferred to the fund by or as authorized by the legislature; (2) revenue that the legislature dedicates for deposit to the fund; (3) the returns received from the investment of the money in the fund; and (4) gifts, grants, and donations contributed to the fund.
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.” 
Proposition Number 8 (HJR125)
HJR 125 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the broadband infrastructure fund. The broadband infrastructure fund would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller). Money from the fund could be used, without further appropriation, only for the expansion of access to and adoption of broadband and telecommunications services. The broadband infrastructure fund would consist of: (1) money transferred or deposited to the fund by the Texas Constitution, general law, or the General Appropriations Act; (2) revenue that the legislature by general law dedicates for deposit to the fund; (3) investment earnings and interest earned on money in the fund; and (4) gifts, grants, and donations to the fund. The proposed amendment would authorize the Comptroller to transfer money from the broadband infrastructure fund to another fund as provided by general law, and the state agency that administers the fund to which any money is transferred could use the money without further appropriation only for the expansion of access to and adoption of broadband and telecommunications services. The broadband infrastructure fund would expire on September 1, 2035, unless extended by adoption of a joint resolution of the legislature. Immediately before the expiration of the fund, the Comptroller would be required to transfer any unexpended and unobligated balance remaining in the broadband infrastructure fund to the general revenue fund.
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”
Proposition Number 9 (HJR2)
HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). The proposed amendment also would authorize the legislature to appropriate money from the general revenue fund to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to pay the cost-of-living adjustment.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”

Proposition Number 10 (SJR87)

SJR 87 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to exempt from property taxation tangible personal property held by a medical or biomedical manufacturer as a finished good or used in the manufacturing or processing of medical or biomedical products.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.”

Proposition Number 11 (SJR32)
SJR 32 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand the authority of the legislature with regard to conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County. The Texas Constitution permits conservation and reclamation districts in certain counties across the state to issue bonds to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities but does not currently provide this authority to El Paso County. The proposed amendment would add conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to those districts currently allowed, if authorized by general law, to issue bonds supported by property taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities. The proposed amendment would not limit the powers of the legislature or of a conservation and reclamation district with respect to parks and recreational facilities as those powers currently exist.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.”

Proposition Number 12 (HJR134)
HJR 134 proposes a constitutional amendment to abolish the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County. The amendment would authorize the Galveston County Commissioners Court to employ or contract with a qualified person or designate another county officer to perform any functions that would have been performed by the County Treasurer. The proposed amendment would take effect only if a majority of the voters of Galveston County voting on the proposition favor the amendment.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.”

Proposition Number 13 (HJR107) 

HJR 107 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for


state justices and judges. Currently, the Texas Constitution establishes that justices and judges of the appellate courts, district courts, and criminal district courts must retire on the expiration of the term during which they reach the age of 75 years or an earlier age, not less than 70 years, as the legislature may prescribe. The proposed amendment would change the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges of the appellate courts, district courts, and criminal district courts to 79 years or an earlier age, not less than 75 years, as the legislature may prescribe. The proposed amendment also would remove the provision stating that justices and judges may only serve until December 31 of their fourth year in office if they reach the age of 75 years in the first four years of a six-year term.

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.”

Proposition Number 14 (SJR74) 
SJR 74 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the centennial parks conservation fund as a trust fund outside the state treasury. The fund could be used, in accordance with general law, only for the creation and improvement of state parks. The centennial parks conservation fund would consist of: (1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature; (2) gifts, grants, and donations received by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) or its successor for a purpose for which money in the fund may be used; and (3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts credited to the fund. The proposed amendment would authorize the legislature to appropriate money from the centennial parks conservation fund to TPWD or its successor for the creation and improvement of state parks.
 
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”
 

You can find information about the amendments and voting in Texas at VoteTexas.gov.

Please note the voter registration deadline for the November 7, 2023 Election is October 10, 2023.

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]]> Election Bills in Trouble https://bastropcc.com/blog/2023/04/25/election-bills-in-trouble/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 15:14:37 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=3232 The post Election Bills in Trouble appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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From Grassroots America – We the People

This information comes from Jill Glover, Chair, Republican Party of Texas Legislative Priorities Committee.

We have inserted our Quick Action links so that you can make your voice heard on border security bills and election integrity bills!

Last summer at the Republican Party of Texas state convention, delegates voted “Protect Our Elections” as the top legislative priority. This is the second state convention in a row that election integrity has been the number one priority. The current priority reads, “Restore felony penalties and enact civil penalties for Election Code violations, which shall be enforceable by any Texas jurisdiction, including the Texas Attorney General. Require citizenship verification of each voter. Restrict the distribution of mail-in ballots to only disabled, military, and citizens that are out of state. Reduce the time allowed for early voting and eliminate the three-day gap between early voting and election day. Establish closed primaries in Texas. As technology evolves, we encourage the passage of legislation that ensures the security of our elections.”

In the March 2022 primary, securing our elections was also top-ranked, receiving 95.7% support from over two million Texas Republican voters. During the November 2022 general election, we saw many issues arise in two of our largest counties, Harris and Dallas, indicating a need for new legislation to address voting fraud and election irregularities.

The Senate has passed multiple excellent bills that address many of these concerns. Yet the House Elections Committee appears to be reluctant to vote out any bills that address our priority. There is a very small contingent of people within the party (yes, Republicans) who do not want these bills to see the light of day. This is wrong, and we encourage Chairman Smith to stop listening to bad advice and begin moving these bills.

URGENT! Texas House Elections Chairman Reggie Smith (Republican) has not passed THESE election integrity priority bills out of his committee!

Action Step 1: Call Rep. Reggie Smith at (512) 463-0297 and ask him to pass the following bills (below) out of his House Elections Committee so they can be moved to Calendars to be scheduled for a floor vote. The legislative clock will soon run out on these important bills!

Action Step 2: Email the House Elections Committee (which includes Chairman Reggie Smith) and ask them to vote these bills out of committee now. These bills will die in committee soon if they aren’t moved out fast!

Click here to send a personal email to the entire House Elections Committee!

  • SB 2 – Restore Illegal Voting Felony Penalty (in House Elections)
  • HB 1243 – Restore Illegal Voting Felony Penalty (Reported favorably w/o amendment)
  • SB 921 and Companion HB 3611 – Bans Ranked Choice Voting (both in House Elections)
  • SB 1070 and Companion HB 2809 – Interstate Cross-Check that removes Texas from ERIC (both in House Elections)
  • HB 5231 – Eliminates countywide voting and returns voting back to precinct-based voting (in House Elections)

There are also two bad elections bills that we are very concerned about and need action. Both bills are objectionable as they involve the legislature interfering in our own Republican State Party business. Again, a small minority is advocating for these bills. Bills and current status are:

  • HB 1635 – Pulls state funding from the Republican Party of Texas if we don’t follow the election law dictates of the Biden administration or RNC (Referred to Senate State Affairs) Email the Senate State Affairs Committee in one simple email asking them to stop HB 1635.
  • HB 4636 – Gives county chairs power to appoint precinct chairs to vacant positions over the objection of a majority of their County Executive Committee (House Elections Hearing Completed and set as Pending Business) Email House Elections Committee in one simple email asking them to not vote HB 4636 out of committee.

Last Thursday, our first Legislative Priority bill passed in the House, HB 900. This bill prohibits sexually explicit books in Texas schools. More bills relating to the Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids are:

  • SB 12 by Senator Hughes is the only bill related to sexually oriented performances in the presence of minors that is currently moving. This bill has a strong definition of “drag performance,” prohibiting all sexually oriented performances on public grounds and in front of minors. It is enforced through both criminal and civil penalties. SB 12 passed the Senate and is now in the House State Affairs Committee. Click here to contact Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and ask him to move SB 12 out of committee!

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]]> Texas Legislative Status Report – April 8 – Border Security Hearings Wed! from Tom Glass https://bastropcc.com/blog/2023/04/08/texas-legislative-status-report-april-8-border-security-hearings-wed-from-tom-glass/ Sat, 08 Apr 2023 21:39:25 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=3213 The post Texas Legislative Status Report – April 8 – Border Security Hearings Wed! from Tom Glass appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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Texas Legislative Status Report

April 8, 2023 (Day 88 of 140 of the 88th Texas Legislature)

Upcoming Bill Hearings Week of April 10

Tuesday, April 11:

Senate Business & Commerce:

SB 1607 – Kolkhorst – Prohibits money transmitters like Paypal from assessing fines against Texans for violating the transmitter’s terms of service.  This bill responds to Paypal’s 2022 woke attempt to fine its customers for their speech which Paypal (or its contractors) deemed “misinformation.” (Great Reset)

SB 1621 – Kolkhorst – requires businesses who wish to provide goods or services to a state agency to use E-VERIFY to verify employee information and for its subcontractors to do the same.  (Border Security)

Wednesday, April 12:

State Affairs:  Border Security Day!

Use this link to comment remotely on State Affairs bills being heard now through close of hearing.

HB 20 – Schaefer – This is the big border security bill for this session.  All hands on deck!

The low number designation says that this is a bill supported by the Speaker, but the Texas Legislature needs to know that we appreciate what they are doing whether with testimony, sign-ins at the Capitol showing support without testimony, or via the remote comment capability linked above.

I am sure that a committee substitute will be presented at the hearing (after LOTS of input from numerous stakeholders).  I have been told that Rep Schaefer is working hard to make the committee sub language available to the public before the hearing.  As soon as I know where we can see it, I will let this group know.  I expect that the committee sub will maintain most of its major components with tweaks to implementation and legal details.

The language of the broad and deep filed version of HB 20 does the following:

  • Sets up constitutional, independent action by Texas to take effective action by invoking Article I, Sec 3, Clause 3 reservation of self-defense power to the states when we are “in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay” or “unless actually invaded.” HB 20 formally declares that we are in imminent danger under that clause.  Note that this will be a combined declaration by the legislature and the governor.
  • Creates a Border Protection Unit that will report directly report to the governor, thereby taking pressure of the volunteer resources of the Texas National Guard and the stress on DPS when they are redeployed from protecting their communities to the border.
  • Repel – Authorizes the Border Protection Unit to “deter and repel persons attempting to enter the State of Texas illegally at locations outside a port of entry,” to “return aliens to Mexico who have been observed actually crossing the Mexican border illegally, and were apprehended or detained in the immediate vicinity of the border,” and to “use force to repel, arrest, and detain known transnational cartel operatives in the border region.”
  • Creates beefed up border trespass offense in the Penal Code – makes it a third degree felony and subject to $10K civil penalty each time a “person knowingly enters property of another without effective consent when knowingly entering the state of Texas from a neighboring jurisdiction.”
  • Creates another constitutional way for Texas to act independently by invoking constitutionally clear state authority to protect health. HB 20 incorporates the totality of HB 1491 filed earlier by Rep Brian Harrison.  It allows Texas to remove those who cross into Texas outside a port of entry as long as the feds have a vaccination mandate for anyone and “at any time which the U.S. Department of State has a travel-warning for COVID-19 for any country from which citizens have illegally entered the U.S. during the most recent year for which there is available data.”
  • Creates a standing Legislative Border Safety Oversight Committee.

HB 82 – Spiller – Interstate Border Security Compact – This bill implements the third sentence of the RPT Legislative Priority on Border Security.  This is a different variant of an implementation of an interstate border security compact than Senator Parker’s SB 1403, which has now passed out of the Senate Border Security.  The differences between the two are that the filed version of HB 82 says that the compact only takes effect if Congress approves and it focuses on illegal immigration in addition to border security.  CSB 1403 does not seek Congressional approval, crafting the content of the compacts in a way that supports not needing Congressional approval.  I.e., it steers clear of immigration, focusing instead on border security.  I have already suggested language to Rep Spiller amending the bill to not ask for Congressional approval if Texas has declared an actual invasion or imminent danger.  After the hearings on SB 1403 and its passage by Senate Border Security, I have provided him an alternative suggestion that he sub CSB 1403 for HB 82.  I plan to support moving forward on this bill, no matter what form it takes or remains.  I told him that given the path of CSB 1403, it appears that reconciliation will be needed sooner or later, anyway and that sooner is better than later to make sure we get this urgently needed bill passed.

HB 7 – Guillen – creates support for the courts as they deal with the demand from securing the border, beefs up programs for training border protection unit personnel, provides process to fund border facility infrastructure, and duplicates the HB 20 legislative oversight of the Texas border security efforts as we progress.  Note that this bill also has the Speaker’s low number designation.  I am sure that he views HB 7 and HB 20 as complementary to each other, and presume that committee subs of HB 20 and/or HB 7 will handle any overlapping duplication.

HB 65 – Spiller – increases penalties for human trafficking across the border.  I will probably sign in to support this bill without testifying.

Bills that Need Hearings by April 20:

Lots of good bills that will protect the lives and liberty of Texans have been filed this session.  See the excellent progress being made in the section below.  But because there is a multi-front war on everything we hold dear, even more needs to be done.  Here are the big topics where we are stuck on Omaha beach and need a breakout soon.  Since the urgent bills on border security are now in motion, I will not be focusing on pushing hearings in that area.

Texas Resistance to Great Reset (ESG, and CBDC)

All three of our bills resisting CBDC and providing alternatives need to be heard ASAP.

  • SJR 67 / HJR 146 — Parker / Capriglione – Right to Use Cash and Cash Substitutes add to Texas Bill of Rights – Because financial crisis and the privacy-destroying, police-state-implementing Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is looming, this is my personal top priority this session (along with the substantive border security bills of SCR 23 and HB 20).  SJR 67 is in Senate Business & Commerce.  HJR 146 is in author Capriglione’s own House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee.
  • SCR 25 / HCR 88 – Parker / Capriglione – Resolution expressing opposition to CBDC. SCR 25 is in Senate Business & Commerce along with SJR 67.  HCR 88, however, is assigned not to Capriglione’s committee, but to the jam-packed House State Affairs.
  • SB 2334 / HB 4903 – Hughes / Dorazio – Texas establishment of exchangeable digital warehouse receipt backed by gold in the Texas Bullion Depository. Sadly, SB 2334 is assigned to the busy Senate Finance Committee.  And HB 4903 is assigned to the busy House State Affairs.

I have confirmed with Senator Parker that he has asked for a hearing on SJR 67 and SCR 25 in Chair Charles Schwertner’s Business & Commerce.  Business & Commerce meets on Tuesdays and several weeks this session has also heard bills on Thursdays as well.  This Wednesday, I visited the Business & Commerce office, and verbally communicated our urgent request for a hearing on Parker’s bills as soon as possible.  Since then, the notice for Tuesday, April 11 is out and our phone still ain’t ringing (although two bills of lower priority that we support are being heard as discussed above.)

I think it time to send polite emails to Charles.Schwertner@senate.texas.gov or to urge that SJR 67 and SCR 25 be heard in the next Business & Commerce hearing.

Chair Capriglione will schedule HJR 146 in his own House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services when he thinks best.

I plan to communicate with House State Affairs about HCR 88 and HB 4903, as well as priority bills in other categories, soon.  And, I plan to ask Senator Hughes about the needed strategy for SB 2334 and getting it through Senate Finance.

Federal Pushback

Our flagship legislation in this first area of interest for the group is the Texas Sovereignty Act (HB 384 Cecil Bell/ SB 313 Bob Hall).  Both bills have been assigned to the State Affairs Committees in the respective chambers.  We have to beat out lots of other bills for timely attention in both committees.

One other bill that in my opinion deserves to make the priority cut is State Rep Mike Schofield’s HB 294, the bill that separates state and local elections from federal elections as a way to head off any weakening of election integrity that comes from the federal level.  It is in the House Elections Committee.

Medical Freedom

See below how many good medical freedom bills are in progress, but there are a lot more that have not gotten hearings.  There are three more that I plan to push for hearings:

  • HB 107 – Schaefer – Removes open-ended criminal penalties in the Texas Disaster Act. The legislature giving a stick to the executive so that he may define the acts to which the penalties can be applied is a textbook definition of a violation of separation of powers.  As a backup, I am trying to get this added into SB 1104 to insure that we get that unconstitutional aspect of existing law fixed.
  • SJR 84 / HJR 114 – Hall / Toth – Unalienable right to refuse vaccination added to Texas Bill of Rights. Both bills are assigned to the respective chamber State Affairs Committee.  This was our moon-shot for the session.  I want it heard this session to get the idea of unalienable rights applied to this topic into public discourse and thereby moving the Overton window.
  • SJR 66 – Hall – Recognition of right to refuse medical treatments added to Texas Bill of Rights. In Senate Health & Human Services.  This version of addition actually better represents the RPT  Medical Freedom platform plank better than our SJR 84 /HJR 114 because it is broader than just vaccination, going to all medical treatments.

Status of Bills Texas Constitutional Enforcement Supports:

Bills on the Move:

Border Security

  • SCR 23 – Kolkhorst – Legislative Declaration of Cartel Invasion – this is the other big bill for this session on border security. It complements HB 20 and sets us up for any challenges to Texas taking independent action to protect its citizens.  PASSED OUT OF BORDER SECURITY!  The vote on April 5 was unanimous and the bill was placed on the Local and Consent calendar, showing that the expectation is that there are no Texas State Senators that will stand in this bill’s way.
  • SB 1403 – Parker – Interstate Border Security Compact – PASSED OUT OF BORDER SECURITY on March 30. See comments about this bill’s relationship to Rep Spiller’s HB 82 above.
  • SB 602 – Birdwell – Enables Border Patrol agents to charge for state crimes when arresting and charging for federal crimes. PASSED SENATE.  DELIVERED TO HOUSE.
  • SB 1427 – Flores – Defines foreign terrorist organization and adds that concept to existing criminal street gang prohibitions. – WAITING ON SENATE FLOOR ACTION.
  • SB 1709 – King – Includes transnational criminal organization action in sedition penal statute and increases penalties. – WAITING ON SENATE FLOOR ACTION.

Federal Pushback and Rule of Law

  • HB 33 – Landgraf – Prohibits state agencies from participating w feds on regulations on oil & gas not in Texas law. In Federalist 46, Madison called this “refusal to assist officers of the Union.”  This protects oil & gas in Texas the way we protected guns last session with HB 2622.  PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. ON WAY TO CALENDARS.
  • SB 1927 – Hughes – Upgrades State Prosecuting Attorney to be able to independently prosecute election integrity, public integrity (including official oppression), human trafficking, and abortion law in Texas. Best solution for Court of Criminal Appeals decision that said AG could not independently prosecute criminal statutes (especially election integrity) in Texas.  WAITING ON SENATE FLOOR ACTION.

Texas Resistance to Great Reset (ESG, and CBDC)

 HB 1239 – Oliverson – Stops insurance companies from discriminating using ESG standards. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE.  ON WAY TO CALENDARS.

  • HB 2837 – Schaefer – Prohibits credit card company surveilling, reporting, or tracking of firearm and ammunition purchases in Texas. HEARD IN COMMITTEE.  COMMITTEE SUB BEING WORKED BEFORE COMMITTEE VOTE.
  • SB 1060 – Hughes – Prohibits shareholder proposals implementing ESG for insurance companies serving Texas. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. AWAITING PLACEMENT ON SENATE INTENT CALENDAR.
  • SB 1446 – Hughes – Requires Texas pension administrators to only use return to shareholder and not to invest in companies diverting attention to ideological and social goals. HEARD IN COMMITTEE.  AWAITING COMMITTEE VOTE.
  • SB 1017 – Birdwell – Stops Texas municipalities from regulating use of gas-powered engines and tools. PASSED SENATE. RECEIVE IN HOUSE.

Medical Freedom / Executive Overreach

  • HB 44 – Swanson – Prohibits discrimination against Medicaid and CHIP recipients by medical providers based on immunization/vaccination status. IN CALENDARS.
  • HB 81 – Harrison — Informed consent for COVID-19 vax.   PENDING IN COMMITTEE.
  • SB 177 – Middleton – Companion to HB 81. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. AWAITING PLACEMENT ON INTENT CALENDAR.
  • HB 1313 – Burrows – Texas study of COVID-19 vax adverse reactions. PENDING IN COMMITTEE.
  • SB 403 – Springer – Senate companion to HB 1313.   PENDING IN COMMITTEE
  • SB 29 – Birdwell – For COVID-19, prohibits government vax or mask mandates and lockdowns of business or schools. PASSED SENATE. RECEIVED IN HOUSE.
  • SJR 58 – Birdwell – Constitutional amendment to require legislative involvement in large-scale disasters after 30 days. PASSED SENATE. RECEIVED IN HOUSE.
  • SB 1104 – Birdwell – Implements SJR 58. Prohibits future lockdowns.  During disasters, only allows during first 30 days of disaster only, suspension of the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and Election Code to extend early voting by mail or for voters to deliver mail ballots to voting clerk on or before election day.  Preempts localities from conflicting with state or expanding scope beyond state during disasters. PASSED SENATE. RECEIVED IN HOUSE. Note that I am in conversation with House sponsor, Rep Slawson, to urge additional protections be added to this bill.
  • SB 1024 – Kolkhorst – the most comprehensive medical freedom bill filed this session. HHS Chair Kolkhorst is using this bill to consolidate lots of medical freedom ideas.    PENDING IN COMMITTEE.
  • SB 426 – Paxton – Stops Texas Medical Board from taking action against physicians who prescribe off-label drugs for COVID-19. PASSED SENATE.  RECEIVED IN HOUSE.
  • SB 301 – Hall – Stops disciplinary action against health care providers and pharmacists for prescribing and dispensing hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin. PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE. ASSIGNED TO SENATE LOCAL & CONSENT CALENDAR.
  • SB 299 – Hall – Allows patients to be attended in hospital by physician who is not a member of hospital’s medical staff.   PENDING IN COMMITTEE.
  • SB 265 – Perry – Requires Texas reporting into FDA MedWatch Reporting System of vaccine adverse events for experimental or FDA emergency use vaccines. PENDING IN COMMITTEE.

 Decisions are being made every day at the Texas Capitol that can protect Texans from the multi-pronged assaults on our lives, prosperity, children, way of life, and liberty.  We are in the thick of battle, and focused attention and action over the next few weeks can benefit generations of Texans yet to come.

The contents of this email are also posted on the Texas Constitutional Enforcement website blog.

Toward liberty,

Tom Glass
Texas Constitutional Enforcement
www.txce.org
832-472-4726
http://www.tomglass.org/

The post Texas Legislative Status Report – April 8 – Border Security Hearings Wed! from Tom Glass appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

]]> Action Alert From Texas First : Toth’s HB5234 Must Be Heard Before the Clock Runs Out https://bastropcc.com/blog/2023/04/08/action-alert-from-texas-first-toths-hb5234-must-be-heard-before-the-clock-runs-out/ Sat, 08 Apr 2023 20:58:53 +0000 https://bastropcc.com/?p=3204 The post Action Alert From Texas First : Toth’s HB5234 Must Be Heard Before the Clock Runs Out appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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ACTION ALERT from Texas First

This alert is the most important ACTION ALERT you have received from Texas First thus far! PLEASE FOLLOW THROUGH AND SHARE AS IF YOUR COUNTRY DEPENDS ON IT , WHICH IN FACT IT DOES!!!

Thanks to Representative Steve Toth, we have a bill, HB5234, that would return elections back to the citizens, taking control out of the hands of the corporations who currently control every aspect of our elections. While putting safeguards in place to ensure that our elections are conducted with accuracy, transparency and accountability, HB5234 needs to be heard by the House Elections Committee by April 20th so that we can get this bill to the House floor for a vote. To date, none of the election bills scheduled for committee hearings address the elephants in the room: the machines and the election system vendors!! The machines must go! The outsourcing of the elections must go!!!

Key components of the bill:

Secure hand marked paper ballots

Paper poll books

Strong chain of custody measures

Precinct only voting

Hand counted ballots (in person and absentee) at the precinct polling location

Video recording of hand counting the ballots at closing on election day

We ask you to take the following actions to not only advocate for the House Elections Committee hearing on HB5234, but to let elected officials know you support them for doing so:

1. Call Speaker Dade Phelan, Texas Speaker of the House, and Chairman Reggie Smith, Texas House Elections Committee Chairman, by pressing the numbers below and expressing the urgent need to have a committee hearing on HB5234. And yes, you can call them everyday until a hearing is scheduled !!! This can not be put off any longer, our election insecurities must be addressed fully in this session.

Speaker Dade Phelan (512) 463-1000

Chairman Reggie Smith (512) 463-0297

2. We have partnered with ACT FOR AMERICA to multiply our efforts in getting this bill heard before April 20th. Please go to their platform@ https://www.actforamerica.org/act-now/No-Voting-Machines-2024 and follow their instructions. It will send out additional supporting emails on your behalf to ALL Texas State elected officials, you can sign their petition to ban voting machines, and can call all the elected officials you would like.

3. Use our form to send an email, call and/or tweet your specific elected House Representative. The message will ask for your House Representative to sign on as a Co-sponsor to HB5234 and will state that you fully support and appreciate their courageous stand. A separate message will go to Governor Greg Abbott emphasizing the importance of addressing our elections fully in this session. It can not be put off any longer. He needs to make sure that there is a public committee hearing on HB5234. Please be sure that you cycle through and send both messages, one to your Representative, and one to the Governor.

Doing the above will only take a few minutes to complete. Your efforts are vital to securing our elections!

Not Everyone can do Great Things, but Everyone can do Small Things Greatly!

We need you!!!

The post Action Alert From Texas First : Toth’s HB5234 Must Be Heard Before the Clock Runs Out appeared first on Bastrop County Conservatives.

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