In a session that left many liberty-minded activists wondering what happened to red Texas, our legislators exited the 86th Texas Legislature patting themselves on the back.
Unable to point to accomplishments on many of the conservative priorities they stated before the session, lawmakers are returning to their home districts touting the “unity” and “cooperation” they felt during the session, sounding more like a recitation of political correctness than big wins for the people of Texas.
The Convention of States Texas team, however, was instrumental in the pushing through the Property Tax Reform bill. Without citizen activists calling their legislators and rallying at the state capitol, there may not have been any relief for the overburdened taxpayer.
Here is a summary of what made it to Governor Abbott’s desk:
- Budget: the state’s two-year plan calls for spending roughly $250 billion. The budget includes a 16% increase in spending over the last budget, which greatly exceeds estimates of population growth and inflation. Additionally, lawmakers expect a surplus of $10 million which they allocated to education and minimal property tax relief.
- Property Tax Reform: all local taxing entities will have to get voter approval to raise property tax revenues by more than 3.5%. School districts, which take the largest share of the average Texan’s property tax bill, will be subject to a 2.5% cap, but that won’t go into effect until 2021.
- School Finance: includes funding for full-day pre-K for eligible students, increased monies for educating low-income students, incentivizes dual language programs and improved dyslexia programs. School districts are required to use a portion of their increase in funding on salary increases and benefits for teachers, librarians, nurses, and counselors, with a smaller amount designated for raises for all employees.
- School Safety: in the wake of the Santa Fe High School shooting, this bill provides an undetermined amount of state money for campus security measures and mental health initiatives. It requires classrooms to have access to a telephone or other electronic communication and it creates threat assessment teams to identify potentially dangerous students. The bill also calls for students to learn about domestic violence and requires certain training for school resource officers.
- Teacher Pensions: gives retired teachers a one-time check for $2000 and gradually increases state, school district, and teacher contributions to the pension fund.
- “Born Alive” and Defunding Abortion Providers: two separate bills impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to treat babies born alive after failed abortion attempts and prohibit state and local governments from using public funds or giving special deals at taxpayer expense to agencies that perform abortions.
- Flood Infrastructure Fund: draws $1.7 billion from the state “rainy day fund” to help pay for flood control projects and repairs to communities harmed by natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey.
- Religious Freedom: known as the “Save Chick-fil-A Bill,” this bill prevents government entities from discriminating against people or businesses based on their religious beliefs or with whom they associate.
- Smoking and Alcohol: two separate bills raise the legal age to buy tobacco and e-cigarette products from 18 to 21 (except for military personnel) and allow breweries to sell beer to go from their taprooms. The alcohol bill also loosens restrictions on the number of liquor store permits individuals can hold.
- Red-Light Cameras and Driver Responsibility Programs: two separate bills ban red-light cameras and repeal a program that added annual surcharges on top of traffic fines that, if unpaid, led to the suspension of driver’s licenses.
- Sex Abuse Lawsuits: allows victims of certain types of sexual abuse to sue abusers or entities up to 30 years after the victim turns 18. The previous law capped lawsuits after 15 years.
These are some of the more notable bills that passed, but none of the important issues that died along the way. A strong COS team in Texas, with our ongoing civic engagement and connection with the legislature, is critical.
If we are to retain our freedoms, and the unique quality of life in this state, we must together push our lawmakers to remember who they work for…
We the People.
