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Stop the Codification & Expansion of Operation Lone Star
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No New Anti-Immigrant Attacks
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Support Thriving Border Communities & Colonias
TRAININGS AND RESOURCES
Texas Lege 101 Training
The 88th Texas Legislative Session is in full swing, but do you know what the Texas Legislature looks like? It can look confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming, but no sweat, we can explain it!
Watch our training to learn how you can get involved and make a difference this session.
State of the State Debrief
Abbott’s priorities for the Legislature this year show that he does not have all Texans’ best interests in mind. We were disappointed, angered, but not surprised. More importantly, we are more ready than ever to advocate for Texans at the Capitol.
Watch our debrief now to stay informed about what Abbott’s priorities mean for everyday Texans.
Glossary of Terms
Appropriations: Process of determining where money is allocated in Texas’ biennial budget Chamber: Referring to either the House or Senate Chamber Committee: Subgroups by certain subject matter area where bills are referred to & heard for testimony As “Engrossed”: A status to indicate a bill that has been voted out of its respective chamber (House or Senate) As "Filed": A status to indicate unamended legislation as it was originally filed. As “House - Committee substitute considered in committee”: A status to indicate a bill considered in a House committee with language different from the most recent prior version HB: House Bill HCR: House Concurrent Resolution. - Conveys the legislature’s sentiment around an issue HJR: House Joint Resolution - Proposes amendments to Texas Constitution Lege: Legislature - The lawmaking body of Texas’ legislative branch Point of Order (POO): An objection that the pending matter or proceeding is in violation of a House rule Representative: Elected to the Texas House of Representatives for a two-year term Senator: Elected to the Texas Senate for a four-year term SB: Senate Bill SCR: Senate Concurrent Resolution - Conveys the legislature’s sentiment around an issue SJR: Senate Joint Resolution - Proposes amendments to Texas Constitution Sine Die: The last day of the legislative session SOS: Secretary of State TDCJ: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
For a glossary on more Texas legislative terms, please click here.
88th Texas Lege
BILLS WE'RE WATCHING
Jump to:
Beyond Borders: SB1 |SB 147|HB 20| HB 7|HB 5166
Criminal Injustice: SB1|SJR 44|SB 1318|HB 1355, HB 1708, HB 2950|HB 2328|HB 3739|HB 1428|HB 812
Voting Rights: SB2| SB 221| HB 357|HB 636|HB 386| SB 477|SB 990| SB 1938 | SB 1993 | SB 1599 | SB 1600 SB 220 | SB 823|HB 2020|HB 1000|HB 1243|HB 5180|HB 862|HB 3749|HB 2860|HB 4701|HB 4782|SB 1750|SB 375|SB 1039
SB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, would govern how Texas’ current $188+ billion budget would be spent over the next two years. This year, with a historic $30+ billion in surplus, this bill would continue investing more than $4 billion in militarizing the border instead of humanitarian relief efforts. Moreover, Texas would continue investing nearly $200 million in kids' jails instead of investing in local community solutions to keep kids home.
Testimony:
SB 2 would criminalize good faith mistakes in voting and increase the penalty for illegal voting or attempted illegal voting.
Feb 27: Voting Rights Testimony at Senate State Affairs Committee:
Senate Bill 147:
TCRP Position: Against as "Filed"
SB 147 would prohibit citizens and entities with ties to China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia to purchase property in Texas.
Testimony:
Senate Joint Resolution 44:
TCRP Position: Against as "House - Committee substitute considered in committee”
Criminal Injustice
SJR 44 will increase the opportunity for judges to detain people without the possibility of bail for certain offenses
Testimony:
Senate Bill 1318:
TCRP Position: Against as "House - Committee substitute considered in committee”
SB 1318 would give judges the option to detain people without the possibility of release before their trial for certain offenses. It also includes a presumption of release on personal bond for nonviolent offenses.
Testimony:
SB 221 would give the Secretary of State (SOS)—an unelected political appointee— the unilateral authority to determine whether, in their judgment, a city’s proposed ballot proposition language is “misleading, inaccurate, or prejudicial.” If the SOS makes that determination, then the city must redraft the proposition. If the city redrafts it three times without fixing the supposed problem, then SOS must redraft the proposition on its own. This would limit the amount of time that local governments have to actually prepare ballots for upcoming elections, while doing nothing to prevent local governments or SOS from ending up in a court dispute over ballot proposition language.
Testimony:
HB 357 would make the mail-in ballot tracker more user-friendly by changing the way voters look up their ballot. Instead of entering their registration address and the last four digits of their SSN, voters would be able to use their date of birth and their driver’s license number, personal identification card number, or the last four digits of their SSN.
Testimony:
HB 636 would allow election judges to bring handguns in the polling place if they have a license to carry. Voters should be able to cast a ballot free from fear that there are weapons in a polling place.
Testimony:
HB 386 would require all counties post signs telling voters how to access curbside voting. This signage must inform voters of a phone number to call or text for an election worker to bring a ballot to their car, or a button or intercom that can be used to request assistance. This bill would also reserve a parking place for voters who cannot physically enter the polling place. Many voters in Texas do not know that curbside voting must be offered at every polling place, and have trouble accessing it even when they do. Mandating signage and designated parking for curbside is vital to ensuring that all voters can cast a ballot regardless of disability.
Testimony:
Materials:
HB 20 would create a new “Border Protection Unit” (BPU) to police people “crossing the border.” As filed, the BPU would have the power to deputize any “law abiding” citizen “without a felony conviction” (i.e., vigilantes) to take part in enforcement. Moreover, HB 20 would create a Texas-equivalent of Title 42, cruelly heighten trespass penalties, and oversee the construction of a state funded border wall.
Materials:
What We Know (so far)/Lo Que Sabemos (se actualizará pronto)
Apr 12: Beyond Borders at House State Affairs Committee (opposing testimony):
Alexis Bay:
Erin Thorn:
Roberto Lopez:
Kassandra Gonzalez:
HB 7 would use the State’s budget to institutionalize Operation Lone Star as a permanent fixture in Texas public policy. It would dedicate substantial funding streams to existing and new institutions that would further militarize and over-police the border.
Materials:
What We Know (so far)
Apr 12: Beyond Borders at House State Affairs Committee (opposing testimony):
Alexis Bay:
Erin Thorn:
Roberto Lopez:
Emily Eby French:
Senate Bill 477:
TCRP Position: For as "House - Committee substitute considered in committee”
SB 477 would make a number of improvements for voters with disabilities, including: bumping voters with mobility disabilities to the front of the line, reserving two parking places at each polling place for curbside voting and adding clear signage, and requiring county websites to post mail ballot applications so that voters can fill them out online before printing.
Testimony:
SB 990 would eliminate the countywide polling place program, requiring every person who votes on Election Day to vote in their precinct or have their vote thrown out.
Testimony:
SB 1938 would allow the SOS to withhold funds from a voter registrar who doesn't “timely” act on mass voter challenges.
Testimony:
HBs 1355, 1708, & 2950 would address human rights concerns in prisons by requiring Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) facilities to have air conditioning between 65 and 85 degrees. HB 1355 specifies an air conditioning unit in each cellblock, dormitory, and common area in a TDCJ facility. HB 1708 establishes the temperature range for TDCJ facilities. Finally, HB 2950 includes a reporting requirement regarding air conditioning in these facilities.
Testimony:
Senate Bill 1993:
TCRP Position: