ISSUE Now in a third session of the Legislature (which Gov. Abbot called as COVID infections hit a new peak), state leadership is using every trick in the book to thwart voting rights and suppress turnout. The bill that passed out of the house on August 23 is a complete House committee substitute for SB […]
Don’t Let a School Mask Mandate Prohibition Become Law (HB 141) (update)
ISSUE Note: Updated to reflect that HB 141 has been referred to the House Public Education Committee. The Texas GOP is trying to put into law Greg Abbott’s current executive order regarding mask mandates. This bill is fodder for the far, far right-wing base. The data is clear–masks help stop the spread of COVID-19–and schools […]
Stop Attacks on Transgender Texans
Hearing on Tuesday, August 24 at 10:30 AM ISSUE In the regular session, we fought hard against SB 29, the anti-trans athlete bill and we won. SB 29 did not become law. Now that we’re in the second special session, the same issue has resurfaced under SB 2. We need to make sure this bill […]
Stop Attacks on Transgender Children! (SB 29) (4)
ISSUE SB 29 bans transgender children from participating in student athletics teams that match their gender identities, excluding them from the friendship, education, teamwork, and health benefits of playing a sport. Worse, it would allow anyone–coach, fan or player–to accuse and humiliate any child (especially girls) of not belonging, potentially leading to accused children being […]
Protect Public Education
The quality of public education in Texas is under threat from several bills. Other bills that would improve public education will die if they are not heard and approved this week. The Bad HB 3979 would severely limit how educators teach history and social studies. It would also keep students from participating in civic activities […]
People Should Not Be Trapped in Jail Awaiting Trial (HB 20)
ISSUE House Bill 20 would require individuals–presumed innocent but accused of a crime–to pay for release from jail. It would take away judicial discretion to release large categories of people on personal bond. This means that people who do not have money would have to stay in jail indefinitely, while people with money would be […]
Don’t Limit Free Speech and Engagement in Classrooms (HB 3979)
ISSUE House Bill 3979 would control how educators can teach history and social studies students. It targets the diversity and inclusion efforts already underway in public schools across Texas. HB 3979 is part of a trend nationwide to keep educators and students from discussing and learning from history and current events. This trend would prohibit […]
No Interstate Compact to Enforce Immigration Law (SB 1254)
Hearing is Tuesday, May 18 at 8 AM ISSUE Senate Bill 1254 would allow the state of Texas to develop and join an interstate compact in an unconstitutional attempt to allow local and state law enforcement to enforce immigration law. At a time when we are just recovering from the pandemic and the February winter […]
Reduce Excessive Student Testing and Stress (HB 764)
ISSUE Texas requires more standardized tests than federal law requires, and requires that each student pass these tests to advance or graduate. Because this kind of testing has cultural and learning-style biases, many students are being held back until they give up on school and drop out. The loss of instructional time and flexibility from […]
Budget Action for SB 1 In Conference Committee
MAY 10 UPDATE ISSUE Both the Senate and House have passed their versions of the appropriations bill (SB 1). A conference committee is now deciding how to reconcile the differences in the bills, which will determine how much money will be spent for the next two fiscal years. This stage of the budget process will […]
Stop Attacks on Transgender Children! (SB 29) (3)
ISSUE We thought it was dead, but SB 29 got resurrected. Need calls to House Calendars Committee chair and Speaker Phelan. SB 29 bans transgender children from participating in student athletics teams that match their gender identities, excluding them from the friendship, education, teamwork, and health benefits of playing a sport. Worse, it would allow […]
Senate Should Pass a Year of Medicaid Coverage for Mothers (HB 133)
ISSUE Texas leads the nation in maternal mortality–women dying after childbirth. HB 133, currently in the Senate Health and Human Service Committee, would extend Medicaid for 12 months after pregnancy. HB 133 would save women’s lives. The staff of the chair of the Senate HHS Committee is saying that HB 133 is not needed because […]
Anti-Voter HB 6 and SB 7 In the House
ISSUE House Bill 6 is a massive voter suppression bill that strips power from counties and criminalizes mistakes by folks who want to help voters. It passed out of the House Elections Committee through a murky and underhanded process. (Four committee members have written to the United States Attorney General to ask for an investigation.) […]
Reduce Excessive Standardized Testing (HB 3668)
ISSUE In the 1990s, Texas pioneered using extensive, high-stakes standardized tests as a tool to improve schools. The results have been mixed—standardized-test scores have increased, but college professors find students are less prepared for the kind of deep learning that will lead to successful careers. Texas requires more standardized tests than federal law requires, and […]
Say NO to an Appointed Official Being in Charge of Elections (SB 1340)
HEARING IS APRIL 29 ISSUE Voters are still under attack by leaders of the Legislature who continue to push bills that take votes away from people of color and with disabilities, punish voters and people who try to help them, and take authority away from local elected officials. Most of the bills to be heard […]