May 5, 2017 - The next few weeks are the busiest weeks of any session. The House has strict rules and deadlines that govern the end of the legislative session. All House bills must be debated and voted out of the House by May 12th or they cannot advance. All Senate bills must be debated and voted out of the House by May 24th or they cannot advance. These deadlines can be a blessing and a curse, as many bad bills die, but many good ones are victims of the legislative process.
With these deadlines looming, the House has been in full gear debating measures large and small, ranging from criminal justice to healthcare to foster system reforms, and every issue in between.
Last week, the House had a marathon, 15 hour debate of SB 4, the sanctuary cities bill. Many amendments were considered and many opinions were aired, but finally at 3:00a.m., the House passed SB 4. SB 4 will now go back to the Senate to work out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill in a conference committee. This legislation is very close to being finalized and I look forward to sending it to Governor Abbott for his signature.
Last week, the House also passed a measure that would repeal the franchise tax on Texas businesses. HB 28 provides a measured approach that would reduce the margins tax as the state has unspent balances until the tax is fully phased out. This approach ensures that we continue to fund the state's priorities but also ensures that when the government is collecting more money than it needs, that we are sending that money back to taxpayers.
Another measure that we passed was to designate July 7th as Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day. This legislation is just a small token of the appreciation that we have for our law enforcement officers who put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. This day will also commemorate the murder of 5 of Dallas' bravest last year. I hope that designating Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Day will help us to take a moment to show our appreciation for all of our law enforcement officers.
These bills are just a few of the many that are being considered in Austin. It is great to hear from so many of you, either supporting or opposing all kinds of legislation. It is with your input that I am able to best represent you as we finish the 85th Legislative session. If there is an issue that you want to make me aware of, please contact me at 512-463-0556 or district9.paddie@house.texas.gov.
