Republican Party of Texas Legislative Priorities Report
April 4, 2023 | Austin, TX
A message from the Republican Party of Texas
The Legislative Session moves very quickly; before you know it, time is running short. Many of the bills filed will not get past the first step of having a committee hearing. Grassroots activist Tom Glass has put together an excellent timeline demonstrating our current urgency.
Thurs., Apr 20 (101st day)
House – Last day for committee to hear a bill and have a realistic shot at passing the House.Thurs., Apr 27 (108th day)
House – Last day for a committee to report a bill and have a realistic shot of passing the House.Fri., May 5 (116th day)
House – Last day for a bill to be reported out of committee and have a long-shot chance of making it through Calendars to the House floor.Mon., May 8 (119th day)
House – Last day for committees to report HBs and HJRs.Thurs., May 11 (122nd day)
House – Last day to consider 2nd reading on HBs daily/supplemental calendar.Fri., May 12 (123rd day)
House – Last day to consider 2nd reading on local & consent calendar.Fri., May 19 (130th day)
House – Last local & consent calendar 2nd and 3rd readings.Sat., May 20 (131st day)
House – Last day for House committees to report SBs/SJRs.Tue., May 23 (134th day)
House – Last day for House to consider SB/SJRs on daily/supplemental calendar.Tue., May 24 (135th day)
House – Last day to consider 3rd reading of SBs/SJRs.
Senate – Last day for Senate to consider all bills/JRs.Fri., May 26 (137th day)
House – Last day to consider Senate amendments.Sun., May 28 (139th day)
Senate – Last day to concur on House amendments.Mon., May 29 (140th day)
House & Senate – Last day of Texas 88th Legislature.
We will begin narrowing down our Legislative Priorities bill focus, asking you to help get our most significant bills across the finish line.
Updates on Bills
Last week, HB 900 by Rep. Jared Patterson, known as the READER Act, which would ban sexually explicit and violent books from public schools, was passed out of committee with bipartisan support. We look forward to this bill coming to the House floor and its swift passage.
This week, SB 14, Sen. Campbell’s bill to ban gender modification for children, passed the Senate
SB 12 by Senator Hughes restricts drag shows on public property and in front of minors. Unlike some of the early bills filed, Hughes has done an excellent job defining what a sexually oriented performance is as it relates to drag. It has strong enforcement, including both civil and criminal penalties. This bill also has passed the Senate.
SB 1562 by Senators Hancock and Huffman creates a criminal offense of child sexual grooming in the Texas penal code. It will become a felony to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, or coerce, or attempt to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce a child younger than 18 years of age to engage in specific sexual conduct that violates existing penal codes related to the sexual exploitation of children. This bill was voted out of committee on April 5.
Take Action
Last week, we asked you to call and submit public comments on HB 1686, which would ban the gender modification of children. We have heard from a capitol insider that over 8,000 public comments were submitted, with roughly 80 percent in favor of the bill! While the bill was heard in committee, it has not been passed out yet. Please call the Public Health Committee members and ask them to pass the bill out of committee quickly.
Stephanie Klick, Chair - 512-463-0599
Liz Campos, Vice Chair - 512-463-0452
Nicole Collier - 512-463-0716
Jacey Jetton - 512-463-0710
Ann Johnson - 512-463-0389
Jolanda Jones - 512-463-0524
Venton Jones - 512-463-0586
Tom Oliverson Tom.Oliverson@house.texas.gov (email Rep. Oliverson and thank him for authoring the bill)
Four Price - 512-463-0470
Reggie Smith - 512-463-0297
Tony Tinderholt - 512-463-0624