In the eighth week of the legislative session, we saw a distinct shift in the level of activity at the Texas Capitol. Nearly every committee held its first public hearing, and these meetings focused primarily on the testimony of agencies under the committees’ jurisdiction. This week, the committees will begin considering specific pieces of legislation. Moving forward, our Texas Legislative News updates will include a list of disability-related bills that have been scheduled for hearings.
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COVID-19 Restrictions
Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced that, due to rising vaccination rates and decreasing hospitalization rates, he will wind down statewide COVID-19 restrictions. This includes ending the statewide mask mandate and occupancy limits on businesses. As of today, we are uncertain about how this move will impact visits and testimony at the Capitol but will provide updates as we learn more.
Hearings To Watch
The following section includes a sample of the hearings that we are monitoring this week. During these hearings, legislative committees may consider important disability-related bills. To receive notifications about new hearings that are scheduled with short notice, follow us on Twitter. You can find live and archived broadcasts of committee hearings on the House and Senate websites.
The House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on Monday morning, March 8. They discussed House Bill (HB) 535 by Rep. Hugh Shine, relating to interest rates on deferred or abated property taxes for older adults and people with disabilities.
The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee held a hearing on Monday afternoon, March 8, on HB 689 by Rep. Nicole Collier. The bill relates to the use of videoconferencing when a person who has been arrested appears before a magistrate, an issue that has implications for people with developmental disabilities.
The House Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, March 9. They will discuss the following notable bills:
- HB 892, by Rep. James Frank, relating to the right of certain facility residents to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visits
- House Joint Resolution (HJR) 46, by Rep. James Frank, proposing a constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visits
The House Public Education Committee will also hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, March 9. They will discuss HB 699 by Rep. Jon Rosenthal, relating to public school attendance and promotion requirements for students diagnosed with or undergoing related treatment for severe or life-threatening illnesses.
The House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee will also hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, March 9. They will discuss HB 411 by Rep. Julie Johnson, relating to terms used to refer to an individualized education program (IEP) team.
The House Public Health Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday morning, March 10. They will discuss HB 119 by Rep. Brooks Landgraf and HB 473 by Rep. James White, both relating to bans on discrimination against organ-transplant recipients due to certain disabilities.
The Senate Health and Human Service Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday morning, March 10. They will discuss the following notable bills:
- Senate Bill 25 by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, relating to the right of certain facility residents to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visits
- Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 19 by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, proposing a constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visits.
The House Elections Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday morning, March 11. They will discuss HB 22 by Rep. Valoree Swanson and HB 478 by Rep. Jessica González, both relating to voters who need accommodations to enter polling places.
Stay Informed
Our Disability Policy Academy, “DD Experience in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Developing Responsive Public Policy,” was held virtually via Zoom and the event registration period has passed. Thank you for your interest!
To stay up to date regarding how disability-related issues are being addressed by the Legislature, subscribe to TCDD eNews. On our website, you can find legislative resources and video updates from TCDD Policy Director Scott Daigle on what’s happening at the Capitol. To receive additional notifications, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
