Highlighting the week was Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s announcement of House committee assignments. Assignments were given largely on a bipartisan basis, with no clear preference for particular ideologies or regions. This was highlighted by the assignment of Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat, as Speaker Pro Tempore, who serves over the chamber when the speaker is not present. Additionally, three major committees received new chairmen: Ways and Means is now chaired by Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), State Affairs is now chaired by Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont), and in the powerful Calendars Committee, Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo) is replacing Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) as chairman. For a full list of committee assignments, please click here.
As the House finalized its organization for the coming biennial, the Senate – which assigned committees last week – kicked off its legislative work in earnest with the Senate Finance Committee holding its first hearings of the session. The committee heard testimony from the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and state agencies on their funding needs for the supplemental and for the 2020-2021 biennium. As part of the hearing, Chair Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) formally announced plans for the committee to complete formal hearings in February, allowing committee work groups to mark up the final budget bill in March.
Highlights of the budget bill, as filed, include:
- $112 billion in total General Revenue appropriations for the 2020 – 2021 biennium;
- $2.4 billion for student enrollment growth;
- $3.7 billion for teacher pay raises; and
- $2.7 billion to address recapture in the school finance system
Highlights of the supplemental bill, as filed, include:
- $4.2 billion in total supplemental funding for the biennium, $2.5 billion of which is drawn from the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) rainy day fund;
- $1.2 billion in funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts; and
- Additional funding to address Medicaid, school safety, state hospitals, and pensions
Meanwhile, this Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced additional changes to the Senate Agriculture Committee, appointing Senator Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) to serve as committee chair, and Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) to serve on the committee as well.
Finally, long-serving Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes announced that he will be stepping down August 31
st. Commissioner Paredes has served in his position for fifteen years, helping implement reforms including outcomes-based funding, affordable baccalaureate programs, and significant changes to developmental education. Stuart Stedman, chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, will lead the search for his replacement.
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This week, House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas filed HB 1. You can view the bill at the following link: HB 1.
Senate Finance Committee Begins Budget Hearings
Senate Finance Committee Hearing - January 22, 2019: The Senate Finance Committee held an organizational hearing January 22, 2019. The Committee heard from Comptroller Hegar on the revenue outlook, followed by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB). Due to lack of time on Tuesday, the Committee continued with the LBB's presentation on SB 1 the next day. You can watch these discussions by visiting the following links:
Senate Finance Committee - January 22, 2019
Senate Finance Committee - January 23, 2019
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Committee Hearings
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Monday, January 28:
Senate Finance
10:00 A.M., E1.036
Considering Article V - Public Safety and Criminal Justice
Agenda
House Appropriations
12:00 P.M., E1.030
Considering Invited Testimony Only
Agenda
Tuesday, January 29:
Senate Finance
9:00 A.M., E1.036
Considering Article IV - The Judiciary
Agenda
House Appropriations
7:30 A.M., E1.030
Considering Invited Testimony Only
Agenda
House Administration
9:30 A.M., E1.010
Organizational Meeting
Agenda
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Wednesday, January 30:
Senate Finance
9:00 A.M., E1.036
Considering Article VI - Natural Resources
Agenda
House Appropriations
7:30 A.M., E1.030
Considering Invited Testimony Only
Agenda
House Public Education
8:30 A.M., E2.036
Considering Invited Testimony Only
Agenda
Thursday, January 31:
Senate Finance
9:00 A.M., E1.036
Considering Article VII - Business and Economic Development
Agenda
House Natural Resources
9:00 A.M., E2.010
Organizational Meeting and Invited Testimony
Agenda
Upon Adjournment, the Committee is making a site visit to the San Antonio Water System Brackish Groundwater Desalination facility and Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project
Agenda
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Bill Tracking Report
Bill tracking reflects bills filed and tracked through noon on Friday, January 25, 2019
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BILL
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AUTHOR
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RELATING TO
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LAST ACTION
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DATE
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HB 923
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Zedler, Bill
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Relating to coverage of an alternative treatment after the approval of a utilization review.
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Filed
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1/18/19
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HB 982
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Parker, Tan
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Relating to the administration of pay for success" contracts for state agencies."
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Filed
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1/23/19
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HB 992
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Calanni, Gina (F)
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Relating to the women's health advisory committee.
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Filed
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1/23/19
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HB 1005
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Collier, Nicole
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Relating to medical causation narrative reports created under the Texas Workers' Compensation Act.
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Filed
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1/23/19
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SB 420
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Buckingham, Dawn
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Relating to dispenser requirements for refilling prescriptions for certain controlled substances.
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Filed
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1/23/19
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HB 1
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Zerwas, John
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General Appropriations Bill.
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Filed
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1/23/19
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HB 1016
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Martinez, Armando
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Relating to eligibility determinations for the STAR+PLUS home and community based services (HCBS) program.
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Filed
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1/23/19
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HB 1063
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Price, Four
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Relating to the reimbursement of providers for the provision of certain home telemonitoring services under Medicaid.
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Filed
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1/24/19
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SB 1
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Nelson, Jane
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General Appropriations Bill.
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Meeting cancelled for 01/25/19 - Senate Finance
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1/24/19
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SB 444
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Perry, Charles
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Relating to discrimination by a state agency against an applicant for or holder of an occupational license.
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Filed
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1/24/19
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HB 1071
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Hinojosa, Gina
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Relating to an advance directive and do-not-resuscitate order of a pregnant woman and information provided for an advance directive.
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Filed
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1/24/19
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HB 1080
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White, James
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Relating to prior authorization procedures for physical therapy services in Medicaid and the child health plan program.
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Filed
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1/25/19
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HB 1082
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Raymond, Richard
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Relating to the form of certain advance directives.
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Filed
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1/25/19
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HB 1103
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Price, Four
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Relating to the composition of the statewide health coordinating council.
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Filed
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1/25/19
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