Weekly Newsletter

So many bills, so little time left - AST Newsletter Week of 5/8 with CALLS TO ACTION and Legislative Updates

May 7, 2023

Last week, Alliance for a Safe Texas and our good friend Marie Day were at the Capitol helping to advocate for HB 5000. HB 5000 is a bill we presented to Representative Stan Kitzman to help address the numerous issues surrounding the growing number of HHS-contracted influx and permanent facilities housing unaccompanied minors, of which two facilities are opening in Rep Kitzman's district with growing concerns from local elected officials and citizens.

HB 5000 would require that the federally contracted facilities are licensed by the state. The bill's goal is to give Texas much-needed oversight into these facilities, as many of the unaddressed concerns disregard the safety of the citizens in the communities of these facilities and the safety of the unaccompanied minors housed at the locations.

Last week HB 5000 was heard in the House State Affairs Committee.

Be on the lookout for an upcoming substack that will dive into more details of the increased concerns brought on by these facilities.

Thank you, Representative Stan Kitzman, for championing HB 5000 and being a voice for your district and all of Texas!

ACTION ITEM (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE ACTION ITEM SUMMARY)

We need to make sure HB 5000 hits the House floor for a vote! Once HB 5000 is sent to calendars, we will need YOUR help to ensure it makes it to the House floor.

Bills On the Way to the Governor’s Desk
SB 1484 by Sen Creighton and Sponsored by Rep Holland relating to the border operation training program for law enforcement passed out of the Senate (4/17) and the House (5/6).

Legislation Updates – This Week at the Capitol (Scroll to Bottom to See Action Item Summary)

House

HB 7 by Rep Guillen, relating to services and programs at the southern border.

Next Steps: Being heard on the House Floor Tuesday, 5/9.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 7.

HB 20 by Schaefer, relating to the creation of the Border Protection Unit and other border initiatives.

Next Steps: Being heard on the House Floor Tuesday, 5/9.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 20.

HB 3782 by Guillen, relating to the creation of the Border Security Advisory Council & Border Protection Task Force.

Next Steps: Being heard on the House Floor Tuesday, 5/9.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES on HB 3782.

HB 800 by Rep Guillen, relating to increased smuggling and evading arrest penalties.

Next Steps: Being heard on the House Floor Tuesday, 5/9.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 800.

HB 884 by Rep Harless, relating to expanding authorities for CBP officers to enforce a violation of certain state laws.

Next Step: Will be heard on the House Floor and considered for a vote on 5/9.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 884.

HB 1600 by Rep Hefner, Spiller, Orr, Metcalf, Morales

Next Steps: Sent to House Calendars to be voted on the House Floor.
Action Item: Contact Calendars; need to ensure that HB 1600 makes it to the House Floor for a vote.

HB 4422 by Rep Canales, Burrows, Moody, Geren, and King & Sponsored by Sen Hinojosa, relating to an updated study with the purpose of border security. Has been voted out of the House (4/18) and was heard in the Senate Border Security Committee on 5/4.

Next Steps: Needs to be voted out of the Senate Border Security Committee and brought to the Senate Floor for a vote.
Action Item: Contact the Senate Border Security Committee and ask them to vote HB 4422 favorably out of committee.

HB 82 by Rep Spiller, Hefner, Clardy & Cook, relating to an interstate compact for border security. Placed on the general state calendar for 5/9.

Next Steps: Needs to be heard and voted out of the House.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 82.

HB 73 by Rep Murr, King, Price, Bailes, Darby, relating to the limitation of liabilities from property owners with livestock and agricultural land. Referred to Senate State Affairs.

Next Steps: Needs to be heard in Senate State Affairs and voted on in the Senate.
Action Item: Contact Senate State Affairs and ensure the bill gets a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee.

Senate

SCR 23 by Sen Kolkhorst, a resolution relating to encouraging the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization and recognition of unprecedented invasion by the cartel. SCR 23 is STILL sitting in the House State Affairs Committee.

Next Steps: Needs to be heard in the House State Affairs committee and voted on in the House.
Action Item: Contact the House State Affairs Committee and ensure SCR 23 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee.

SB 1518 by Sen King, relating to a terrorist offender registry and creating terrorist criminal offenses.

Next Steps: Needs to be voted on in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee.
Action Item: Contact the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and ensure they vote SB 1518 favorably out of the committee.

SB 1621 by Sen Kolkhorst, relating to the expansion of E-Verify. SB 1621 has been placed on the intent calendar on 5/8.

Next Steps: Needs to be voted on in the Senate.
Action Item: Contact your State Senator and ask them to vote YES for SB 1621.

SB 1403 by Sen Parker, relating to an interstate compact on border security.

Next Steps: Was voted favorably in House State Affairs Committee on 5/5, needs to be moved out of committee and sent to House Floor for a vote.
Action Item: Contact your Representative and ask them to vote YES for SB 1403 when it is scheduled for a House vote.

SB 1427 by Sen Flores, relating to increasing penalties for smuggling. SB 1427 is STILL awaiting to be heard in the House State Affairs Committee.

Next Steps: Needs to be scheduled for a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee and be voted favorably out of committee.
Action Item: Contact the House State Affairs Committee to ensure that SB 1427 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee.

SB 1900 by Sen Birdwell, relating to designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Reported favorably in House State Affairs Committee.

Next Steps: Need to ensure SB 1900 is moved out of House State Affairs Committee and scheduled to the House Floor for a vote.
Action Item: Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for SB 1900 when the bill is brought to the House Floor for a vote.

SB 2424 by Sen Birdwell, relating to improper entry state trespassing charges. Was referred to the House State Affairs Committee.

Next Steps: Needs to be heard in House State Affairs Committee.
Action Item: Contact House State Affairs Committee and ensure SB 2424 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of Committee.

ACTION ITEM RECAP

House Floor

Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 20 on 5/9.
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 800 on 5/9.
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 82 on 5/9.
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 7 on 5/9.
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES on HB 3782 on 5/9.
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for HB 884 on 5/9.
We need to make sure HB 5000 hits the House floor for a vote! Once HB 5000 is sent to calendars, we will need YOUR help to ensure it makes it to the House floor. (Pending Date)
Contact your Representative and ask them to vote YES for SB 1403 when it is scheduled for a House vote. (Pending Date)
Contact your State Representative and ask them to vote YES for SB 1900 when the bill is brought to the House Floor for a vote. (Pending Date)

Senate Floor

Contact your State Senator and ask them to vote YES for SB 1621 on 5/8.

House Calendars

Contact Calendars; need to ensure that HB 1600 makes it to the House Floor for a vote. Contact: Paige Higerd (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0758

Senate Committee(s)

Contact the Senate Border Security Committee and ask them to vote HB 4422 favorably out of committee. Contact: Shelby Sterling (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0276
Contact Senate State Affairs and ensure HB 73 gets a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee. Contact: Taryn Taylor (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0380

House Committee(s)

Contact the House State Affairs Committee and ensure SCR 23 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee. Contact: Ginny Holloway (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0814
Contact the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and ensure they vote SB 1518 favorably out of committee. Contact: Rachel Wetsel (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0768
Contact the House State Affairs Committee to ensure that SB 1427 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of the committee. Contact: Ginny Holloway (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0814
Contact House State Affairs Committee and ensure SB 2424 receives a hearing and is voted favorably out of Committee. Contact: Ginny Holloway (Clerk) Phone: 512-463-0814

We will see you at the Capitol!