Room E2.610
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0690
(512) 463-1004 Fax
Physical:
1100 Bear Creek Parkway
Keller, Texas 76248
(817) 431-5339
Mailing:
PO Box 770
Keller, Texas 76244
House Bills Passed
HB 1118
In the 86th Legislative Session, I passed HB 3834. This legislation required state and local government employees, appointed agency commissioners, elected local officials, and state and local contractors to take cybersecurity awareness training. In the implementation phase of this law, local government officials identified areas of the statute that needed clarification.
HB 1118 provides that clarification and adds a penalty for local governments not in compliance.
HB 1280
This bill, the Human Life Protection Act, enacts a complete ban on abortion upon a Supreme Court decision that reverses existing precedent, Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, that prevents states from banning abortion.
If the U.S. Supreme Court changes its precedent and allows states to protect unborn children before viability, Texas now has a law in place that would go into effect 30 days after the Supreme Court's decision, meaning the Texas Legislature will not have to reconvene in a special session to ban abortion.
HB 1920
State law does not impose a penalty for an airline or airport employee that carries a firearm onto the Airport Operations Area (i.e. the airside, ramp, or tarmac), therefore leaving a potential hole in security. HB 1920 mirrors existing state law on the secure side of the terminal building to now include the backside of the terminal.
HB 1925
Texas has an estimated 25,000 people who are experiencing homelessness on any given day. While current state law allows for local entities to impose camping bans, there was no statewide regulation in place, which resulted in inconsistent policies towards camping across the state. Allowing camping in public places not only creates public safety hazards such as a rise in property crimes, open drug use, and health hazards, it also discourages economic development and business activities near encampments.
HB 1925 prohibits camping in a public place and establishes a criminal offense for doing so.
HB 3130
As Texans increasingly use the internet on cell phones and tablets, the Texas Department of Information Resources created a secure, centralized application designed specifically for mobile devices, a digital mobile assistant called Texas by Texas (TxT). HB 3130 ensures a state agency does not duplicate efforts requiring a notification to DIR before contracting with a third party to build their own application.
HB 3746
In the 86th Legislative Session, I passed HB 4390. This legislation required entities that experience a data breach containing the personally identifiable information of more than 250 Texans to notify the Attorney General. HB 3746 requires the Attorney General to make the database containing that information publicly accessible on their website, rather than requiring a public information request to access the information.
HB 4018
Pervasive underinvestment and neglected IT infrastructure is keeping Texas from functioning at its best capacity. Texas agencies are working with antiquated systems that can’t speak to each other and very few customer services are online. Cybersecurity is also a major concern for state agencies, as they block 2.46 billion communication attempts from known bad actors every two months.
HB 4018 creates an oversight committee of House and Senate members to manage the public investment in IT projects. The bill also establishes the Technology Improvement and Modernization Fund to finance improvements and modernize state agency information resources, including legacy system projects and cybersecurity projects.
Senate Bills Passed
SB 19
From 2013 to 2017, Operation Choke Point was a clandestine program operated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Under this program, DOJ pressured banks via illegal, unofficial directives to "choke off" access to essential banking services for merchants and industries considered a "high risk for fraud," which included members of the firearms and ammunition industries.
SB 19 prevents any company with 10 or more employees from contracting with government entities and receiving taxpayer dollars unless the company verifies that it does not have an internal policy that discriminates against members of the lawful firearm or ammunition industry.
SB 475
To help Texas guard against billions of cyber attacks on a daily basis, this bill implements recommendations from the Texas Cybersecurity Council and the Texas Data Privacy Protection Council. SB 475 establishes a cloud computing state risk and authorization management program to provide consistency and security for cloud computing services, requires each state agency with more than 150 employees to designate a data management officer & establish a data advisory council, creates the Texas Volunteer Incident Response Team to provide rapid response during a cybersecurity event, authorizes a pilot regional network security operations center that will partner with institutions of higher education to assist in providing cybersecurity support and network security to regional partners, and most importantly, it prohibits agencies from using GPS data, individual contact tracing, or technology used to obtain biometric identifiers without a person's consent.
SB 604
Under current law, a Municipal Management District (MMD) is unable to fully dissolve if it continues to have outstanding debt. MMDs are considered political subdivisions of the state created to promote and develop commerce, transportation, economic development, safety, and the public welfare within a defined area.
Currently, some MMDs are deliberately bypassing the voices of property owners who have called for a district to dissolve by continuing to issue more debt, thereby artificially continuing the life of a district. SB 604 prevents an MMD from issuing new debt once it receives a valid petition by property owners calling for the district's dissolution.
SB 2230
In the 84th Legislative Session, I passed HB 483 creating a state-administered precious metals bullion depository, the Texas Bullion Depository. The Depository is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, who oversees the Depository and certifies the operator meets the standards established for the program, however the Comptroller partners with a contractor who built and operates the Depository.
SB 2230 allows the Texas Public Finance Authority to issue and sell bonds to purchase the current Depository facility to ensure that the Depository assets will not have to be moved in the future in the event of a change in vendors or other circumstances leading to non-availability of the current vault facilities.
General Appropriations Act
As the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article II, I am proud of the fiscally conservative budget I helped create. Some of my specific high points across the budget:
Stopping Medicaid Expansion
Upskilling and Reskilling Program Capacity Grants
All Pro Dad (Family First)
Alzheimer's Disease Program
Emergency Medical Task Force
Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport Demonstration Model
Healthy Community Collaboratives
Multi-Assistance Center Demonstration Project
Some of the Bills I Joint-Authored and Co-Authored
HB 4 Relating to the provision and delivery of certain health care services in this state, including services under Medicaid and other public benefits programs, using telecommunications or information technology and to reimbursement for some of those services.
HB 5 Relating to the expansion of broadband services to certain areas.
HB 6 Relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state; increasing criminal penalties; creating criminal offenses.
HB 19 Relating to civil liability of a commercial motor vehicle owner or operator, including the effect that changes to that liability have on commercial automobile insurance.
HB 82 Relating to pricing of and health benefit plan cost-sharing requirements for prescription insulin.
HB 129 Relating to digital citizenship instruction in public schools.
HB 216 Relating to residential mortgage loans, including the financing of residential real estate purchases by means of a wrap mortgage loan; providing licensing and registration requirements; authorizing an administrative penalty.
HB 244 Relating to the establishment of a grant program for promoting computer science certification and professional development in coding, technology applications, cybersecurity, and computer science for public school teachers.
HB 466 Relating to the sale of fireworks before and during the Diwali holiday.
HB 547 Relating to authorizing equal opportunity for access by non-enrolled students to University Interscholastic League sponsored activities; authorizing a fee.
HB 571 Relating to the establishment of a bundled-pricing program to reduce certain health care costs in the state employees group benefits program.
HB 749 Relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities.
HB 751 Relating to purchasing of cloud computing services by a political subdivision.
HB 764 Relating to the academic assessment of public school students.
HB 873 Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating a criminal offense.
HB 917 Relating to the composition of the board of trustees of the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
HB 1173 Relating to prohibited logistical support by a governmental entity for procurement of an abortion or the services of an abortion provider.
HB 1197 Relating to the period for which certain land owned by a religious organization for the purpose of expanding a place of religious worship or constructing a new place of religious worship may be exempted from ad valorem taxation.
HB 1219 Relating to the dissolution by petition of a municipal management district.
HB 1239 Relating to the prohibited suspension of laws protecting religious freedom and prohibited closure of places of worship.
HB 1291 Relating to notice of the right to object to participation in an abortion procedure for health care personnel of a hospital or health care facility.
HB 1424 Relating to protection of persons from participation in a health care service for reasons of conscience; providing a civil remedy; authorizing disciplinary action.
HB 1458 Relating to the separation based on biological sex of athletics teams sponsored by a public school or institution of higher education.
HB 1500 Relating to authority of the governor and certain political subdivisions to regulate firearms, ammunition, knives, air guns, explosives, and combustibles and certain associated businesses during certain disasters and emergencies.
HB 1515 Relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action.
HB 1525 Relating to the public school finance system and public education.
HB 1569 Relating to regulation by a property owners' association of certain religious displays.
HB 1576 Relating to the creation of a work group on blockchain matters concerning this state.
HB 1607 Relating to certificates of public convenience and necessity for certain transmission projects.
HB 1684 Relating to pretrial procedures, conditions for community supervision, and criminal punishment for conduct endangering the public safety; creating a criminal offense and increasing criminal penalties.
HB 1773 Relating to creating the criminal offenses of obtaining unneeded medical treatment by deception for a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual and continuous abuse of a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.
HB 1900 Relating to municipalities that adopt budgets that defund municipal police departments.
HB 1911 Relating to provisions governing the carrying of a handgun by certain unlicensed persons and to other provisions related to the carrying, possessing, transporting, or storing of a firearm; providing criminal penalties.
HB 1912 Relating to air quality permits for aggregate production operations and concrete batch plants.
HB 1927 Relating to provisions governing the carrying of a firearm by a person who is 21 years of age or older and not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law from possessing the firearm and to other provisions related to the carrying, possessing, transporting, or storing of a firearm or other weapon; creating criminal offenses.
HB 2021 Relating to the acceptance, rejection, and uses of certain money provided by the federal government to this state.
HB 2199 Relating to the establishment of the digital identity work group.
HB 2308 Relating to procedures in certain suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
HB 2311 Relating to limitations on increases in the appraised value for ad valorem tax purposes of residence homesteads and single-family residences other than residence homesteads.
HB 2337 Relating to abortion complication reporting and the regulation of drug-induced abortion procedures, providers, and facilities; creating a criminal offense.
HB 2366 Relating to criminal conduct that endangers law enforcement; creating a criminal offense and increasing a criminal penalty.
HB 2539 Relating to the distribution of funds designated for the low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program.
HB 2554 Relating to the operation by a school district of a vocational education program to provide eligible high school students with vocational and educational training under a plan for the issuance of a high school diploma and the application of certain student-based allotments under the public school finance system.
HB 2622 Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating firearms, firearm accessories, and firearm ammunition within the State of Texas.
HB 2637 Relating to the creation of the urban air mobility advisory committee.
HB 2926 Relating to the reinstatement of the parent-child relationship with respect to a person whose parental rights have been involuntarily terminated and to certain requirements in relation to the termination of the parent-child relationship or placement of a child in substitute care.
HB 2955 Relating to the reimbursement of certain urban teaching hospitals for the provision of inpatient hospital care under Medicaid.
HB 3207 Relating to preventing the loss of benefits by certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service during a declared disaster.
HB 3294 Relating to funding for the Texas emissions reduction plan.
HB 3319 Relating to certain measures to promote compliance with and improve public awareness of the state's move over or slow down law concerning the passing of certain vehicles.
HB 3507 Relating to a one-time supplemental payment of benefits under the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
HB 3510 Relating to work from remote locations by certain employees of certain entities licensed by the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner.
HB 3588 Relating to health benefit plan coverage for colorectal cancer early detection.
HB 3720 Relating to long-term care facilities for and Medicaid waiver programs available to certain individuals, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
HB 3787 Relating to the loss of benefits by and the payment of certain employer contributions for certain retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas who resume service.
HB 3833 Relating to the appraisal of certain real property for ad valorem tax purposes.
HB 3940 Relating to discrimination against or burdening certain constitutional rights of an applicant for or holder of a license to practice law in this state.
HB 3963 Relating to the placement of electric vehicle charging equipment in state parks.
HB 3979 Relating to the social studies curriculum in public schools.
HB 4042 Relating to requiring public school students to participate in interscholastic athletic activities based on biological sex.
HB 4131 Relating to the self-directed and semi-independent status of the State Securities Board; authorizing fees.
HB 4395 Relating to state agency and local government security incident procedures.
HB 4474 Relating to the control of virtual currency and the rights of purchasers who obtain control of virtual currency for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code.
HB 4534 Relating to a study by the Employees Retirement System of Texas of certain state retirement system reforms.
HJR72 Proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.
HJR108 Proposing a constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a lower limit on the maximum appraised value of residence homesteads for ad valorem tax purposes and to establish a limit on the value of single-family residences other than residence homesteads for those purposes.
HJR152 Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding certain organizational and procedural matters related to the legislature.
SB 7 Relating to election integrity and security, including by preventing fraud in the conduct of elections in this state; increasing criminal penalties; creating criminal offenses.
SB 8 Relating to abortion, including abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing a private civil right of action.
SB 43 Relating to residential mortgage loans, including the financing of residential real estate purchases by means of a wrap mortgage loan; providing licensing and registration requirements; authorizing an administrative penalty.
SB 247 Relating to discrimination against or burdening certain constitutional rights of an applicant for or holder of a license to practice law in this state.
SB 394 Relating to abortion complication reporting and the regulation of drug-induced abortion procedures, providers, and facilities; creating a criminal offense.
SB 474 Relating to the unlawful restraint of a dog; creating a criminal offense.
SB 623 Relating to the investigation and punishment of certain sexual offenses, to protective orders issued on the basis of certain sexual offenses, to crime victims' compensation, and to the establishment of a state sexual offense prevention and response program for the Texas Military Department.
SB 763 Relating to the creation of the urban air mobility advisory committee.
SB 827 Relating to health benefit plan cost-sharing requirements for prescription insulin.
SB 1028 Relating to health benefit plan coverage for colorectal cancer early detection.
SB 1336 Relating to a limit on the rate of growth of certain appropriations.
SJR27 Proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.