Gavel To Gavel 87th Legislative Session: January 8, 2021
After a year defined by turbulence and uncertainty, we round the corner towards the 2021 Legislative Session. On Monday, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be holding a virtual press conference to present the Biennial Revenue Estimate for 2022-23. Comptroller Hegar released Texas’ sales tax revenue for December, reporting double digit declines in multiple tax revenues. These numbers aren’t terribly reassuring when set against the Comptroller’s projected $4.58 billion deficit for FY 2021, nor can we look to federal relief funds to provide much clarity on the subject.
The U.S. Congress’ year-end funding package contains $900 billion in COVID-19 relief and provides, among other things—direct payments to citizens and extended unemployment benefits, billions towards public health, research, and clinical trials, and a second loan from the Paycheck Protection Program for smaller, harder-hit businesses. President-elect Biden has referred to this round of stimulus as a “down payment,” leaving myriad questions as to the shape of a stimulus bill from the new administration.
The Texas Capitol reopened on January 4th, accompanied by guidelines for the public. The building is open to the public weekdays from 9:00am to 6:00pm, visitors may only enter through the North door of the Capitol and they are strongly encouraged to take advantage of COVID-19 testing resources in the North Plaza. Face coverings are required at all times, and capacity limits will be observed as will social distancing guidelines.
This announcement was joined by releases from both the House and Senate. House Administration released COVID-19 safety protocols that Members are “strongly encouraged” to follow. On the Senate side, the Lt. Governor released Senate protocols for the first day of session. Senate rules for the remainder of session will be voted on next week.
Opening day will also see the swearing in of Rep. Dade Phelan as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Over the holidays, Phelan unveiled his policy team. The staff selections will take effect on January 12, 2021.
Newly-elected Sen. Drew Springer was sworn in this week, leaving a vacancy in House District 68, Governor Greg Abbott has set the special election to fill his seat for January 23, 2021. Four Republicans and one Democrat filed for the race.
Regarding the Coronavirus crisis, the new strain known as the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant, which emerged in the UK over the fall, has now been identified in a Harris County resident. It appears to be significantly more contagious than its predecessor, but does not necessarily cause more severe disease and the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are expected to be effective against it.
Texas has been allocated roughly 1.5 million doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in the first month of distribution and they will have reached 214 counties by the end of the week. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) this week released an update on the fourth week of vaccine distribution and has created a Vaccine Provider Location map in addition to their Vaccine Map. DSHS also yesterday announced that the state will provide the COVID-19 vaccine to large providers that can vaccinate more than 100,000 people, the intent being to give high-risk populations a simpler way to access the vaccine.
We will continue to report on Capitol updates throughout the session, and we’ll see you next week.