Gavel To Gavel 87th Legislative Session: May 22, 2021
This week seemed like a game show wherein the focus was less about winning than it was about making a point… and winning. The House and Senate took turns letting each other’s priority bills either die or get incredibly close. They then exchanged reassurances seemingly contingent on the other chamber’s conduct. The Conferees on the budget, SB1, announced that they reached a compromise, but removed an amendment that guaranteed the Legislature some oversight over the allocation of federal COVID-19 funds - an amendment which had unanimous support in the House. Gov. Greg Abbott followed the announcement by reassuring the Legislature that it will have a role in that process during a special session in the fall. But with just seven days left in the Regular Session, the tension between the two chambers is reaching critical mass, and any issues left unresolved during the final week could be deferred to an incredibly tense, fast-paced special session.
Thankfully, we are seeing movement on some of the big priority bills. CSHB 2, the Supplemental Appropriations bill, was voted out of the Senate Finance Committee on Saturday. Finance Chair Sen. Jane Nelson stated that among other things, the substitute:
reflects a savings of $3.2 B in All Funds for the current biennium;
assumes that federal COVID-19 funds can be used to cover salaries and benefits for state employees involved in the pandemic under certain conditions;
reflects updated projections for the Foundation School Program and addresses shortfalls at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
includes resources for public safety and border security; and
provides funding to address IT needs across state government.
The Legislative Budget Board has provided an infographic further detailing the provisions in the substitute.
The Senate was unwilling to accept the House version of SB 7, the omnibus elections bill, and both chambers have appointed conferees to resolve the differences between the two versions of the bill. Senate conferees are Sens. Bryan Hughes (Chair), Dawn Buckingham, Paul Bettencourt, Lois Kolkhorst, and Beverly Powell. House conferees are Reps. Briscoe Cain (Chair), Terry Canales, Travis Clardy, Nicole Collier, and Jacey Jetton.
Rep. Matt Schaefer, House Chair of the Conference Committee on HB 1927, (or the “Constitutional Carry” bill) announced this week that the committee reached a decision. Pending approval by both chambers, the bill will be sent to the Governor’s desk where he has already committed his signature.
Wednesday, the House Committee on State Affairs passed their substitute to SB 3, the Senate’s omnibus energy bill. Some key differences include: 1) a requirement that the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and Railroad Commission (RRC) collaborate on weatherization plans for pipelines; 2) a substantive change to provide for a holistic approach to ancillary services; 3) a modification to require the PUC and RRC to collaborate in the process of designating which natural gas facilities are critical and for that information to be shared with certain entities; and 4) a removal of the prohibition on the sale of wholesale index pricing plans. The bill was placed on the major state calendar for a vote today.
In other news, Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughes will be stepping down on May 31st. Secretaries of State that are appointed between regular sessions are required to resign if the Senate does not confirm them during the regular session. Nominations Committee Chair Sen. Dawn Buckingham never took up Hughs’ nomination.
- Lillian Gerrity