I hope everyone has enjoyed cooler fall weather. I have been back in Austin for the third called special session of the legislature. As you know, only the Governor has the constitutional authority to call a special session and determine what items are to be debated and passed. This time of year also means that election season is upon us. I have updated you already regarding the Proposition I authored, the Texas Property Tax Relief Act, which is on your November ballot. There are 14 total amendments to be approved by voters on the November Ballot in addition to some local matters. I will share a special session update as well as a brief description of the constitutional amendments and resources to help you in your research.   

Importantly, the Governor added issues dealing with the border to the list of matters eligible for passage. In addition to the important work during the regular session, these special session border bills will continue to ensure that we are combatting the border crisis caused by the federal government’s blatant failure to protect and secure our southern border. I look forward to a change in the White House in the upcoming presidential election but in the meantime the state will continue to step up to the plate despite Biden’s open border policies. 

Senate Bill 4 was recently passed which will deter human smuggling and the operation of a stash house by increasing criminal penalties and establishing a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence for criminal conduct involving smuggling persons and the operation of a stash house. I was proud to co-sponsor this legislation. 

House Bill 4, which I co-authored, was also passed by the House which will subject individuals to detention and arrest for illegal entry into our state.  Law enforcement officers in Texas will be authorized to arrest or remove any person who illegally enters the state from a foreign nation, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison for refusing to comply with an order to return. To crack down on repeated attempts to enter Texas illegally, illegal re-entry will be penalized with up to 20 years in prison. This legislation now awaits consideration in the Texas Senate. 

Finally, House Bill 6 was also passed by the House which will appropriate an additional $1.5 billion for the construction, maintenance and operation of the state’s border wall. As you are aware, during the regular session we appropriated an additional $5.1 billion to defend our southern border, and as the state continues to construct our own border wall and acquire easements from Texas property owners along the border, additional funding is needed. If the federal government would do its job, Texas would not have to be spending this money so it is crucial we get a Republican in the White House next November. This legislation, which I co-authored, also awaits consideration in the Texas Senate. I look forward to the ultimate passage of these border bills so Governor Abbott can sign these into law.

In addition to further addressing the border crisis, Governor Abbott added prohibiting the requirement of a covid vaccine by private employers. As your State Representative, I have been against any covid vaccine mandates in Texas. 

Now under Senate Bill 7, which I co-sponsored, employees will be protected from being required to receive the covid vaccine as a condition of their employment. SB 7 will ensure no employee is unfairly discriminated against by an employer because of their covid vaccination status. Furthermore, this legislation ensures that no employer may take an adverse action against an employee because of their refusal to receive a covid vaccine. Under the legislation, employees can file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission if they believe they have been discriminated against and the employer may be penalized if it is found they have violated the law. This is important legislation which protects the individual rights of Texans and I was proud to co-sponsor this bill. 

Early voting has begun around the state as of October 23 and will continue until November 3. Election day this year falls on November 7th. Please mark your calendars to ensure you get out to vote so your voice can be heard. Depending on your address you may have local matters on your ballot. All voters across the state will have constitutional amendments to vote upon. These amendments have passed the Legislature and are now before the voters. You may find the following link beneficial in your research which is an analysis of the proposed constitutional amendments: 

https://www.tlc.texas.gov/docs/amendments/analyses23.pdf

As we continue to work through the third special legislative agenda specified by the Governor, I will continue to keep the concerns of House District 16 in mind. I hope that these editorials bring you insight to the work we are doing at your State Capitol. Though it's been a very long year in the legislature, I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished and look forward to building on these accomplishments even further in the future. As always, it is an honor to represent you and your families at your state capitol. 

May God bless you, your family, and the Great State of Texas!