Update on Priority Legislation and Education Funds

Priority Legislation

Two of my priority bills that I filed this session have passed the Texas House and are now over in the Senate.

HB 2283

Did you know that Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, poured over $350 million into the 2020 election cycle to help conduct the elections? Turns out this money was being largely funneled to urban and mostly democratic stronghold counties with essentially no transparency or accountability. Some rural jurisdictions did apply and received funding but their allotment was pennies compared to the urban jurisdictions. Dallas county received $15 million and Harris county received $9.6 million. Our elections must be fair and equal across the board and avoid any appearance of undue influence from a third party. That’s why I filed HB 2283 to prohibit private money to local election offices.

This bill is a huge victory in ensuring election integrity by preventing corporations or dark money from donating millions to our local elections. HB 2283 ensures that our elections are fairly funded, free of “ZuckBucks”, and remain a transparent and equitable process moving forward. I am proud to be the author of this very important bill, and grateful to my colleagues in the Texas Legislature for supporting it. To read more about it, click HERE.

HB 323

This bills creates a grant program to provide financial assistance to law enforcement agencies in Texas to become accredited. Accreditation will help professionalize the industry, streamline communication between the local community and officers, and ensure the highest standard of excellence in law enforcement.

Having been a police officer for almost 15 years and a reserve office for another 20+ years, I know the importance and value of having trusted, highly skilled workers in law enforcement. I authored this bill so law enforcement agencies in Texas have the funding, incentive, and tools necessary to become the leading example for all other agencies in the nation to follow. It’s time we invest in our law enforcement not defund them and ensure they become recognized for their exceptional work and service they provide.

An Additional $11.2 Billion in Federal Funds for Texas Schools Announced

On Wednesday, Governor Abbott announced that the state would release $11.2 billion in federal funding to public schools through grants administered by the TEA. With the release of these funds, schools will be able to address key losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds will go a long way in alleviating any learning loss from the past year and make sure that every child gets the support they need. I am extremely committed to our public schools and ensuring that Texas students teachers, and families have the tools and resources they need to succeed.

The timing couldn’t have been better. The following day after the announcement several of our superintendents from Region 11 were at the capitol to visit with legislators and we discussed what a difference these additional funds are going to make as well as other legislative priorities for public schools.

It is always great to get to see and spend quality time with community leaders such as our superintendents at the capitol during session. In attendance were Aledo ISD, Millsap ISD, Azle ISD and Boyd ISD represented from HD 61 at the capitol.

More 2nd Amendment Priority Legislation Passes Texas House

Two weeks ago the Texas House passed HB 1927, the permit-less carry bill. The Senate held a hearing on it and it is one step closer to being signed by the Governor. This past week, we passed HB 2622, that makes Texas a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary State. I supported this legislation to make sure that Texans are able to defend themselves and exercise their right to keep and bear arms.

29 Days of the 87th Legislative Session Remain

We are now in the last month of session. This next few weeks are going to be very long and arduous. We still have many priority issues to address. Now that the budget has passed both chambers and we are in conference committee working out the differences, we will start to see the very political bills hit the floor. We will likely have some very difficult and very partisan arguments in the coming weeks on issues like ending abortion, fairness in women’s sports, critical race theory, election integrity and ending taxpayer funded lobbying.

This is the time of session when emotions are high, there is a lot of pressure to get things done and we are all operating off very little sleep. I ask that you keep me and my office in your prayers. This is very serious and important work that you elected me to do and it is also the most trying time of the session. Pray for all of us to stay healthy, that I make the right choices for the district, to have patience and treat others the way we want to be treated.

As always, I really appreciate hearing from you and am eager to listen. Your calls and emails to the office are a tremendous help as I am often reviewing and voting on hundreds of measures just in one day. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can ever be of assistance.