Texas/Israel Trade Office, Bill Banning AI Child Porn Passes Senate, Making Texas Healthy Again, and More!

First Economic Development Committee Meeting Hears My Legislation to Establish Texas Trade Office in Israel

Last Monday, I held the first meeting of the new Senate Economic Development Committee, which I chair. One of our first bills heard was SCR 24, legislation I authored to create a new trade office in Israel, which will provide numerous benefits. Israel is a leader in technology innovation, cybersecurity, energy, agriculture and water conservation, which are all areas that align closely with Texas’ economic strengths. Texas ranks among the top U.S. states for exports to Israel, contributing billions of dollars annually to the economies of both regions through trade in the technology, medical equipment and defense industries. The Middle East is a virtually untapped regional market for Texas companies, and Israel is the only diplomatic country in the Middle East with open trade opportunities for Texas. Israel’s advanced innovation in some of Texas’ largest industries is an underutilized resource. Texas and Israel maintain a robust trade relationship, but there is not a physical presence Texas can rely on to improve the bond.
 
I crafted a resolution which supports a Texas Trade and Investment office in Jerusalem, Israel, as the center of trade and investment activities for Israel and countries that are a part of the Abraham Accords or have signed peace treaties with Israel. A budget rider has been submitted to the Senate Finance Committee to cover the costs of starting this office. The State of Texas Israel Trade and Investment Office would be modeled after the two standing international offices (in Mexico and Taiwan), and would serve as the attraction tool for companies in the region. 

SB 20:  Stopping AI Generated Child Pornography 

Last week the Senate passed Senate Bill 20, a bill aimed at strengthening the laws against possession, promotion, and distribution of sexually explicit material that involves children, including those created by computer or artificial intelligence (AI). We must continue to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our youngest Texans, and punish those who commit these despicable acts to the fullest extent of the law. 

Making Texas and America Healthy Again

The Senate unanimously passed SB 25, a landmark piece of legislation to combat the growing health crisis in our state due to poor food choices, lack of nutritional education and knowledge, and a sedentary lifestyle. This bill aims to improve health and nutrition standards in Texas schools by mandating that students in full-day PreK through grade eight engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. It requires students in grades six to eight to participate in this activity for at least six semesters, and prohibits schools from penalizing students with restrictions on physical activities due to academic performance or behavior. Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for high school students to complete a half-credit course in nutrition, based on guidelines from the Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee, which will also be established by this bill. The Senate also passed SB 314, which will prohibit dangerous chemicals such as cancer-causing dyes from being served in school lunches. 

SB 140: Cracking Down on Unsolicited Text Messages

In our continued quest to cut down on “spam” contacts from telemarketers, we have shored up current law to include specific language regarding unsolicited text messages. Currently, the law does not define “telephone call” and does not include “text messaging,” which created a loophole for telemarketers to hide behind when sending out text solicitations. This law will provide a fix for this issue.
 

Border Wall Update

According to the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) as of February 20 about 56.9 miles of the border wall program had been completed. Active construction is simultaneously underway at 12 locations in six border counties.  The TFC has closed on 105 easements representing approximately 70.3 miles of Texas Border Wall, with another 31 miles of easements in various stages. Based on current appropriations, the TFC can build up to 85 miles of the wall between Texas and Mexico. Due to border security efforts here in Texas and of course with President Trump’s leadership, we’re trending towards the lowest monthly border crossings in 25 years. During the Biden years, Texas did far more than any other state to secure the border and combat drug and human trafficking. How refreshing to finally have a partner in the White House who works with us – not against us – in that effort. 

Most of SD 10 Faces Elevated Fire Risk  

As you can see in this graphic from National Weather Service in Fort Worth, our region faces a critical fire weather threat. Let’s make sure we do everything possible to avoid fires that can create destruction of homes and businesses as well as threaten agriculture, livestock and even human life. Please honor all burn bans in effect in your local county.  

The Week Ahead

This week we will be past sixty days in the session. This means that we will now be able to consider bills on the floor of the Senate that aren’t emergency items declared by the governor, so we expect many priority bills to pass this week. Always remember, we are a bicameral legislature, which means that the Texas House must also pass the measures we discussed in this newsletter and in previous updates.  If you would like to watch the Senate proceedings, you can visit this LINK to watch both committee hearings as well as when the full Senate is in session. 

Last week I chaired the first meeting of the new Senate Economic Development Committee.

It was great to see Pastor Rafael Cruz in the Senate K-16 Education Committee hearing last week.

I had the chance to meet with Johnson County constituents Craig Hundley, Becca Reese, and Phil Williams.



Nurse Practitioners from SD 10 were in the Capitol this past Monday. Thanks for stopping by our office!