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H.B. 13 provides more than $100 million to Texas Homeland and Border Security

Austin – On Monday, the Texas House of Representatives gave approval to HB 13, a bill which provides more than $100 million dollars for measures designed to beef up Texas border security. The bill, which has six major provisions that strengthen homeland and border security, now heads for the Texas Senate for approval.

Representative King (R-Weatherford) said, “With crime, drug lords, and human trafficking running rampant, Texans are rightly concerned about security along our 1,200 mile international border with Mexico. HB 13 represents a solid commitment to fighting crime and illegal immigration.”

HB 13 creates the State Office Of Homeland Security under the Office of the Governor. The bill models previous border security operations which have proven successful, such as Operation Wrangler III which decreased crime by 30 percent in just 30 days.

The legislation creates a Border Security Council which will oversee how homeland and border security funds are allocated. Under the bill, local law enforcement departments are permitted to help enforce immigration laws, and the bill prevents any illegal alien “sanctuary city” from receiving funding.

King said, “Although we live hundreds of miles away from the Texas border, Parker and Wise Counties residents feel the impact of a porous border on a daily basis. As a former police officer, I am proud to support our law enforcement personnel who are fighting a very tough battle along the border. They must have our full support.”

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King Property Rights Measures also included in Landowner’s Bill of Rights Act

Austin – On Thursday and Friday, the Texas House of Representatives gave approval to two key bills protecting the property rights of Texas citizens. Both bills included provisions authored by Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) which provide procedural safeguards to the condemnation process governing pipeline companies.

King stated, “While the Barnett Shale natural gas boom has brought numerous benefits to Parker and Wise counties, it has also demonstrated the need for more fairness in how citizens are treated when pipelines must be built. Property rights are sacred, and currently landowners don’t receive a shred of information about their rights and options when their property faces condemnation. My legislation levels the playing field between landowners and pipeline companies.”

C.S.H.B. 1659, authored by King, proposes to implement new procedural safeguards on behalf of a property owner who is having his property condemned by a common carrier pipeline. The measures provide for a property owner to receive notice of the intent of the common carrier to initiate the condemnation, fair notice of the scheduled hearing on the condemnation, the ability to object to a commissioner who may have a conflict of interest, and a reasonable delay to prepare for the condemnation proceeding.

C.S.H.B. 1659 was adopted by the Texas House on Friday. Additionally, the bill was included as an amendment to H.B. 1495, which passed the House on Thursday. H.B. 1495, formally entitled the “Landowner’s Bill of Rights Act”, provides landowners with full notice of their rights and options during the condemnation process. Representative King was a co-author of that act.

As approved by the House, the Landowner’s Bill of Rights Act requires that governmental entities seeking to condemn private property provide affected landowners with a “Landowner’s Bill of Rights” statement. The statement provided must inform landowners of their rights to notice, fair negotiation, compensation, and to appeal a condemnation judgment. The written statement must also describe the condemnation process, the condemning entity’s obligations throughout the condemnation process, and the landowner’s available options.

“The Landowner Bill of Rights Act provides essential protections and valuable information to Texas property owners before the condemnation process begins,” said Nathan Rhea, representing the Property Rights Organization of Texas. “Being fully informed on your options is critical to protecting property rights.”

King added, “The fact that someone’s home may be condemned through the power of eminent domain should not be hidden in fine print that can only be deciphered by a lawyer. This Act requires that landowners affected by a proposed condemnation receive a fair and easy to read explanation of their rights and the condemnation process.”

Both bills will now go on to the Senate to be debated next week.

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Austin – The House of Representatives passed a bill authored by State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) which requires that those who wish to register to vote in Texas must first have their citizenship verified. Yesterday, the bill passed on an initial vote of 89-57 and today received a 88-56 vote on final passage.

King explained, “H.B. 626 is about protecting voter rights and ensuring the integrity of our elections. This bill will help ensure that the votes of U.S. Citizens are not cancelled out by those who vote illegally.”

H.B. 626 requires that applicants born in the United States must provide their city, county, and state of birth on the application form. Applicants born outside of the United States must provide the date and place of their oath of naturalization. With that information, the Texas Secretary of State will electronically verify the citizenship of the applicant in the same manner that they currently verify the applicant’s driver’s license number and/or social security number.

King went on to say, “Under current law, an applicant can check a box which says that they are a citizen, but there is no verification of that claim. H.B. 626 would require that a person’s citizenship actually be verified before they are allowed to vote. Voting is indeed a right, but a right reserved only for U.S. citizens.”

The bill will now move to the Texas Senate for consideration.

Weatherford Democrat

Special to the Democrat

Austin — State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), a longtime supporter of reducing property taxes, cast his vote Tuesday for H.B. 216, a bill that will slow burdensome “appraisal creep” that impacts Texas homeowners.

“We are moving to protect families in Parker and Wise counties that have seen increases in appraisal values during recent years,” Phil King said.

“This legislation is a key part of continuing efforts to solve the problem of appraisal creep.” Current state law appraises property at levels greater than market value in order to meet unreasonable government formulas. This new legislation helps correct this problem by reducing the upward pressure on appraisals that have burdened property owners.

“Texas legislators are working now to protect Texans from future increases in property taxes,” King said. “I am proud to support positive public policy that helps all Texans.” H.B. 216 was passed by the full House Tuesday and awaits action by the Texas Senate.

Weatherford Democrat

Staff Reports

State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) officially unveiled legislation designed to create a groundwater conservation district in Parker and Wise counties Wednesday.

House Bill 4052 was written in response to the concerns of area residents, local elected officials and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding increasing use of groundwater due to population growth and Barnett Shale drilling.

King met with local elected officials and gathered input over the past several months before helping to craft the bill’s language.

“Water is a scarce resource in Texas, particularly in Parker and Wise counties,” King said in a statement. “My legislation brings area stakeholders together to manage a critical community resource — water — because natural resources are a vital anchor to our economic future.”

Though commissioners expressed frustration at the absence of language in the bill granting a local groundwater conservation district additional authority to regulate oil and gas related users, the Parker County Commissioners Court granted a “general” stamp of approval to the bill earlier this month.

“This legislation reflects earnest work by residents and officials of Parker and Wise counties, resulting in a plan that helps our area to thrive for many years to come.”

King’s bill is expected to receive a favorable committee vote next week and then go before the full Texas legislature. County Judge Mark Riley, Parker County Commissioner Joe Brinkley and Wise County Commissioner Kevin Burns each delivered testimony in support King’s legislation.

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Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford), a longtime supporter of reducing property taxes, yesterday cast his vote for H.B. 216, a bill that will slow burdensome “appraisal creep” that impacts Texas homeowners.

Phil King said, “We are moving to protect families in Parker and Wise counties that have seen increases in appraisal values during recent years. This legislation is a key part of continuing efforts to solve the problem of appraisal creep.”

Current state law appraises property at levels greater than market value in order to meet unreasonable government formulas. This new legislation helps correct this problem by reducing the upward pressure on appraisals that have burdened property owners.

King went on to say, “Texas legislators are working now to protect Texans from future increases in property taxes. I am proud to support positive public policy that helps all Texans.”

H.B. 216 was passed by the full House yesterday and awaits action by the Texas Senate.

Wise County Messenger

By Tony Cummings, Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas – Irving

Economic prosperity and government regulation don’t mix, and we need to keep an eye on an important debate going on in Austin. For years, Texas has been able to benefit from a business friendly environment, but we can’t take that for granted.

Some legislators are calling for retroactive approval of the pending sale of TXU. Regardless of how one may feel about the merits of the sale, the proposed SB 896 is not only a violation of our state Constitution (see Art. I, Sec. 16), it also sends a message that Texans favor regulation over sound business practices.

Thankfully, Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is taking a principled stand for promoting lower electricity rates and preserving our strong business climate. A private company with strong Fort Worth ties has stepped forward to cut electric rates and bring a new approach at TXU. Now, legislators are attempting to give bureaucrats the authority to reject the deal – after the purchase has been announced! That is a terrible precedent which sends a bad message about doing business in Texas. On behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors of North Texas, representing 240 small business owners across north Texas, I want to publicly thank Representative Phil King for fighting bad legislation for consumers and business.

Weatherford Democrat

Staff Reports

AUSTIN — The Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 482 (SB 482) Friday.

According to a release from Weatherford Rep. Phil King, the bill will work to increase competition and lower electric rates in the retail electric market.

King, author of the measure, said passage of the bill is good news for the state’s power consumers.

“Electricity rates in Texas today are too high,” King said. “As a fellow consumer paying high electric bills, both at my home and my small business in Weatherford, I am anxious for rates to decline. Today, with the passage of SB 482, we have made a substantial step toward accomplishing this goal.”

The legislation accelerates price reductions of electricity by encouraging increased competition for retail customers. Companies will be encouraged to aggressively compete outside of their traditional service areas, and be penalized if they do not do so. Electric providers are therefore incentivized to lower rates and compete for customers outside of their normal territory.

Additionally, customers who currently pay a standard rate (called the “price-to-beat” rate — the highest rates in the state) must be switched to a lower-cost rate plan. If a new plan is not chosen within a certain time period, the provider will choose a lower-cost plan for the customer.

King’s release relates in addition to lowering rates, the bill also protects customers in two ways. First, providers will not be allowed to cut off power during the hot summer months, even if customers cannot pay their utility bills. Second, the bill puts in place incentives for wind generation, which works towards decreasing pollution and improving air quality.

According to King, new proposals addressing power concerns are in the works.

“Next week we hope to pass out additional legislation to further prevent companies from manipulating electric prices and a third bill to open the door for new nuclear plants which will provide clean, low cost electricity,” he said.

Weatherford Democrat

Phil Riddle

Parker County’s representatives in both houses of the Texas Legislature have each co-authored legislation to allow lawmakers more time to gather public input before pushing forward on the controversial Trans-Texas Corridor.

Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) co-authored Senate Bill 1267 to put a two-year moratorium on privately funded toll roads, including the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor. “We need to put the brakes on these public-private contracts used to finance new toll-road projects,” said Estes. “There are too many unanswered questions and recent revelations of poor accountability require the legislature to step in.”

State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) is also seeking a two-year moratorium on the massive transportation plan through proposed legislation. “Providing for a two-year moratorium on the toll project will further the goal of transparency and public participation as well as increased legislative oversight.”

Both proposals, in addition to staying the TTC project, would also create a legislative study committee made up of members of both houses, as well as the Governor’s Office. “Implications surrounding the construction of toll roads in Texas are too great not to be completely and adequately reviewed,” King said. “Allowing the legislature to study the current proposals and consider alternatives to building toll roads are in the best interests of the citizens of this state.”

Estes’ plan would apply only to privately funded toll-road projects, and does not halt the construction of a publicly funded toll-road project. The Trans Texas Corridor is a planned toll road, which, if built, will dissect Texas with a 1200-foot right of way allowing for automobile traffic, special truck lanes, rail and utility easements. Opponents of the plan cite the massive amount of Texas land needed for the project, much of which will be claimed by the state under eminent domain laws.

“I am very concerned that these private contracts lack the accountability and transparency voters demand in the operations of their government,” Estes said, “and until we fully understand both the public policy and fiscal impact of these agreements, it is in the interest of the public to stop them before it is too late.”

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Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) voted for legislation to rescind Governor Rick Perry’s recent mandate that all sixth-grade girls in Texas be required to be vaccinated for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Assuming the Senate approves the measure; parents may still voluntarily allow their children to be vaccinated for HPV but would not be required to have their children vaccinated.

“Governor Perry’s heart is in the right place, and we all share his desire to reduce cervical cancer in Texas,” King explained. “But mandating this vaccine would put government in between parents and their children and we should never interfere with that relationship.”

The HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA for only eight months before it was mandated, and many experts have questioned whether its testing was sufficient to determine whether it is safe and effective. Several groups in the medical community, such as the Texas Medical Association have opposed the mandate.

“I am not opposed to the HPV vaccine but I am strongly opposed to the state telling parents that we know better than they do,” King said. “Until we know how the vaccine could affect the future health of these young girls, it would be extremely irresponsible for us to mandate it. We’d be sending a false message to families saying that we know it is safe when, in reality, there are so many questions left unanswered about its effectiveness and long-term implications.”