During this legislative session, Community Impact Newspaper is reporting on bills and funding for the state regarding the budget, economy and small business, transportation, public education, higher education, health care and more. All information on this page is as of May 28.

Transportation

Members of a House and Senate conference committee came to an agreement May 25 on SJR 5 to divert funds from the sales and use and motor vehicle sales taxes to the State Highway Fund, which helps fund the Texas Department of Transportation. “With the progress the Legislature made last session, the overwhelming support of Proposition 1 by voters last November, as well as this session’s budget, the state’s transportation funding is going to be where it needs to be now and in the future,” said Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, in a statement. Because SJR 5 would make amendments to the state’s constitution, it requires both chambers to approve it by the end of session June 1. It would also require voters to approve the changes in November. Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, moved to postpone consideration of HB 1759 at a May 14 meeting at the Capitol.[/caption]

Public Education

On May 14, Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, moved to postpone consideration on the House floor of HB 1759—the school finance bill he co-authored—until July 4. As a result, any school finance changes would have to come from general appropriations bill HB 1, according to Aycock’s staff. On May 11, Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 149 into law. The legislation will establish committees to determine if students who pass classes but fail state tests can graduate. On May 7 the Senate passed HB 4. Filed by Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, the bill aims to implement high-quality standards for prekindergarten education. In a statement, Abbott said he thinks HB 4 will help strengthen the foundation for student success. At press time he had not signed the bill.

Health Care

Nearing the end of the session, the House and Senate have passed several bills related to pro-life legislation and the dissemination of information to expectant parents.

• HB 3994: Currently, consent is required from a parent or guardian before a physician can perform an abortion on a minor. The bill changes the process and requires more proof that minors are “sufficiently” informed to have an abortion, as well as whether abortion is in the best interest of the minor, according to information from the office of Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, chairwoman of the Public Health Committee in the House. HB 3994 also requires information about whether asking for parental consent could endanger the minor.
• HB 3374: The bill increases resources to expectant parents following a prenatal diagnosis of a child with Down syndrome. The Texas Department of State Health Services will publish information such as physical, developmental, educational and psychological outcomes and life expectancy.

Representatives discuss a bill in May.[/caption]

Economy and Small Business

The Legislature sent several bills related to the economy and small business to Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. HB 1049, which would classify licensed massage therapy programs as postsecondary education programs, was sent to Abbott on May 26. HB 1251, a bill related to franchise businesses and unemployment insurance, was sent to the governor May 25. HB 931, a bill that would change how unemployment insurance benefits are allocated, was sent to Abbott on May 20.

Higher Education

The House passed legislation May 27 allowing licensed gun holders to carry their concealed hand guns on college campuses after making some changes. The House’s amended version of SB 11 allows universities to create gun-free zones, mandates private universities follow what public universities do and allows exemptions for health care facilities. The Senate passed its version of SB 11 on March 19 without those amendments. The House and Senate will now host committee meetings to find a compromise on the bill language. If the bill is not reconciled by end of session, it will die before making it to the governor’s desk for the purpose of signing it into law. The House and Senate are also working to find a compromise on a bill that would authorize $3 billion in tuition revenue bonds for construction of buildings at campuses including Texas State University’s Round Rock Campus. The bill, HB 100, was changed by the Senate for the bonds to total $85 million less than the House version’s amount. The bill would help finance construction projects at 64 universities throughout the state, but each school will have to help cover some of the costs as well.

Budget

The Senate unanimously passed HB 2, which would allow supplemental budget appropriations for the 2014-15 budget, on May 26. The largest allocation in HB 2 adds $768.1 million to the Texas Teachers Retirement System’s health care system. In addition $75.5 million was allocated to the state’s Medicaid shortfall, $42.5 million went to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for prison health care and $40 million was allocated for border security. About $9.5 million of the supplemental allocations would be used to maintain state-owned buildings, including the Texas School for the Deaf, Capitol Complex and the Department of Motor Vehicles. “The nature of our budget requires us to estimate what our needs will be for the next two years and then align our budget with the fiscal reality,” said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound. “This bill will help our retired teachers who deserve our support for their invaluable service to this state.”