Nov. 12 marked the first day state legislators could file new bills for the upcoming 89th legislative session, which begins in January.
While some, such as State Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, filed no bills on the first day, others, such as State Rep. Terri Leo Wilson, R-Galveston, filed 27.
What you need to know
Among the more than 1,400 bills filed on the first day, Leo Wilson filed 27 bills, which spanned a number of areas legislatively.
Some of her bills, according to filings, related to illegal immigration. One such bill, House Bill 160, would make it so someone who entered the country without legal permission could not meet residency requirements if applying to in-state colleges and universities.
The bill would also require officials with the institution to report to campus police if they find out a student is here in the state without legal permission.
One other bill, House Bill 436, which is related to diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, would outlaw government agencies and entities within Texas requiring DEI statements, requiring training related to DEI, and giving preferential treatment in the form of employment or contracts based on DEI, among other restrictions.
Other bills from Leo Wilson hit on topics such as:
- More restrictions on lobbying and not allowing a candidate to use campaign funds to pay off fines from the Texas Ethics Commission.
- Stricter disclosure laws related to political committees endorsing slates of candidates.
- Increasing the criminal penalty for making or sending sexually explicit content using deep fake technology.
- Allowing the sale of fireworks ahead of celebrations related to Juneteenth and designating Galveston as the official Juneteenth capital of Texas until 2035.
- Stricter food labels for certain products to make it more clear if a product was made in Texas or not.
The two state senators whose districts make up the vast majority of the Bay Area filed bills that hit on key topics.
State Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, who covers the northern part of the Bay Area but predominantly resides in Houston, filed bills related to allowing medical marijuana and changing the state constitution to allow for sports gambling, according to bills filed.
If the latter is approved it would appear on voter ballots in November 2025, according to the bill.
Alvarado is also party to a few bills related to curtailing abortion restrictions. While some just amend language, others would open up the ability for someone to seek an abortion if deemed medically necessary, according to filings.
State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, was involved in seven bills filed as well.
Also of note
State Rep. Dennis Paul, R-Beaumont, filed three bills on the first day, according to the state legislature website.
One such bill relates to the Gulf Coast funding account, which received nearly unanimous support from the legislature in 2023 but was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott due to technicalities. Paul has said numerous times since he is confident it will be passed once updated.
Another one, House Bill 1091, relates to early voting and ballot by mail, moving the requirement to submit an application for a ballot to four days earlier, from 11 days prior to the election to 15 days, according to the bill.
It also doesn’t allow early vote results to be tallied until certain times during Election Day, according to the bill.
What else?
These bills have yet to be voted on or signed into law and are subject to change or be dismissed entirely prior to approval.
