The 88th legislative session begins Jan. 10.
Rep. Will Metcalf
Metcalf is serving his second term as the state representative for House District 16. District 16 covers Conroe, Montgomery, Willis, Cut N Shoot, Splendora and Roman Forest. Metcalf pre-filed a total of five bills as of Dec. 29.
HB 513: This bill would make it a criminal offense to create or deliver a controlled substance, such as marijuana, that causes death or serious bodily injury.
HB 881: This bill would allow Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine to receive formula funding.
HB 808-810: These three bills would authorize a fee for the selection and administration of a review board, chief appraiser and board of directors for an appraisal district.
Rep. Steve Toth
Toth represents part of Montgomery County, including The Woodlands, Oak Ridge North and Shenandoah. He pre-filed 28 bills with several bills focused on education, school safety and property taxes.
HB 34: This bill requires criminal offenders who engaged in violent criminal activities to complete a public school classroom safety review and referral program.
HB 360: Public and charter schools under this bill would be required to post all curriculum and classroom materials for review.
HB 221: This bill would require candidates of a partisan school board election to identify with a political party.
HB 295: This bill would limit the increase of appraised property values over the market value.
Rep. Cecil Bell
Bell represents District 3. District 3 covers part of Montgomery County, including Magnolia. Bell pre-filed a total of 10 bills.
HB 335: This bill would limit the amount of increases in the appraised value of real property for ad valorem tax purposes.
HB 379: This bill would reduce ad valorem taxes for school district maintenance and operations.
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
Bettencourt represents Senate District 7, which encompasses most of West Harris County. He pre-filed three bills.
SB 220: This bill would create the position of a state election marshal, appointed by the secretary of state, who would then appoint one election marshal per 1 million people in a given Department of Public Safety region to investigate violations of the Texas Election Code.
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
Kolkhorst has been a member of the senate since 2014. She serves District 18, which covers western portions of Ford Bend and Harris counties.. Kolkhorst pre-filed nine bills.
SB 260: This bill would require the voter registrar to request written confirmation of a voter’s residence address if it is a commercial P.O. box and the voter has not voted in any election during the previous 25 months, or if the registrar believes a voter’s current residence is different from what is recorded.
SB 152: This bill would limit the ability to increase the appraised value of a residential homestead for ad valorem taxes.
As of Dec. 29, Sen. Brandon Creighton, District 4, has not filed any bills.
