Special education in schools and property valuations for taxation are among the topics covered in bills filed by state representatives of the New Caney and Porter areas thus far in the ongoing state legislative session.

At the capitol

While the 89th legislative session began Jan. 14, Nov. 12 marked the first day state legislators could file new bills.

As of press time Feb. 13, almost 1,400 bills have been filed by state senators while a little over 3,000 bills have been filed by state house representatives.

According to the Texas Legislature’s website, filed bill totals for New Caney and Porter area lawmakers include:

• 35 bills authored and one coauthored by Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., R-Magnolia
• 14 bills authored and two coauthored by Rep. Janis Holt, R-Silsbee
• 35 bills authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe

Bills to watch

One of Bell’s 36 bills, House Bill 1258, is related to student electronic device use at school and would require governing bodies at public school districts and open enrollment charter schools to require devices be stored away during the school day. The bill expands the definition of “personal communication device” to include:

• Telephones and cell phones
• Smartwatches and wearable health trackers
• Earbuds or headphones
• Handheld video game consoles

One of Holt’s major bills, House Bill 2602, would create requirements for “mobile food units” to obtain permits from county or public health districts. The bill would require the owners of these units to provide storage, food preparation and sales preparation plans; to pass pre-operational inspections, among other provisions.

Other bills authored by Bell or Holt hit on topics such as:

• Lowering the maximum appraised values for homes and “real property” when determining tax values
• Requiring state agencies to confine the use of “private spaces” based on a person’s biological sex
• Penalties for individuals who falsify documents to receive program benefits
• Entitling the spouses of deceased Texas military forces members to benefits

Proposed legislation

In the Senate, Creighton filed bills covering topics such as special education in schools. Senate Bill 568 would require public school boards of trustees to meet annually to discuss and evaluate the performance of students receiving special education services, among other requirements.

Other bills from Creighton relate to:

• Private education savings accounts for families
• Religious rights in schools
• Parents’ rights to review their children’s school curriculum

What's next

The filing deadline for the state's 89th legislative session is March 14. The session is scheduled to end June 2, barring no special sessions are called.

Jake T. Norman contributed to this report.