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7.9.21 Capitol Action Report

LWV Texas | Published on 7/9/2021


July 9, 2021
The League at the Capitol
Janet Imhoff, Vice President Advocacy
Dear Aileen,

The Special Session Began Yesterday!

Governor Abbot issued his proclamation setting the agenda for the first Special Session beginning July 8. It contains ten items, including elections, reforming the bail system, both of which did not pass the regular session, and funding for the Legislature, which he vetoed from the budget. It also includes border security funding, social media’s ability to censor users.

Then he named five bills from the regular session that he wants legislators to reconsider:
  • SB 1109, requiring high school and middle school students to learn about dating violence, domestic violence, and child abuse, (vetoed);
  • SB 29 prohibited transgender students from participating on sports teams of their choice, and
  • SB 394 concerning abortion-inducing drugs (passed Senate but not the House);
  • HB 3507, which would provide a one-time 13th check for retired teachers (not voted on by the House); and
  • HB 3979, the “critical race theory bill,” which actually passed into law (he wants to return to the original Senate version).

The League is actively concerned about nine of the ten items on Abbott's list and our Issue Chairs will be actively advocating and will keep us informed. Please watch for and respond to our Action Alerts as we don’t know how fast the bills will move through the legislative process.

Go to our Take Action Center to find all of the League's action alerts.

Committee Hearings Tomorrow, Saturday, July 10

  • SenateState Affairs Committee will hear SB1 (omnibus election bill) on Saturday, starting at 11:00a.m
  • Same committee will also hear SB31 (voter list maintenance) that provides for SOS to enter into an agreement with DPS to compare information in the existing statewide computerized voter registration list against information in the database of DPS on a monthly basis to verify the accuracy of citizenship status information previously provided on voter registration applications.
  • House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights and Remedies will hear HB3 (omnibus election bill) on Saturday - we heard that it would start at 8am, but no official notice yet.

Special sessions can only last 30 days unless extended by the Governor. We don’t know what provisions will be included as the Special Session considers a new elections bill, but we will keep you informed and will continue to issue Action Alerts.
Consider sending the Letters to the Editor!

Our alerts will have a pre-written letter to the editor and these are so effective in educating the broader public, especially in suburban and rural areas. When you send your letter to legislators, you get the option to send the Letter to the Editor, with a list of the local media in your area. Click which paper to send it to, and it goes with your name and address directly to that paper. (You can click up to six papers).

The large city papers get numerous letters and may require more contact information, so instead, choose the small suburban and rural papers in your area. My suburban weekly paper has printed two of our letters! You can also modify and personalize the letter with your experiences before sending.
Action Alert
This is our last Action Alert on provisions contained in SB 7, “Allow Election Officials to do their jobs!”

Election officials, those whose jobs are to administer elections in their communities, were under attack during the regular session. Bills restricting these officials’ power to decide how best to serve the voters in their communities are likely to resurface during the July special session
League Action In the Courts
LWVTX Challenging Governor’s Defunding of the Legislature
To highlight the impact of Governor Abbott's veto of the legislative budget, the League of Women Voters of Texas filed an amicus curiae in In Re Chris Turner, et al. asking the Texas Supreme Court to void the Governor’s veto.

See LWVTX President Grace Chimene's statement here.
Supreme Court Declines to Protect Voting Rights for Minorities -
LWVUS Responds!
Last week LWVUS issued a press release on the Supreme Court decision to allow restrictive voting laws by the states.The decision, “Brnovich V. Democratic National Committee,” regards an Arizona case but “will clear the way for states to pass discriminatory laws, put up barriers to voting, and chase problems that do not exist.”Read the full statement.
Rally for Voting Rights at the Texas Capitol 11:00AM Monday, July 19
The League of Women Voters is partnering withTexas Impact on their July 19th, Rally for Voting Rights at the Capitol.

The event includes dinner on Sunday night. LWVUS CEO Virginia Kase Solomon will be a featured speaker! Dinner is free if you register.

There will be training on the issues Monday morning before the rally and participants are planning to visit their legislators after the rally. Click here to sign up.



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