February 24, 2020

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies. Should you have any questions about the information below, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details listed at the end of this newsletter.

It was an honor to speak on behalf of all of the constituents of District 127 last Thursday at the San Jacinto River Authority Special Board Meeting. Thank you to all of those who spent their time and energy advocating for such an important issue for our area!

Many of you have already voted during early voting this past week. For those of you who have not yet voted, please take some time to vote during early voting, which continues through this Friday, February 28th. Election Day is March 3rd; more voter information can be found below in the newsletter.

Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.

Sincerely,

February 2020 Calendar

Download my February 2020 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could be fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.

 

Keep watch for these updated calendars at the beginning of each month. Important local and legislative dates and events will be posted here.

Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs today announced a new statewide initiative, "Ready. Check. Vote.," to educate Texas voters about what they need to bring to the polls when they cast their ballot. The campaign will utilize social media, paid advertising, and a grassroots tour to communicate to Texans the seven approved forms of photo identification and what to do if they do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of these seven forms. In its 2019 session, the Texas Legislature appropriated funding to the Secretary of State’s office for this initiative.

The Ready. Check. Vote. grassroots tour visited San Antonio last week and will be in Brownsville and Hidalgo on February 29 ^th and March 7 ^th , respectively. Later this year, the tour will expand to additional cities across the Lone Star State.

Texas voters who possess one of the seven approved forms of photo ID must present that ID at the polls. Voters who do not possess and cannot reasonably obtain one of the seven forms of approved photo ID may execute a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, available to them at each polling location, and provide a supporting form of identification. In addition, some voters may qualify for an exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure.

The seven forms of approved photo ID are:

**License is not required to be REAL ID compliant

With the exception of the U.S. Citizenship Certificate, which does not expire, the approved photo ID must be current or, for voters aged 18-69, have expired no more than four years before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place. A voter 70 years of age or older may use a form of approved photo ID listed above that has expired for any length of time if the identification is otherwise valid.

If a voter does not possess one of the forms of approved photo identification listed above, and the voter cannot reasonably obtain such identification, the voter may fill out a Reasonable Impediment Declaration form, which will be available at each polling location, and present a copy or original of one of the following supporting forms of identification:

The address on an approved form of photo identification or a supporting form of identification, if applicable, does not have to match the voter's address on the list of registered voters.

If a voter meets these requirements and is otherwise eligible to vote, the voter will be able to cast a regular ballot in the election.

Voters with a disability may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls. Voters with a religious objection to being photographed or voters who do not present an approved form of photo identification or follow the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure at the polls because of certain natural disasters may apply for a temporary exemption to presenting an acceptable form of photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure. For more details, voters may contact their  county voter registrar.

Voters with questions about how to cast a ballot in the 2020 elections can call 1-800-252-VOTE.

For more information on voting in Texas, visit  www.votetexas.gov

The Texas Department of Public Safety has been developing a new appointment solution to reduce the long wait times our customers have been experiencing. Select driver license offices will begin piloting this program starting in April 2020. Upon successful completion of the pilot, the appointment program will be added to all driver license offices across the state. In an effort to make sure customers are aware of the changes, we are offering you the following information to share with your constituents.

The current system is a “same-day-only” queuing model, which limits customers to scheduling an approximate service time for the same day. This model is based on a limited first-come, first-serve basis, and once the daily queue has reached capacity, customers must wait for the next business day to attempt to schedule a service time online. This model is inefficient and results in extended wait-times, overcrowding, and our inability to serve our customers at their convenience.

The new appointment program will allow customers the opportunity to schedule driver license services up to six months in advance, using an online link or in a driver license office. Customers will have more flexibility to schedule an appointment based on their availability and the location of their choosing. This appointment program will help minimize wait times and long lines, as customers will need to arrive a short time before their appointment. Customers that do not schedule an appointment in advance will be given the opportunity at the driver license office to secure same day appointments that may be available, schedule for a future date, or different location. While we still may not have capacity to serve all customers at an individual office for a specific day, we will provide the tools to empower customers to make appointments at their convenience.

The appointment solution will be added to driver license offices in phases. The Department’s website will be updated to reflect appointment-only services for each driver license office as it is added.   

 

If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact the Department’s Office of Government Relations at [email protected] .

The following post was provided by the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce.

I wanted to recap the conclusion of the Lake Houston Area Chamber's Lives Over Levels Campaign to the San Jacinto River Authority Board of Directors to temporarily and seasonally lower Lake Conroe, review the vote held Thursday night in Conroe, and discuss how it is a big WIN for our area.

I’m sure by now, you’ve heard the San Jacinto River Authority Board of Directors approved to continue temporary, seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe at Thursday night’s Special Board Meeting.

Before going into the details of the vote, I want to let you know that the Lake Houston Area Chamber was proud to collaborate with local elected officials and play a major role in the outcome of this important issue. Going far beyond providing campaign shirts and bus transportation to the meeting, we weighed in and worked with City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin and State Representative Dan Huberty on the final proposal made by the City of Houston. As you consider "what does the Chamber do for me and my business", I implore you to remember that we were on the front line of this issue, fighting to protect not only your business - but ALL 7,500 businesses in our area as wells as our residents and the greater Lake Houston Area community. 

The temporary seasonal lowering of Lake Conroe will begin in the spring on April 1 with SJRA gradually reducing the lake from 201’ msl to an elevation of 200’ msl. Recapture will begin June 1. This strategy is no different from the 2019 Spring Mitigation Strategy.

In the fall, SJRA voted to lower the elevation to 200’ msl from August 1 to August 31. (In 2019 it was lowered to 199’ msl). Then beginning September 1, Lake Conroe will be lowered to the elevation of 199.5’ msl with recapture beginning October 1. If a storm enters the region, the City of Houston may initiate an additional prerelease to 199 ft. by notifying the SJRA in writing of their call for prerelease.

This plan is effective through December 2022. 

This overall plan is different from the protocol put in place in 2018 and 2019. So why is this is a big win and a good solution for our area?

 

Keep in mind:

Also, note:

We overcame what seemed at times were insurmountable odds to make this outcome happen. The last two weeks we faced numerous roadblocks, opposition from various local, state and federal elected officials, recommendations made by state agencies which provided less protection than we had requested, as well as a well-funded advertising campaign with billboards, ads, bumper stickers – all demanding SJRA “Stop The Drop.”

 

WE NEVER GAVE UP AND WE PREVAILED.

Please take a moment to personally thank Mark Micheletti and Kaaren Cambio, two SJRA Board members who are passionate advocates for Lake Houston. They are fighters and they never gave up.

 

And please, send your thanks to City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin and State Representative Dan Huberty. The dynamic duo did it again! How fortunate are we to have them representing and fighting for our area?

What is next?

It’s time for “Thank Yous” and Appreciation

 

Finally – thank you. This outcome from Thursday night would definitely not have been possible without your participation by sending emails, sharing news and info, and showing up at the meeting Thursday night.

Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order: 

http://www.lrl.texas.gov/genInfo/stateAgencies.cfm

All of the relevant information our office has gathered during the week will be posted to our Facebook page. By "liking" us, you will stay up-to-date about important matters across the state that affect you and your family. Click below to find our page.

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