June 7, 2019

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.

We are back from Austin and busy assessing everything we accomplished during the 86th Session. Personally, I was able to pass 13 pieces of legislation through both chambers and on to Governor Abbott. So far, he has signed four of those bills and I am confident the others will also receive his approval. Each week, I will highlight one of these bills in the "Legislative Update" section below. This week, I featured HB 791, a taxpayer-savings bill to exempt volunteer fire departments from the motor fuel sales tax. Scroll down to read more.

June 1st saw the start of hurricane season and with it many predictions about the weather this summer. I encourage you to take a look at www.TexasPrepares.org or www.Ready.gov for information on how to be prepared for the next storm. Make a Plan, Build a Kit and Get Informed now.

Lastly, I would like to thank Capitol Inside for naming me to the "Best of the Texas Legislature 2019". I am honored to be listed among many of my colleagues, like Speaker Dennis Bonnen, Chairman John Zerwas and my education counterpart in the Senate, Chairman Larry Taylor. It is always nice to be commended for hard work and dedication. And it is made sweeter knowing that HB 3 is going to transformationally reform public school funding in Texas from now on.

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,

Download my May 2019 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.

DPS Urges Texans to Prepare for Hurricane Season

With June 1st marking the start of the 2019 hurricane season, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging all Texans to take steps now to protect themselves and their families from potential hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

“As hurricane season approaches, emergency management professionals across the state are prepared to assist in the event of severe weather,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Our first responders and emergency management teams in Texas are second to none, as is the resolve of our local and state leaders to protect our communities from harm. I urge Texans to heed all warnings from local and state officials, and to ensure they have a plan in place to protect their loved ones and their property in the event of a hurricane.”

All Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas are subject to hurricanes and tropical storms. It is possible for a storm to severely impact our state, even prior to or without making direct landfall in Texas.

Hurricanes can cause catastrophic damage to coastlines, and winds can vary from 74 to 157 miles per hour (or higher). In addition, hurricanes and tropical storms can also spawn tornadoes, create dangerous coastal water conditions, including storm surges, and cause extensive flooding damage. Additionally, the rainfall associated with a tropical system can have an extremely wide reach, so monitoring changing weather conditions during hurricane season is critically important for all Texans. 

“Texans know firsthand that the damage from a hurricane can be both catastrophic and long-lasting,” said DPS Director Steve McCraw. “There are a few steps everyone can take now that can make all the difference — like assembling an emergency disaster kit and reviewing hurricane evacuation maps and routes. By helping your family plan ahead, you will be ready to respond quickly should a storm head your way.”

Here are several measures residents can take now to prepare for potential storms:

Residents are also encouraged to review their property’s flood risk and current insurance coverage, and to consider whether a separate flood policy should be part of their home protection plan. (Remember most flood policies have a 30-day waiting period before taking effect.) For more information, visit the Texas Department of Insurance website .

If you or someone you know might need assistance during a disaster, register now with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) — a free registry that provides local emergency planners and responders with additional information about the needs in their communities. To register, contact 2-1-1 Texas, the state’s free 24-hour helpline. No matter where you live in Texas, you can dial 2-1-1 or 877-541-7905 for community resources. For more information about hurricanes and how to prepare for the 2019 hurricane season, visit the DPS website and www.texasprepares.org . You can also find out more about hurricane preparedness on the National Weather Service website. 

FEMA Mitigation Minute

For detailed information of each webinar session, visit https://www.fema.gov/drra-bric.

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To subscribe to the Mitigation Minute, visit the Hazard Mitigation Assistance webpage and select "Subscribe to HMA."

Huberty Named to Capitol Inside's

"Best of the Texas Legislature 2019"

Governor Abbott on the 86th Session

The Office of Governor Greg Abbott released a web video highlighting the accomplishments of the 86th Legislative Session. Titled "Promises Made, Promises Kept," the video chronicles the efforts of Governor Abbott and the Texas legislature to tackle the state’s most pressing issues – including school finance and property tax reform, disaster preparedness, school safety, and mental health wellness.

 

Thanks to the bipartisan effort of both chambers, all of Governor’s Abbott’s emergency items were passed. Additionally, the legislature made meaningful strides including further crackdowns on human traffickers, clearing the rape kit backlog, extending the statute of limitations for those who commit childhood sexual assault, and protecting free speech on college campuses.

 

“This session, I was proud to work with the 86th Legislature to achieve a transformative agenda that will benefit the people of Texas,” said Governor Abbott. “In just 140 days, we passed property tax and school finance reform, increased teacher pay, made our communities more resilient to natural disasters, enhanced school safety, and so much more. This historic session was built on bold ideas and strong collaboration in both chambers. I thank the members of the Legislature, as well as Lt. Governor Patrick and Speaker Bonnen, for working together to build an even brighter future for our great state.”

SB 12: Investing in Retired Teachers

As outlined in the Conference Committee Report for Senate Bill 12:

The state budget:

Governor Abbott Signs Legislation To Crack Down On Human Trafficking, Eliminate Rape Kit Backlog

Governor Greg Abbott signed into law several bills related to combating human trafficking and reducing the rape kit backlog in Texas. The Governor was joined by several stakeholders, including representatives from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Dallas Children's Advocacy Center, Operation Texas Shield, and Traffick911, as well as members of the Texas Legislature for the signing ceremony at the New Friends New Life Youth Resource Center in Dallas, an organization that provides aid and assistance to formerly trafficked teenage girls, sexually exploited women, and their children.

 

Among the Legislators present for the signing included Senators Kelly Hancock, Jane Nelson and Royce West, and Representatives Victoria Neave and Angie Chen Button. 

 

“Today, because of the efforts of lawmakers in both chambers, I have the privilege of signing legislation that not only enhances our tools to fight human trafficking and sexual assault, but also works to eliminate the rape kit backlog that has plagued our state for far too long,” said Governor Abbott. “Survivors of the horrific crimes of sexual assault and human trafficking deserve justice, and I am committed to protecting Texans and ensuring offenders are punished to the fullest extent of the law. These laws ensure that survivors are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and that they are given a seat at the table as we work to eradicate sexual assault and human trafficking across the Lone Star State.”

Senate Bill 20 (Huffman/S. Thompson) enhances tools to fight online sex trafficking, increases the penalties for buyers, and creates a process for victims to clear their records of certain offenses committed solely as a victim of trafficking.

House Bill 8 (Neave/Nelson) will tackle the rape kit backlog in Texas by requiring an audit of untested kits, establishing timelines for results to be submitted, and extending the statute of limitations.

House Bill 1590 (Howard/Watson) creates a Sexual Assault Survivors' Task Force within the Office of the Governor to catalog services, identify gaps, and coordinate efforts across the state to strategically address sexual assault.

House Bill 2613 (Frullo/Huffman) directs forfeited proceeds from stash houses to services that aid victims of human trafficking.

Senate Bill 71 (Nelson/S. Thompson) establishes a statewide telehealth center to expand victim access to specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.

TEA: Student Report Cards Available Next Week

Next week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will release student STAAR results via their online system and the agency wants to ensure that all Texas parents have everything they need to access the information over the summer.

On June 12th, parents can access their child’s STAAR results and a suite of other resources to support summer learning at home by visiting TexasAssessment.gov. Districts received the paper copies of the STAAR Report Card (SRC) to distribute to parents over the summer. Districts may distribute the reports via mail, parent email, portal, or any method typically used to communicate with parents over the summer.

Parents need a Unique Access Code to log in to TexasAssessment.gov . These are unique IDs and districts will provide these directly to parents before June 12 ^th , if they haven’t already.

In addition to performance and growth results, TexasAssessment.gov provides a collection of resources for parents, including the actual questions from the test, more information about the STAAR, a Find a Book Tool to help students build a summer reading list, and additional math and reading tips. TEA encourages parents to take advantage of any of these resources.

Legislative Update:

HB 791 - Relating to the definition of volunteer fire department for purposes of certain motor fuel tax exemptions.

In this weekly section, you will find bills authored by Rep. Huberty that successfully passed both chambers and were sent to Governor Abbott for his approval. As of today, Governor Abbott has signed three of the 11 House Bills and one of the two Senate Bills Rep. Huberty sent to him.

The first bill highlighted several weeks ago was SB 213, which Rep. Huberty sponsored for Senator Kel Seliger. In this edition, you will find more information about Rep. Huberty's HB 791 , which adds a definition of a "volunteer fire department" to the tax code, as it applies to motor fuel tax exemptions. This bill moved quickly moved through the legislative process early in the session and was sent to Governor Abbott's desk on May 14th. He signed the bill on May 24th and it was effective immediately, as it had received a vote of more than two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.

 

With passage of the bill, volunteer fire departments will no longer be charged sales tax on gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas, if purchased for the exclusive use of the department or a department motor vehicle. They are also eligible for reimbursements from the Comptroller for past purchases of the products.

 

Rep. Huberty has carried this legislation in multiple sessions and is proud to see its final passage. This tax-payer-savings bill will financially help volunteer fire departments across Texas and the many residents they serve.

 

To see a list of Rep. Huberty's legislation from the 86th Session, click here.

86th Session Legislative Statistics

This information last updated at 06/06/2019, and is subject to change.

To view a report of all Legislative Statistics, please click here.

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

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