State Representative Dan Huberty Capitol Newsletter

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May 3, 2019

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies on events from the past week and the week ahead.

We have officially made it to May. We are now in the home stretch of the legislative session and quickly approaching deadlines. Next Thursday will be the last day a House Bill can heard on Second Reading in the Chamber. The final calendars are being prepared now and should be set by Monday.

Here is a quick update on my bills:

HB 3 - Voted out of the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday
HB 766 - Passed the House and Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee
HB 791 - Passed the House and Set for a Hearing in Senate Finance on May 6th
HB 802 - Set on Floor Calendar for May 6th
HB 831 - Set on Floor Calendar for May 6th
HB 907 - Currently in Calendars Committee
HB 909 - Heard in Environmental Regulation Committee on May 1st
HB 911 - Passed the House on May 3rd
HB 1652 - Passed the House on May 3rd
HB 1725 - Passed the House and Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee
HB 2983 - Passed the House on May 2nd
HB 3904 - Passed the House on May 2nd
HB 3906 - Currently in Calendars Committee
HB 3599 - Passed the House and Referred to Senate State Affairs Committee
HB 3913 - Passed the House and Set for a Hearing in Senate Business & Commerce on May 7th
HJR 3/HB 4621 - Currently in Calendars Committee
HJR 151/HB 4611 - Passed the House and Referred to Senate Finance Committee

As we get closer to the end of the session, things will begin moving quickly. For more up-to-date information, please follow us on social media. Tune in any day to watch us by clicking here: www.house.texas.gov.

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,

May 2019 Calendar

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.

Click Here to View and Download This Month's Calendar!

Updates from Austin

TxDOT Urges Drivers to

"Look Twice for Motorcycles"

As spring weather draws more motorcyclists onto roadways the risk of fatalities increases. Last year 417 motorcyclists died on Texas roadways, an average of more than one fatality a day. It’s a number the Texas Department of Transportation is working to reduce by asking motorists to be extra vigilant.

TxDOT is launching “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” – a campaign supporting National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May. “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” urges drivers to be extra cautious, since motorcyclists are more difficult to see while on the road and are less protected than other motorists.

“Last year motorcycle fatalities were reduced by 17 %, which is a big step forward; still one death is too many for the Lone Star State,” said TxDOT Executive Director James Bass. ”As motorcyclists hit the road to enjoy the open air and beautiful scenery, it’s important that vehicle drivers and motorcyclists remain alert and look out for each other on the road. We want everyone to enjoy what Texas offers and reach their destinations safely,”

One of the most common crashes between motorcyclists and drivers occurs when drivers make left turns at intersections, due to motorists’ difficulty judging the distance and speed of motorcycles. TxDOT cautions drivers to be extra vigilant when approaching, turning, or driving through an intersection, as 30% of Texas motorcycle deaths in 2018 were intersection-related.

A motorcyclist’s “braking” is not always obvious to motorists. Motorcycles decelerate faster than vehicles and motorcyclists can often downshift instead of applying the brake, especially when driving around a curve. This means at times brake lights will not be engaged to signal that the motorcycle is slowing down. It is important for motorists to allow for extra distance when they are behind motorcycles.

TxDOT is urging motorist to:

Look twice for motorcycles, especially at intersections.
Always assume motorcycles are closer than they appear to be, and avoid turning in front of an oncoming motorcycle.
Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes.
Always maintain a safe following distance.
Give motorcyclists a full lane, especially when passing.
Obey posted speed limits.

This year’s “Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” campaign will conduct the following events featuring virtual reality games designed to educate drivers and motorcyclists about the importance of watching out for each other. Campaign tour stops include:

May 3 – El Paso
May 10 – Corpus Christi
May 11 – Houston (Sugar Land)
May 12 – Austin
May 17 – Dallas-Fort Worth (Frisco)
May 18 – Midland
May 19 – San Antonio

“Share the Road: Look Twice for Motorcycles” is a key component of #EndTheStreakTX , a larger grassroots effort that encourages drivers to make safer choices while on the road. Since November 8, 2000, at least one person has died on Texas roadways every single day, and that’s why #EndTheStreakTX asks all Texans to commit to helping end the streak of daily deaths on our roadways. To learn more about the campaign, visit TxDOT’s website . For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Houston District Public Information Office at (713) 802-5076.

SB 2: The Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act

Our current property tax system lacks transparency, which discourages taxpayers from getting involved. Senate Bill 2, the Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act, provides critical transparency mechanisms that empower taxpayers and voters with a say in the property tax rate-setting process.

A more open process is beneficial to everyone, and taxpayers deserve every opportunity to weigh in on how their taxes are being raised and spent. The Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act encourages taxpayers and local governments to work together in setting a budget and adopt property tax rates that meet the needs and obligations of their community.

This bill gives property owners the tools they need to make informed decisions about their property taxes by disclosing online and on tax notices who is proposing a rate increase, by how much, and when and where they can go to make their voice heard at a public hearing. It also gives taxpayers the option of filling out a short online form to provide their opinion on the proposed rates, which is then sent directly to the taxing unit.

The Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act is not a revenue cap, it's a trigger. Current rollback election requirements put an unnecessary burden on taxpayers by requiring them to gather enough signatures to petition for an election. This bill empowers voters because it automatically triggers an election to ratify a property tax rate if it's raised above a certain amount (the rollback rate). The Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act provides property tax reform. The budget and school finance legislation provide $2.7 billion for property tax relief. All three work together.

Property tax and school finance reform are nearly impossible to separate. That's why the final passage of the Texas Taxpayer Transparency Act is contingent upon the final passage of the House's landmark public education bill, House Bill 3.

Highlights:

Lowers the rollback rate to 3.5% for most taxing units and 2% for school districts
Maintains the current rollback rate for special taxing units with unique situations like junior colleges, hospital districts, and those with an M&O tax rate of $0.025 (per $100) or less
Makes the final passage of this bill contingent upon final passage of the House's plan for school finance (HB 3)
Institutes an automatic November ratification election when a taxing unit adopts a property tax rate exceeding the rollback rate
Calculates how much one would owe under the proposed tax rates and discloses the "No New Revenue" tax rate for each taxing unit on an individual's tax notice (like a line-item receipt)
Requires the same property tax notice to include the time, date and location of public hearings where property tax rates will be deliberated or adopted
Further enhances tax notices by requiring local governments to include a chart comparing what the recipient paid in property taxes last year versus what they will pay this year
Gives taxpayers the option of filling out a short form -- attached to their electronic tax notice -- that will generate a message outlining the taxpayer's stance on their tax rate before automatically sending it to the appropriate taxing unit

HB 2100: Free Speech

State Representative Dan Huberty joined their Texas House colleagues in passing House Bill 2100, which guarantees public higher education institutions do not infringe upon the expressive constitutional rights of students to speak and assemble freely on college campuses. House Bill 2100 accomplishes this goal by establishing university policies that are committed to protecting an individual’s right to express themselves so long as they do not interfere with someone else’s ability to do so themselves.

While the U.S. Constitution and Texas Constitution state that citizens have the right to speak and assemble freely in the First Amendment, some colleges put limitations on the expressive activities taking place on their campuses. Higher education institutions have disinvited speakers, created 'free speech zones' confining speech to certain areas, and adopted limits on topics and locations for demonstrations.

House Bill 2100 requires public universities in Texas to establish a policy supporting expressive activities and ensure that students will be informed of their official policy. The bill also guarantees that the common outdoor areas of the institution's campus are traditional public forums and permits any person lawfully present to engage in expressive activities in those areas freely. These protections are applied equally to all students, student groups, and student organizations.