It has been quite a week in the Texas Legislature. On Tuesday, for the first time in almost 100 years, the Texas House of Representatives voted to expel Rep. Bryan Slaton from the Texas House. The vote was 147-0 with the Speaker voting aye. Because of the expulsion, there are only 149 Members of the Texas House.
What is next? The timing of the special election has three options. The first is on a uniform election date. The uniform election dates in 2023 are May 6 (this past Saturday) and November 7. The second option is an emergency election held on a Tuesday or Saturday between 36 and 64 days after the election is announced by the Governor. But wait, you say, isn't there a provision for an expedited election when the Legislature is in session? Yes, there is, but an expedited election is only available during a regular session when there are more than 25 days left in the session. Today, there are 21 days left. The Governor could call an expedited election prior to a special session as the election code allows for such an election 60 days prior to any session.
G/T News
SCR 9 (Springer/Allison) was heard in Public Education on Tuesday. It was left pending in committee and should receive a vote during the next House Public Education meeting.
SB 2403 (Springer) has been referred to House Public Education. Rep. Allison will be the House Sponsor for the bill.
Education News
Early yesterday, rumors surfaced about a revived education savings bill. At about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday evening, Chairman Buckley moved to ask for permission for the House Committee on Public Education to meet while the House was still in session to consider pending business. Usually, these motions are approved without much discussion. That was not the case last night. Representative Ernest Bailes asked several questions regarding an 80-page bill that had not received a proper hearing from the back mic and then spoke against the motion to give the committee permission to meet. The motion went down with a vote of 65-76. This sends a message to voucher supporters in the Capitol that there is no support for this issue in the House. Over in the Senate, the Education Committee discussed how to discipline students who are caught using cannabis on campus.
Tonight at midnight is the first big House deadline. It is the deadline for all House bills and all House Joint Resolutions to be heard on the floor for the second reading. Friday is the last day for the third reading. In other words, if a House bill is still in committee, sitting in calendars and it is not a local bill, it is dead. If it is on the House calendar today, but on one of the last pages, it may survive.
The next big deadline is next Friday, May 19, this is the deadline for local House bills. The House has until May 23 to hear Senate bills on the floor and May 24 to hear local Senate Bills.
