Stalwart Strategies is pleased to offer you an easy-to-navigate brief of the week’s activity inside state government, noteworthy items for the upcoming week, and other important news.
News In State Government
Governor:
Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick and Speaker Bonnen Release Joint Statement: “Texans are fed up with skyrocketing property taxes. At the beginning of the legislative session, the Governor, Lt. Governor and Speaker laid out an agenda for property tax relief through the passage of Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 2 to limit property tax growth. …” Click here to read the full statement.
Governor Abbott Appoints Atkinson and Williams to Texas Public Finance Authority and Eight to Texas Economic Development Corporation Board Of Directors: to read more about these and other gubernatorial-appointments form this week click here.
Lt. Governor:
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Released a Statement on the Passage of the Budget: “Senate Bill 1 is a responsible and conservative budget that will ensure that the Texas economy continues to thrive and grow. …” Click here to read more about this and other statements released by the Lt. Gov regarding the passage of additional high priority bills this week.
Comptroller:
Sales Tax Holiday for Emergency Supplies, April 27-29: With the potential for severe weather approaching, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar reminds Texans they can purchase certain items tax-free during the state’s sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies, which occurs April 27-29. Click here to read more.
Comptroller Glenn Hegar Distributes $705 Million in Monthly Sales Tax Revenue to Local Governments: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today he will send cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts $705.3 million in local sales tax allocations for April, 8.4 percent more than in April 2018. Click here to read more.
Other News
State News:
As Texas Lawmakers Negotiate on Property Tax Reform, Gov. Greg Abbott Says School Taxes Must be Capped: The Republican governor weighed in on the issue Thursday as both chambers maneuvered to bring the legislation to a floor vote. Click here to read the full Texas Tribune article. Additionally as Texas House tackles property taxes, here’s what to know and how to watch!
Gov. Abbott, Top Lawmakers Push to Raise Sales Tax to 7.25 Percent: Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the leaders of the Texas Legislature are throwing their support behind a plan to raise sales taxes by 1 percentage point in an effort to then reduce property taxes. Click here to read the full Houston Chronicle article.
Texas Hospitals Face Funding Squeeze From All Sides: Voters in conservative Bosque County last year approved a new property tax to keep rural Goodall-Witcher Hospital open and provide a measure of relief for a cash-strapped institution grappling with more unpaid bills and the threat of less funding from the federal government. Click here to read a portion of the Politico Pro article.
Contamination of Skull Creek in Altair Remains Under Investigation: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has announced that eyes are on the Altair Recycling facility, owned and operated by Inland Recycling, LLC, as the possible culprit in recent contamination events occurring at Skull Creek in Altair. Click here to read the full BannerPress article here.
Texas Senate Votes to Raise Legal Age for Tobacco to 21: A divided Texas Senate voted Tuesday to raise the legal age to buy, use or own tobacco products or electronic cigarettes from 18 to 21. Click here to read the full Statesman article.
Texas Senate Passes Bill to Restore Open Meetings Act: A unanimous Texas Senate on Tuesday approved a bill to restore a key provision of the Open Meetings Act that had been struck down by a state court. Click here to read the full Statesman article.
Frackers, Chasing Fast Oil Output, Are on a Treadmill: Shale companies from Texas to North Dakota have been managing their wells to maximize short-term oil production. That has long-term consequences for the future of the American energy boom. Subscribers can click here to read the full Wall Street Journal article.
Drilling Down: Millennial-run Oil Company Focuses on Permian Basin: They’re under 40 and they’re drilling for oil in the Permian Basin of West Texas. Millennial-run oil company Double Eagle Energy Holdings III has received three drilling permits from the Railroad Commission of Texas for a trio of projects in Midland County. Subscribers can click here to read the full Houston Chronicle article.
National News:
Stock Markets Cautious with Focus on Brexit, Earnings: Global stock markets mostly edged up Tuesday as investors watched for Brexit developments and corporate earnings. Click here to read the full AP article.
If Trump has His way, this Major Federal Agency is on the Way Out: The White House is moving to do what no president has accomplished since the end of World War II: eliminate a major federal agency (The Office of Personnel Management). Subscribers can click here to read the full Houston Chronicle article.
Oil Stumbles as Putin Clouds Outlook for More Production Curbs: Oil fell by the most in more than two weeks as Russian President Vladimir Putin clouded the outlook for production cuts that have helped power this year’s rally. Subscribers can click here to read the full Houston Chronicle article.
Order: Crypto and Forex Firm Trading Mostly in Falsehoods: Texas Securities Commissioner Travis J. Iles took emergency action April 9 to stop an international offering of cryptocurrency and foreign currency investments by a company using a phony address and falsely claiming it is registered as a broker-dealer and investment adviser. Click here to read the full TSSB news release.
Dates to Note
May 6 - 9, 2019: Offshore Technology Conference
May 17, 2019: Last Day for House to Consider Local HBs on 2nd and 3rd Reading
May 22, 2019: Last Day for House to Consider Local and Consent SBs on 2nd and 3rd Reading and ALL 3rd Reading SBs/SJRs on Supplemental Calendar AND Last Day for Senate to Consider ALL Bills & JRs on 2nd or 3rd Reading
May 24, 2019: Last Day for House to Act on Senate Amendments
May 26, 2019: Last Day for House to Adopt CCR’s or Discharge House Conferees and Concur in Senate Amendments AND Last Day for Senate to Concur in House Amendments or Adopt CCRs
May 27, 2019: Last Day of 86th Legislature (Sine Die)
Corrections Only in House and Senate
June 16, 2019: Last Day for Governor to Act on Bills
September 16-20, 2019: Energy Trade Mission to Israel 2019
September 26 - 28, 2019: The Texas Tribune Festival
Click Here for Upcoming Texas House Committee Meetings
Click Here for Upcoming Texas Senate Committee Meetings
