WEEK 6 UPDATE
Senate Passes SB4
The Senate gave preliminary approval to
SB 4
by Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), which would prohibit "
sanctuary cities.
" With support by Republicans and Democrats in opposition, it passed to third reading by a vote of 20 to 11. There were 39 amendments considered by the Senate during over six hours of debate.
One amendment the Senate adopted establishes civil penalties for non-compliant jurisdictions and allows a county district attorney to review whether a Class A Misdemeanor should be filed on elected or appointed officials who intentionally or knowingly violate the law.
All proposed amendments that were not acceptable to Senator Perry were voted down along party lines.
Some amendments offered by Democrats that were rejected would have:
- Exempted local mental health authorities;
- Exempted local public health departments;
- Broadened and clarified the exemption for witnesses and victims of crimes;
- Exempted entities that have a court order prohibiting federal immigration enforcement; and
- Removed the provision that allows peace officers to ask about immigration solely for the purpose of enforcing immigration law if providing "assistance to" federal law enforcement.
Governor Greg Abbott
commented on Senate passage of SB 4, one of the governor's emergency legislative priorities, saying, "As Governor, I will not tolerate sanctuary city policies that put the citizens of Texas at risk. Elected officials do not get to pick and choose which laws they will obey. Today's action in the Senate helps ensure that Sheriffs and officials across Texas comply with federal immigration laws and honor Immigration and Custom Enforcement detainer requests that keep dangerous criminals off of our streets."
House Committee Assignments
House Speaker Joe Straus announced assignments and said, "We want to utilize House members' strengths and allow them to work on issues that matter to their districts. Some very good members are taking on new challenges. I'm looking forward to their leadership. There is always a balance to strike between continuity and fresh thinking, and I think we have the right mix."
House Committees and Chairs
(An * means the committee's chairman is new):
Agriculture and Livestock
Tracy King (D-Batesville)
Appropriations
-
John Zerwas* (R-Richmond)
Business and Industry
Rene Oliviera (D-Brownsville)
Calendars
Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi)
Corrections
James White* (R-Hillister)
County Affairs
Garnet Coleman (D-Houston)
Criminal Jurisprudence
Joe Moody* (D-El Paso)
Culture, Recreation and Tourism
John Frullo* (R-Lubbock)
Defense and Veterans' Affairs
Roberto Gutierrez* (D-San Antonio)
Economic and Small Business Development
Angie Chen Button (R-Richardson)
Elections
Jodie Laubenburg (R-Wylie)
Energy Resources
Drew Darby (R-San Angelo)
Environmental Regulation
Joe Pickett* (D-El Paso)
General Investigating and Ethics
Sarah Davis* (R-Houston)
Government Transparency and Operation
Gary Elkins (R-Houston)
Higher Education
J.M. Lozano* (R-Kingsville)
Homeland Security and Public Safety
Phil King* (R-Weatherford)
House Administration
Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth)
Human Services
Richard Pena Raymond (D-Laredo)
Insurance
Larry Phillips* (R-Sherman)
International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs
Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas)
Investments and Financial Services
Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)
Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence
John Smithee (R-Amarillo)
Juvenile Justice and Family Issues
Harold Dutton, Jr. (D-Houston)
Land and Resource Management
Abel Herrero* (D-Robstown)
Licensing and Administrative Procedures
John Kuempel* (R-Seguin)
Local and Consent Calendars
Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston)
Natural Resource
Lyle Larson* (R-San Antonio)
Pensions
Dan Flynn (R-Van)
Public Education
Dan Huberty* (R-Humble)
Public Health
Four Price* (R-Amarillo)
Redistricting
Cindy Burkett* (R-Sunnyvale)
Rules and Resolutions
Eddie Lucio, III* (D-Brownsville)
Special Purpose Districts
Jim Murphy* (R-Houston)
State Affairs
Byron Cook (R-Corsicana)
Transportation
Geanie Morrison* (R-Victoria)
Urban Affairs
Carol Alvarado (D-Houston)
Ways and Means
Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton)
Select Committee on Emerging Issues in Texas Law Enforcement
Drew Darby* (R-San Angelo)
Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility
Joe Deshotel* (D-Beaumont)
