Notes from the Hive
They were the best of bills, they were the worst of bills
This week, the legislative process was giving Dickensian vibes: committees in both chambers considered “the best of bills and the worst of bills” across a range of subjects.
The Senate State Affairs Committee took public testimony on three abortion-related bills: SB 31, SB 33, and SB 2880. Texas Impact supports SB 31, the Life of the Mother Act, which would clarify that doctors should rely on their reasonable medical judgement and provide evidence-based care, even if it means terminating a pregnancy to preserve the life or health of the mother. SB 31 and its House companion, HB 44, would save lives.
We oppose SB 33 and SB 2880, which would create a new Pandora’s box of confusion, suffering, and litigation even more far-reaching than the damage from the trigger ban and the heartbeat bill which SB 31 now seeks to remedy.
All three bills have House companions, and we expect hearings on the House bills soon—to be sure you get the most timely information, be sure to register for our Rapid Response email.
Continuing the “best of bills/worst of bills” theme, the House State Affairs Committee considered HB 2618, which would establish a long-overdue severe weather adaptation plan for Texas such as many other conservative states already have, while the Senate Business and Commerce Committee took testimony on SB 819, which has been described as “one of the most anti-energy bills in Texas’ history.”
Watch clips from the hearing on SB 819
And on the voting rights front, the House Elections Committee considered HB 1297, which would improve efficiency in the volunteer deputy voter registrar process. One witness said of HB 1297, “ I believe HB 1297 would help ensure experienced VDRs like myself can continue to serve our communities without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers. This bill would also strengthen democratic infrastructure and make it possible to recruit and retain more knowledgeable volunteers, which is especially important during major election. Thank you for your support for the important role that we VDRs provide to the elections process.”
In the same hearing, the committee considered HB 817, which would prohibit rank-choice voting in Texas despite its potential to save counties millions of dollars and in spite of the fact that it is not currently permitted in this state.
Finally, with all the committee action happening, it’s an important moment to remind ourselves:
None of the folks attending a committee hearing—whether legislators, witnesses, or observers—are “the audience.”
Committee hearings are not spectator events. Our system of government requires active participation from all of us. Sometimes, your active participation involves watching what someone else is doing or saying—so you can understand it; so you can report it to others; so you can comment on it; or so you can factor it into future decisions you make. That doesn’t make you the audience, it just means you don’t have a speaking part in this scene.
Thanks for your active participation in democracy! It wouldn’t work without you.
Love,
