DUSTIN BURROWS

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas are suing over the West Texas city's “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance.

The Texas House has approved a sweeping bill that would reform the governor’s emergency powers during a pandemic and involve the Legislature during such instances.[San Marcos, TX] [Hays County news] News San Marcos News, San Marcos Record [Texas State]

The Texas House on Monday gave preliminary approval to a sweeping bill that would reform the governor’s emergency powers during a pandemic and involve the Legislature during such instances.

<figcaption> The Texas Capitol on April 12, 2021. <cite>Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune</cite> </figcaption>

A powerful Texas House committee on Thursday is set to consider one of Speaker Dade Phelan ’s top legislative priorities this session: a bill that would address the governor’s emergency powers during a pandemic. That 10-member entity, known as the “Pandemic Disaster Legislative Oversight Committee,” would consist of the lieutenant governor, House speaker and certain committee chairs from both chambers, according to a draft version of the new House Bill 3 obtained by The Texas Tribune. House Bill 3 aims to carve out future pandemics from how the state responds to other disasters, such as hurricanes. Fourteen other senators, including three Democrats, have signed on to the two Birdwell measures, Senate Joint Resolution 45 and Senate Bill 1025. The House State Affairs Committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 3 during a hearing Thursday morning.

But the more tricky territory could be reforming the parameters of a state pandemic response. The emergency powers debate will unfold in the aftermath of Abbott’s decisions to lift the statewide mask mandate and allow businesses to reopen at 100% capacity. Ad“A great, conservative victory”As filed, House Bill 3 would carve out future pandemics from how the state responds to other disasters, such as hurricanes. The “Pandemic Liability Protection Act,” to be filed as Senate Bill 6, is also on the list of Senate priorities. “I think that’s important to always include the Legislature as much as possible,” said Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, noting how large and diverse a state Texas is.

The decision would be made by voters, who get to renew the one-eighth-cent sales tax for aquifer protection and linear parks every five years. A powerful state legislator is quietly mounting an effort to steal his word, not mine not just the one-eighth-cent sales tax from cities, but all the sales tax revenues cities and a few counties collect under state law. In San Antonio alone, were talking about $313 million fully one quarter of the Citys general fund. The Legislature also prohibited cities from charging telecommunications companies for stringing wires and cables along city streets, a ban that will cost San Antonio $7.3 million this year. In Texas, local taxing jurisdictions can impose an additional sales tax of up to 2 percent in addition to the 6.5 percent state sales tax.

The decision would be made by voters, who get to renew the one-eighth-cent sales tax for aquifer protection and linear parks every five years. A powerful state legislator is quietly mounting an effort to steal his word, not mine not just the one-eighth-cent sales tax from cities, but all the sales tax revenues cities and a few counties collect under state law. In San Antonio alone, were talking about $626 million. In Texas, local taxing jurisdictions can impose an additional sales tax of up to 2 percent in addition to the 6.5 percent state sales tax. This article has been updated to accurately reflect the amount of revenue generated by City of San Antonios sales taxes.

State Rep. Steve Allison, one of 10 moderate Republicans on a target list discussed during a meeting between House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan, released a statement Monday blasting Bonnen, saying he will no longer support him as House Speaker. Speaker Bonnen and Representative Burrows have lost the confidence and trust required of a member in such a position, Allison wrote. Not that you need our permission.Last Friday, the House Republican Caucus met and issued a statement condemning the actions of Bonnen and Burrows. After several hours of discussion this past Friday, the House Republican Caucus finally issued a statement condemning the actions and comments of Speaker Bonnen and Representative Burrows, Allison wrote. Democrat Celina Montoya will again challenge Allison for the House District 121 seat.

Many Texas city leaders are fuming over comments Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) made in a recently leaked conversation that made clear his plans to thwart the efforts of cities and counties through State preemption. Local officials and others responded Wednesday to Bonnens statements saying the speakers cavalier attitude toward cities, many of which have elected centrist or left-leaning city officials, defies the needs of Texas residents. Composed of 1,160 Texas cities, the organization advocates on behalf of cities and city officials. He called on State legislators and local elected officials to communicate honestly and show mutual respect. However, that wont change how the City deals with the Texas Legislature, Nirenberg said.

click to enlarge Facebook / Dennis BonnenDennis Bonnen (center) has been accused of working against other Republicans in the Texas Legislature. Republican House Speaker Dennis Bonnen met with hardline conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan in his office earlier this summer, after the legislative session. Sullivan says during their meeting, Bonnen walked out and Burrows gave him a list of 10 GOP House members to target during the 2020 primary elections. Although he didnt directly address the allegation of a 10-member list, Bonnen again denied Sullivans account last Friday evening. After accounts from House Republicans who heard Sullivan's alleged recording of the meeting, Bonnen's future as the Republican House speaker could also be in peril.