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Emgage Texas – Policy & Advocacy

EMGAGE TEXAS POLICY & ADVOCACY

Through our Emgage Action Texas chapter, we are here to provide you updates in real-time on our legislative priorities, engagement with the Texas State Government regarding the initiatives most important to our community, advocacy efforts, as well as the most crucial legislation we’re tracking in Texas. 

We are here to be your one stop shop to stay up-to-date on the multitude of legislative actions taking place in the Texas Government, while letting you know how YOU can stay politically engaged.

Texas 88th Legislative Session Values:

  1. Civil Rights/Hate Groups
  2. Human Rights 
  3. Criminal Justice Reform
  4.  Immigration
  5. Public Safety
  6. Maternal Health/Health Equity
  7. Climate Change
  8. Voting Rights
  9. Education
  10. Muslim Community

Defending Civil Rights and Fighting the Growing Influence of Hate Groups

Supporting Health Equity and Access to Maternal Health

Defending the Human Rights and Liberties of All 

Fighting Climate Change and Mitigating its Effects 

Supporting Criminal Justice Reform and Accountability for Police

Protecting Voting Rights and Access to Voting

Supporting Immigration Reform and Easier Pathways to Citizenship

Supporting Education Reforms

Protecting the Rights of Muslim Americans in Texas

Supporting Public Safety Measures for Texans

SUPPORTING BILLS IN PROGRESS:

UPDATED: 03/31/2023

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

TX RELIGIOUS FREEDOM BILL PACKAGE - HB 1882, HB 1883, HB 1884
HEARD IN COMMITTEE 20%

Last Action: On March 7, 2023, read for the first time and referred to House State Affairs Committee. 

HB 1882 title: Designation of certain religious holy days as optional holidays

Summary: House Bill 1882 is part of a bipartisan bill package called the “Religious Freedom Agenda.” HB 1882 calls on the expansion of the number of optional state holidays to include holy days of a larger variety of faiths, such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, All Saints Day, Diwali, Eidal-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, Passover, Vaisakhi, Vesak, or Good Friday.

Primary Sponsors: Salman Bhojani (D), Jacey Jetton (R), Lacey Hull (R), Suleman Lalani (D), Tom Oliverson (R)

Last action: On March 14, 2023, considered in public hearing and left pending in House Public Education Committee.

HB 1883 title: Relating to the administration of assessment instruments on religious holy days.

Summary: House Bill 1883 is part of a bipartisan bill package called the “Religious Freedom Agenda.” House Bill 1883 will ensure that state-mandated exams in Texas, like the STAAR test, aren’t scheduled on religious holy days.

Primary Sponsors: Salman Bhojani (D), Charles Cunningham (R), Alma Allen (D), Gina Hinojosa (D), Jacey Jetton (R)

Last Action: on March 7, 2023, read for the first time and referred to Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee.

HB 1884 title: Relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Summary: House Bill 1884 is part of a bipartisan bill package called the “Religious Freedom Agenda.” House Bill 1884 will establish marriage parity so that anyone from any faith in Texas can be married by their religious leader.

Primary Sponsors: Salman Bhojani (D), Briscoe Cain (R), Joe Moody (D), James Talarico (D), Jeff Leach (R).

PUBLIC SAFETY

HB 3089: Requiring a national instant criminal background check for private firearm transfers
HEARD IN COMMITTEE 20%

Last Action: On March 14, 2023, read for the first time and referred to House Select Committee on Mass Violence Prevention and Community Safety.

HB 3089 title: Relating to requiring a national instant criminal background check in connection with private firearm transfers

Summary: Coming soon.

Primary Sponsors: Suleman Lalani (D)

MATERNAL HEALTH

HB 2873: Plan for improving maternal health
HEARD IN COMMITTEE 20%

Last Action: On March 14, 2023, read for the first time and referred to House Select Committee on Statewide Health Care Costs 

HB 2873 title: HB 2873 Relating to a strategic plan for improving maternal health, including the consolidation and repeal of certain planning and reporting requirements.

Summary: Develop and implement a strategic plan for improving maternal health outcomes under programs administered by the state that provide services to women during and following a pregnancy. The strategic plan must include strategies for:

  • Improving access to screening, referral, treatment, and support services for perinatal depression and other major pregnancy-related health complications;
  • Improving the quality of maternal health care under Medicaid and other health care programs administered by the state;
  • Reducing pregnancy-related deaths by focusing on the most prevalent causes of those deaths.

Primary Sponsors: Donna Howard (D)

CIVIL RIGHTS

HB 2521: Prohibition on the use of a choke hold during a search or arrest
HEARD IN COMMITTEE 20%

Last Action: On March 13, 2023, read for the first time and referred to House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee

HB 2521 title: Relating to the prohibition on the use of a neck restraint by a peace officer during a search or arrest

Summary: The use of neck restraints during search or arrest is prohibited. A peace officer may not intentionally use a choke hold, carotid artery hold, or similar neck restraint in searching or arresting a person unless:

  • The restraint is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to or the death of the officer or another person;
  • The officer discontinues the restraint as soon as the threat of serious injury or death has passed.

Primary Sponsors: Senfronia Thompson (D)

OPPOSING BILLS IN PROGRESS:

UPDATED: 03/31/2023

DISCRIMINATION

SB 147: Prohibiting the purchase or acquisition of property by certain aliens or foreign entities
PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE 30%

Last Action: On March 2, 2023, considered in public hearing, testimonies taken in committee, and left pending in Senate State Affairs Committee. 

SB 147 title: Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities

Summary: SB 147 prohibits the following from purchasing or otherwise acquiring title to real property in this state:

  1. A governmental entity of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia
  2. A company or entity that is headquartered, owned, or indirectly controlled by the government of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia
  3. An individual who is a citizen of China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia.

Primary Sponsors: Lois Kolkhorst (R)

VOTING RIGHTS

SB 2: Conduct constituting criminal offense by illegal voting
PASSED SENATE 60%

Last Action: On March 15, 2023, received from the Senate to the House

SB 2 title: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting; increasing a criminal penalty

Summary: A person commits an offense if the person knowingly votes or attempts to vote;

  • While being ineligible to vote;
  • More than once;
  • On a ballot belonging to another person;
  • By marking any portion of another person’s ballot without their consent;
  • In Texas after voting in another state in an election in which a federal office appears on the ballot and the election day for both states is the same day.

Primary Sponsors: Bryan Hughes (R)

Percentages based on the following chronological benchmarks for a bill: filed (10%), heard in committee (20%), passed out of committee (30%), passed in one house of state legislature (60%), passed in both houses of state legislature (90%), and signed into law (100%).

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION

S.B 147 – a discriminatory, anti-immigrant, and unconstitutional bill that aims to ban citizens from Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, even if they are US citizens or permanent residents, from purchasing or acquiring property in Texas.