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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 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.

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LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
BILLS IN PROGRESS

Texas Legislative Priorities:

Defending Civil Rights and Fighting the Growing Influence of Hate Groups

Prohibiting the Use of Chokeholds Upon Police Arrests

Criminal Background Checks for Gun Ownership

Supporting Health Equity and Access to Maternal Health

Protecting Voting Rights and Access to Voting

Texas Legislative Priorities:

Defending Civil Rights and Fighting the Growing Influence of Hate Groups

Prohibiting the Use of Chokeholds Upon Police Arrests

Criminal Background Checks for Gun Ownership

Supporting Health Equity and Access to Maternal Health

Protecting Voting Rights and Access to Voting

BILLS WE SUPPORT

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:

HB 1882 – Designation of certain religious holy days as optional holidays

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: HB 1882 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that 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, Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, or Good Friday.

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

HB 1883 – Relating to the administration of assessment instruments on religious holy days

Last Action: Bill became law.

Summary: HB 1883 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that will ensure that state-mandated exams in Texas, like the STAAR test, are NOT scheduled on religious holy days.

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

HB 1884 – Relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: HB 1884 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that 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

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: House Bill 3089 will ensure that a person may not sell or otherwise transfer a firearm to another person, unless the person is:

  • A licensed firearms dealer
  • Not a licensed firearms dealer, but either (1) sells or transfers the firearm to a licensed firearms dealer, or (2) requests that a licensed firearms dealer conduct a national instant criminal background check and verifies that the person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully possess a firearm, before delivering the firearm to the person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred. 

Primary Sponsors: Suleman Lalani (D)

MATERNAL HEALTH:

HB 2873: Relating to a strategic plan for improving maternal health

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: House Bill 2873 will 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

Last Action: Bill failed

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)

BILLS WE OPPOSE

DISCRIMINATION:

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

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: Senate Bill 147 (SB 147) aims to restrict certain individuals – from countries that pose “a risk to the national security of the United States” as designated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence – from purchasing or acquiring properties (non residential). To hide its discriminatory nature, the bill has been edited from an earlier version that sought an outright ban on ALL land sales to Texans who hold dual citizenships in China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia. While SB 147 has been visibly softened after months of outcry from Asian Americans and allies, it will still restrict Texans from certain countries from purchasing or acquiring certain non-residential properties. Sen. Kolkhorst intends for the bill to curb the influence of “hostile” foreign governments by lumping Texans with immigrant backgrounds with these foreign governments, stripping them of their property rights. 

Primary Sponsors: Lois Kolkhorst (R)

VOTING RIGHTS:

HB1243: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting

Last Action: Bill became law. 

Summary: Senate Bill 2 outlines the offense if a 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)

BILLS WE SUPPORT

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:

HB 1882 – Designation of certain religious holy days as optional holidays

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: HB 1882 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that 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, Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Eid al-Fitr, or Good Friday.

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

HB 1883 – Relating to the administration of assessment instruments on religious holy days

Last Action: Became law.

Summary: HB 1883 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that will ensure that state-mandated exams in Texas, like the STAAR test, are NOT scheduled on religious holy days.

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

HB 1884 – Relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: HB 1884 is part of a bipartisan religious freedom bill package that 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

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: House Bill 3089 will ensure that a person may not sell or otherwise transfer a firearm to another person, unless the person is:

  • A licensed firearms dealer
  • Not a licensed firearms dealer, but either (1) sells or transfers the firearm to a licensed firearms dealer, or (2) requests that a licensed firearms dealer conduct a national instant criminal background check and verifies that the person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully possess a firearm, before delivering the firearm to the person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred. 

Primary Sponsors: Suleman Lalani (D)

MATERNAL HEALTH:

HB 2873: Relating to a strategic plan for improving maternal health

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: House Bill 2873 will 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

Last Action: Bill failed.

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)

BILLS WE OPPOSE

DISCRIMINATION:

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

Last Action: Bill failed.

Summary: Senate Bill 147 (SB 147) aims to restrict certain individuals – from countries that pose “a risk to the national security of the United States” as designated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence – from purchasing or acquiring properties (non residential). To hide its discriminatory nature, the bill has been edited from an earlier version that sought an outright ban on ALL land sales to Texans who hold dual citizenships in China, Iran, North Korea, or Russia. While SB 147 has been visibly softened after months of outcry from Asian Americans and allies, it will still restrict Texans from certain countries from purchasing or acquiring certain non-residential properties. Sen. Kolkhorst intends for the bill to curb the influence of “hostile” foreign governments by lumping Texans with immigrant backgrounds with these foreign governments, stripping them of their property rights. 

Primary Sponsors: Lois Kolkhorst (R)

VOTING RIGHTS:

HB1243: Relating to conduct constituting the criminal offense of illegal voting

Last Action: Bill became law. 

Summary: Senate Bill 2 outlines the offense if a 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)

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