Bills Texas lawmakers plan to file in the 2023 legislative session unveiled
Lawmakers in Texas unveiled hundreds of bills they hope to pass in the 2023 legislative session. Some of the hot-button issues include election fraud, border security, transgender youth and assisting Texans with unwanted pregnancies.
The midterm elections increased the number of Republicans in each chamber. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reserved the first 30 bill numbers and five Senate joint resolution numbers for his and the Senate GOP Caucus' top priorities. Speaker Dade Phelan reserved lowest 20 bill number for House's top priority measures.
150 legislators are in the House, with 86 Republicans and 64 Democrats. 31 legislators represent the Senate, 19 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and there are 634 House bills filed as of 4 p.m. Monday. There are also 16 Senate constitutional amendments. Last year's regular session produced 6,927 bills, including589 that Abbott signed into law and 21 that he vetoed.
Bills Texas lawmakers plan to file in the 2023 legislative session were unveiled Monday. Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican from Frisco, filed House Bill 90. It would give members of the Texas military forces who are on “state active duty” coverage of post-traumatic stress disorder and other benefits in worker’s compensation. Sen. Joan Huffman of Houston filed a companion bill called the Bishop Evans Act.
Last year's election law was passed despite opposition from Donald Trump. The maximum punishment for illegal voting was reduced from a second-degree felony to a Class A misdemeanor. Rep. David Spiller's bill would restore the maximum penalty to 20 years with a minimum of 2 years' confinement.
Voters could choose whether to legalize casinos and sports betting under SJR 17. Texas governor and lieutenant governor are under pressure to consider it. Texas Gaming Commission could issue casino licenses for up to four fancy “destination resorts” with minimum investments of $2 billion in the Dallas and Houston regions.
Abortion is expected to be a major topic of discussion in the upcoming session. Texas enacted a near total ban on the procedure triggered by the fall of Roe vs. Wade. There is no exemption for victims of rape or incest. Some Republicans want to further stiffen the law. Bill to provide financial assistance to Texans with unwanted pregnancies is also expected.
Debate over expanding Medicaid will also come up. Democrats have been pushing for years to expand the program to cover low-income adults. Republicans have had little appetite for the change. Lawmakers are already discussing extending Medicaid for new mothers from six months post childbirth to a full year.
Uvalde school shooting killed 19 students and two teachers and injured 17 others on May 24. San Antonio Democrat Roland Gutierrez, who represents Uvalde, filed bills that would raise the age of purchase of assault-style long guns to 21 and create a $300 million fund for victims of the shooting and their families.
Some conservative members of Texas GOP want to crack down on LGBT rights. Patrick has not said whether he will file any LGBT-related bills this year. Freedom Caucus members filed bills to expand restrictions on transgender athletes and minors receiving gender-affirming care.
The only bill lawmakers have to pass is a two-year budget. Comptroller Glenn Hegar expects the state’s robust economy, higher prices for oil and natural gas, and inflation to swell the general revenue ending balance for the current cycle to $27 billion. The state's "rainy day fund" is fueled by oil severance tax receipts.
