Lubbock area lawmakers enter 85th session with dozens of bills

Lubbock Avalanche – Journal

With dozens of pieces of legislation already filed, South Plains and Panhandle lawmakers arrived at the Capitol in Austin on Tuesday to convene the 85th Texas Legislature, where a West Texas senator was named president pro tempore of the Senate.

State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, was elected by his peers to the largely honorary post. It places him second in line to the governorship and makes him acting governor when Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are out of the state.

“I would like to think it means I have their trust, that the work they have to do will get done even in the absence of the presiding officer,” Seliger said of his fellow legislators Tuesday in a phone interview.

The session enters just its second day Wednesday, but during a prefiling period Seliger and other area lawmakers submitted bills they hope to pass into law.

In perhaps some of the most noteworthy early work by an area legislator, Seliger co-authored a joint resolution in December calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to limit the power of the federal government.

The resolution has been a goal for Abbott, even with the GOP set to assume complete control of the federal government this year. In January, the governor laid out nine constitutional amendments he would like to see.

They included allowing a two-thirds majority of the states to override a federal law or regulation or a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

One proposed amendment, which Seliger said he saw as most important, required the federal government to pass a balanced budget, something the Texas government has to do under the state Constitution.

“$19 trillion dollars of debt is simply untenable,” he said, referring to the national debt.

“Its a shame that future generations cannot come back some day and sue us for financial mismanagement when we saddled them with debt or don’t try to make the situation better,” Seliger said.

Patrick, the powerful leader of the Texas Senate, included a convention of states in his list of Senate priorities in November.

But for it to happen, 34 state legislatures must pass applications. So far, only eight states have done so.

Other area lawmakers, including Reps. Dustin Burrows, John Frullo, Ken King and Drew Springer, as well as Sen. Charles Perry, have already prefiled an assortment of bills.

Burrows, the Lubbock Republican whose House District 83 covers much of the southern South Plains, had filed eight bills as of Tuesday on topics ranging from education to agriculture and food assistance. He filed a bill Monday that would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on extending Interstate 27 from Lubbock to Laredo along the Ports- to-Plains map.

The bill calls for a study analyzing the cost and the impact to be complete by 2019.

Frullo, a Republican whose House District 84 is contained within Lubbock County, had filed one bill by Tuesday — HB 491 “relating to requiring registration as a sex offender of certain defendants convicted of the offense of continuous trafficking of persons.”

King , a Republican from Canadian whose district covers a rural swath of the Texas Panhandle that runs diagonally from the northeast corner southwest into the South Plains, filed eight bills Monday to bring his total to 12.

Most of them are education related.

House Bill 880 allows school districts to assign certified English as a Second Language teachers to bilingual education programs if there is a shortage of teachers certified for bilingual education and none are available.

Rural districts where English is not the primary language for students sometimes struggle to hire and retain enough bilingual instructors.

King, a member of the House Public Education Committee since he joined the Legislature in 2012, also introduced a handful of bills related to school finance.

How the state pays for public schools looks to be a hot topic again this year after the Texas Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the method used was constitutional but “undeniably imperfect, with immense room for improvement.”

House Bill 883 calls for boosting state funding for career and technical education programs. House Bill 881 would provide additional funds to help small- and midsized school districts under an existing aid program.

House Bill 881 extends a school funding provision that was created in 2006 and set to expire this year. Under the bill, it won’t expire until the 2020-21 school year.

Called Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction, it was designed to plug funding gaps after state lawmakers reduced allowable property tax rates for school districts.

Locally, funds from the provision last year made up about 7 percent of Bushland school district’s $14.2 million operating budget. The looming end of the funding has worried administrators there.

Perry, R-Lubbock, had authored 19 bills by Tuesday, including one filed in November that would require local governments and law enforcement to “uphold the rule of law and enforce the immigration laws currently on the book.”

The aim is to eliminate sanctuary cities in the state.

“By electing a Republican president and Republican majorities in Congress, the American people made it clear that solving our illegal immigration crisis must be a priority,” Perry said at the time. “That starts by eliminating sanctuary cities, securing our border and enforcing the immigration laws we currently have on the books.

Springer, R-Muenster, has filed 19 bills and resolutions.

He represents Wheeler, Collingsworth, Hall and Childress counties in the southwest part of the Panhandle.

Joining a movement that has been making headlines around the state, Springer filed House Bill 410, which would allow for tax-free feminine hygiene products.

“It was driven by constituents that contacted me because they’d heard it passed in other states recently,” he said. “Some even said, ‘I didn’t realize I was paying tax on it. I thought it was treated like medicine and a medical necessity and not a luxury item.’ ”

Springer’s House Bill 365 calls for the secretary of state to conduct a study about implementing a single election date in November.

Currently, municipal elections in Texas are generally held in May.

Supporters say holding those elections in November, alongside state and national contests, could improve voter turnout.

Also filed by Springer, House Bill 207 would allow general-law municipalities, which typically have fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, to increase the distance sex offenders can be made to stay away from places like schools and playgrounds.

The current limit for these small towns is 500 feet, Springer said.

Read more here: http://lubbockonline.com/news/2017-01-10/lubbock-area-lawmakers-enter-85th-session-dozens-bills

Rep. Burrows files bill for I-27 extension study

Lubbock Avalanche – Journal
By: Matt Dotray

State Rep. Dustin Burrows wants Texas to study the proposed extension of Interstate 27.

The day before the state’s 85th Legislature convenes, Burrows filed a bill that would direct the Texas Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on extending Interstate 27 from Lubbock to Laredo along the Ports- to-Plains map.

The bill calls for a study analyzing the cost and the impact to be complete by 2019.

“The bill would direct TxDOT to examine a critically needed expansion of I-27, which currently ends in Lubbock,” Burrows said of the Amarillo to Lubbock highway. “Given the economic and population growth West Texas has experienced during the last 20 years, the continuation of the interstate to Laredo would allow for further industry and business expansion along the route.”

Going south from Lubbock in the proposed route, the interstate would go down to Lamesa, split in Lamesa with one route going to Midland and the other going to Big Spring; meet back in Sterling City where it continues through San Angelo and down to Del Rio. From there it would hug the border until it reaches Eagle Pass, then go east to Carrizo Springs and then south to Laredo.

The proposed route would cross I-20 in Midland and Big Spring, I-10 in Sonora and both I-35 and the future route of I-69 in Laredo.

Michael Reeves, executive director of the Ports to Plains Alliance, said in a news release that he supports the effort to facilitate the needed study. Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope said the same.

“From an economic development perspective, the extension of I-27 would be a huge boost, not only to Lubbock’s economy, but to virtually all the communities along the Interstate. A thorough TxDOT study would certainly prepare us for the next step in the process.”

Read more here: http://lubbockonline.com/local/2017-01-09/rep-burrows-files-bill-i-27-extension-study

TX Rep. Burrows files bill to authorize TxDOT study of extending I-27 to Laredo

(KCBD) – Texas State Representative Dustin R. Burrows (HD-83) filed House Bill 869 Monday morning, legislation directing the Texas Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study of extending Interstate Highway I-27 from Lubbock to Laredo.

“This bill would direct TXDOT to examine a critically needed expansion of I-27, which currently ends in Lubbock. Given the economic and population growth West Texas has experienced during the last 20-years, the continuation of the interstate to Laredo would allow for further industry and business expansion along the route,” said Burrows. “President-elect Trump has stated he will pursue substantial national infrastructure improvements and my bill positions West Texas to be ready with a solid plan for the I-27 expansion,” Burrows added.

Michael Reeves, Executive Director of the Ports to Plains Alliance, a group of over 275 communities and businesses who advocate for transportation infrastructure improvement, said “We wholeheartedly support Rep. Burrows’ bill which will facilitate a critical next step in our efforts to extend Interstate 27. Texas does not have a major north-south Interstate west of I-35. An extended I-27 will boost economic growth and opportunity in West Texas, while serving as a much-needed alternative to the congested I-35 corridor.”

Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope said “From an economic development perspective, the extension of I-27 would be a huge boost, not only to Lubbock’s economy but to virtually all of the communities along the interstate.

A thorough TXDOT study would certainly prepare us for the next step in this process.”

Read more here: http://www.kcbd.com/story/34216962/tx-rep-burrows-files-bill-to-authorize-txdot-study-of-extending-i-27-to-laredo

Rep. Dustin Burrows files bill for I-27 Extension Study

Texas State Representative Dustin R. Burrows (HD-83) filed House Bill 869 today, legislation directing the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to conduct a feasibility study of extending Interstate Highway I-27 from Lubbock to Laredo.

“This bill would direct TXDOT to examine a critically needed expansion of I-27, which currently ends in Lubbock. Given the economic and population growth West Texas has experienced during the last 20-years, the continuation of the interstate to Laredo would allow for further industry and business expansion along the route,” said Burrows. “President-elect Trump has stated he will pursue substantial national infrastructure improvements and my bill positions West Texas to be ready with a solid plan for the I-27 expansion,” Burrows added.

HB 869: http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/HB00869I.pdf#navpanes=0

Representative Dustin Burrows Says Health Care Costs Will Be Priority In 85th Texas Legislature [INTERVIEW]

KFYO
Chad Hasty Radio Show

Monday on The Chad Hasty Show, Texas House District 83 Representative Dustin Burrows joined Chad in the KFYO studio to talk about the upcoming 85th Texas Legislature, and many of the issues on tap for the state.

Burrows and Hasty discussed what items will be main priorities in the legislature, as well as what Burrows’ own priorities are for this session. Up front will be reforms for both Child Protective Services (CPS) and mental health care, as well as the price of health care, which is rapidly increasing costs above many people’s budgets. “Whether it’s pharmaceuticals or medical devices or just health insurance, it has become un-affordable for the state [and] for individuals. I’ve got some great ideas, great bills put forward to try to address those,” Burrows said.

Burrows and Hasty also discussed weapons carry issues, including the removal of fees for permits, as well as the issues of “campus carry” and “constitutional carry”.

About the bill Burrows has filed that removes state fees for LTC (License To Carry handguns) permits, Burrows said,

“It’s got a real opportunity this session. I’ve talked to the NRA (National Rifle Association), the TSRA (Texas State Rifle Association), some other gun groups [that have] said this is really important, that we just get rid of the fees.”

Also in the discussion were the misuse of SNAP (Texas’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and the ever-controversial topic of genders and bathroom use.

Listen to the entire interview with Representative Dustin Burrows in the video above.

The Chad Hasty Show airs weekday mornings live, from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM on News/Talk 95.1 Fm and 790 AM, KFYO, online at KFYO.com, and on the freeRadioPup app. Follow Chad on Twitter via @ChadHastyRadio & KFYO Radio at@KFYO!

Read More: Burrows: Health Care Costs A Priority For Texas Legislature | http://kfyo.com/representative-dustin-burrows-says-health-care-costs-will-be-priority-in-85th-texas-legislature-interview/?trackback=tsmclip

New Year, New Laws Kick Off 2017

As 2017 approaches, proposed laws kick off the New Year with the next Texas Legislative Session starting on January 10.

District 83 State Representative Dustin Burrows said an overall top priority for this upcoming session is resolving issues with Child Protective Services. However, he added there are local concerns he wants to address as his big ticket items as well.

“We start off the session with a tight budget,” Burrows said. “We’ve got to find a billion dollars and asked every agency to come back and one of the big things that’s really driving the budget and why we continue to have less money to go around is the cost of healthcare.”

He says the difficulty to afford healthcare insurance is compromising the lives of some local citizens.
“So I’ve got a bill that tries to tackle health care inflation,” Burrows said. “It deals with price transparency, price disclosure so people actually know what things cost ahead of time. Then an incentive for them to actually shop around, negotiate, and if they get a better price, for the insurance companies to give them better savings.”
A legislation proposal by Burrows that is prominent in West Texas is to continue protection for local farmers. As well as, a bill to waive the carrying fees for a licensed carry holder.
“Then of course school funding,” Burrows said. “There’s a 300 square mile penalty out there. Rural schools receive less money than urban counter parts, only because they’re small. They have 37 and a half percent less funding. I filed a bill to do away with that.”
Local citizens have also reached out to Burrows office with concerns of their own.
“Most of the people I talk to want to fund schools, fund transportation, take care of public safety,” Burrows said. “Then try to get out of the way of high taxes and everything else so business can thrive,” Burrows said.
Burrows said if anyone has concerns or proposals they want addressed in this session, reach out to his local office at 687-0630.