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The third special session of the 88th Legislature started on last week. The legislature
will be considering educational savings accounts which did not pass during the regular
session, the creation of a new criminal offense aimed at undocumented migrants
crossing the border, and prohibiting private employers from requiring COVID vaccinations for their employees. LWV Texas will be following public education and immigration during this special session.
As long as the session lasts, we will work to send a Capitol Action Report on Thursday or Friday of each week.
Public Funds Should Stay in Public Schools!
In the third special session of the 88th legislature, SB 1 would create taxpayer-funded
educational savings account to subsidize private schools.
The LWVTX Advocacy Committee and volunteers put together a toolkit for local Leagues and partners to use during this third special sessions to talk about and advocate against SB 1 (Educational Savings Accounts). View the toolkit here.
Educational Savings Accounts
The Governor’s bill is SB 1 which would create a fund out of general revenue to provide
parents of children eligible to attend public school in Texas with up to $8,000 per child for
private school tuition or private tutoring. Unlike SB 8, the bill that failed to pass in the
regular session, this bill allows parents of children who already attend private school to
participate.
Provisions in the bill favoring low income and disabled students seem to apply only if
the number of applicants exceeds the funds available and then, only up to certain
percentages in three different categories. Any funds not used by students in those
categories remain available to any applicant. In other words, the bill, as structured,
is likely to follow the familiar pattern of subsidizing tuition of students already attending
private school.
As a sweetener, the Senate Finance Committee passed SB 2 which increases public
school funding and provides raises for teachers. Whether this bill is within the scope
of the Governor’s call for the special session remains to be seen. If SB 2 passes both
houses, the Governor may be able to hold this bill hostage pending the outcome of
SB 1.
Immigration
The Governor’s call for a special session was specific as to border security: the creation
of an offense for improper entry, increased penalties to smuggling persons and stash houses, more funding border barriers, and public safety, environmental quality, and property ownership in areas like Colony Ridge. SB 4 increases penalties as directed.
SB 11 creates a new offense of Improper Entry from a Foreign Nation. The first offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the second is state jail felony, and the punishment
increases with the number of convictions.
The League of Women Voters of Texas has issued a statement regarding Operation Lone Star and the border barriers. We encourage Governor Abbott to immediately end Operation Lone Star and work to support US immigration policies, procedures, and laws. All citizens, residents, migrants, and asylum seekers must be treated equally in the eyes of the law and be treated with dignity and respect.
In League,
Elizabeth McNamara
Vice President LWV Texas
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