Texas Legislature 88
On January 10, 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature Regular Session convened and ran through May 29. During this brief period, the 88th Legislature has been routinely described as awful, with taxpayers, teachers, trans youths, and several others being negatively affected in those six months. Public Utility Commissioner Peter Lake, one month before resigning, warned that the state demand for electricity during the summer will exceed the amount generated from natural gas plants. This comes as the Texas electric grid has struggled to support the population in recent years. Despite 246 people dying and 4.5 million homes and businesses losing power in Winter Storm Uri in 2021, Republicans of the 88th Legislature spent the last five months attempting to undermine the renewable energy industry and enrich oil and gas companies at the expense of taxpayers and consumers.
Looking at pension benefits for teachers, the 125,000 state employee retirees received no increases despite rising costs of living. The Legislature failed to meet promises made to increase education funding and salary increases for public schools. Pleas from families of those lost in the Uvalde School shooting to raising the age to purchase assault-style rifles fell on deaf ears. Despite Democrats and gun control advocates arguments, lawmakers passed legislation requiring an armed officer on every school campus, increasing the presence of guns in schools. However, the Legislature did close a firearm background check loophole.
The 88th Legislature passed a bill banning medically-necessary gender-affirming care for transgender youths. Another bill bans transgender athletes from participating in sports at public colleges and universities. One bill targets performances meant to criminalize drag performers. Finally, a bill was brought forward to ban or restrict public library books that Republicans deem to be “sexually explicit” or “educationally unsuitable.”
What has been dubbed the “few good legislations” passed during the 88th Texas Legislature, three House Bills were signed into law, going into effect in September of 2023. House Bill 567, or the Crown Act, was authored by Democratic Representative Rhetta Bowers. The Crown Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) prohibits race-based discrimination in Texas workplaces, schools, and housing policies. The bill was signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott in late May.
House Bill 1455 relates to health care benefits of persons wrongfully imprisoned entitled to compensation who are also eligible to obtain group health benefit plan coverage through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as if the person were an employee of the department. The person’s spouse and dependents may be included in the person’s coverage as if the person were an employee of the department. A person who qualifies and elects to obtain coverage shall pay a monthly contribution equal to the total amount of the monthly contributions for that coverage for an employee of the department.
Representative Toni Rose authored House Bill 12, which will provide medical assistance to a woman who is eligible for medical assistance for pregnant women for a period of not less than: (1) six months following the date the woman delivers or experiences an involuntary miscarriage; and (2) 12 months that begins on the last day of the woman’s pregnancy and ends on the last day of the month in which the 12-month period ends. House Bill 12 was passed by both the Texas House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor.
Despite the few good bills, Texas Republicans have left Texans to suffer, with the wishes and well-being of voters being widely ignored. Rideshare2Vote is committed to keeping the public up-to-date on the latest in state and federal government news. We believe that the key to increasing voter turnout is not only making elections more accessible but also ensuring voters know what is at stake at the polls.
by Delany Doggett
