In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Explore statistics on fatal and nonfatal injury, violent death, and cost of injury. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 4, 2020)
• Read about the progress of investigations related to the January 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol. (U.S. Department of Justice, May 12, 2022)
• Review the Fortune 500 rankings for 2022. (Fortune, ©2022)
• Consider the effects data brokers have on privacy. (Popular Science, May 25, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on May 26, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 553 views. Print this entry.

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

June 1, 2022
House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock
Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 2089, relating to the detection and mitigation of plant pests and diseases;
• SB 1, Rider 27 (Department of Agriculture), which relates to determining methods to increase the number of grocery stores in food deserts; and
• SB 1, Rider 28 (Department of Agriculture), which relates to the Experimental Use Program for feral hog abatement.

Overview of the Herd Certification Program, a summary of the USDA report findings.

Charge 2: Study the access of the state’s agricultural industry to available capital through loans, grants, or other sources. Make recommendations to ensure the agricultural industry has sufficient access to available capital, as well as how the Texas Department of Agriculture can educate farmers, agricultural producers, and others about available sources of capital.

• Agricultural Lending: Information on Credit and Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers is Limited, U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 2019
• Grants and Loans, Texas State Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Grants and Services, Open Grants, Texas Department of Agriculture
• Rural Grant Resources, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Charge 3: Study the impact on agricultural operations of governmental and regulatory requirements and practices including those that prevent or prohibit an activity that is a normally accepted agricultural practice, and make recommendations to facilitate and encourage agricultural production in the state.

• 2021 State Agriculture Overview, U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Laws and Regulations that Apply to Your Agricultural Operation by Farm Activity, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, last updated May 3, 2021
• Interim Report to the 84th Legislature (Charge 2 – Texas Right to Farm Act), House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock, January 2015
• Agriculture and Consumer Protection Division, Texas Department of Agriculture
• Environmental Laws Affecting Farmers and Ranchers, Texas A&M University

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This entry was posted on May 25, 2022 at 9:30 AM and has received 673 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our May 2022 New & Noteworthy list.

Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website or contact the library at 512-463-1252.

 

1. Essentials of Texas Water Resources
By Mary K. Sahs and Holly Heinrich, editors
Provides a comprehensive guide to the complex and evolving water policy issues in the state of Texas. Details the historical background of Texas water law and explores the topics of water rights, water supplies, surface water, groundwater, water planning, water management, and drinking water. Highlights selected issues in water resources law, including the Endangered Species Act, water project financing, flood management, and the water-energy nexus.
State Bar of Texas, 2022, Various paging
B600.8 ES74 2022


 

 

2. Megaregions and America's Future
By Robert D. Yaro, Ming Zhang, and Frederick R. Steiner
Defines a "megaregion" as several metropolitan areas networked by their shared economies, natural resource systems, infrastructure, history and culture. Identifies examples of such megaregions in the United States, including the Texas Triangle, Northeast Corridor, and Southern California. Presents research on megaregions and makes recommendations on how to govern economic, environmental, and infrastructural development at the megaregion scale.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2022, 351 pages
307.1 Y28M 2022


 

 

3. Texas and Texans in World War II: 1941-1945
By Christopher B. Bean, editor
Presents a social history of life in Texas during World War II through an edited volume of ten essays written by historians. Highlights how different groups within the population — women, Tejanos, African Americans, and unionized workers — responded to the war and how key aspects of the Texas economy were affected, including the agriculture and petroleum industries. Argues Texas was largely a rural, agricultural state prior to the war and emerged on its way to urbanization and industrialization.
Texas A&M University Press, 2022, 357 pages
940.54 B367T 2022


 

 

4. Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee: Sunset Staff Report.
By Sunset Advisory Commission
Reports on the functions and governance structure of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Criticizes and recommends administrative changes to the board's dam structural repair program, which received an Economic Stabilization Fund appropriation after Hurricane Harvey in 2019. Recommends the continuation of the Texas Invasive Species Coordinating Committee.
Sunset Advisory Commission, 2022, 52 pages
Online at: https://www.sunset.texas.gov/reviews-and-reports/agencies/texas-state-soil-and-water-conservation-board
S1500.8 SO34IN 2022


 

 

5. Texas Water Development Board, State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Advisory Committee: Sunset Staff Report
By Sunset Advisory Commission
Describes the functions and governance structure of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Recommends that TWDB streamline its current project review process and include the development and collection of performance metrics for use in project evaluation. Includes recommendations regarding outreach efforts and the elimination of unnecessary advisory committees.
Sunset Advisory Commission, 2022, 52 pages
Online at: https://www.sunset.texas.gov/reviews-and-reports/agencies/texas-water-development-board
S1500.8 W291IM 2022


 

 

6. Tragedy and Triumph on the Texas Plains: Curious Historic Chronicles from Murders to Movies
By Chuck Lanehart
Offers thirty-three essays exploring the social, cultural and political history of the Panhandle-South Plains region. Features iconic heroes of music, politics and sports, as well as less-familiar, overlooked but equally colorful characters. Includes chapters on Emma K. Boone, the first female Lubbock lawyer and descendant of Daniel Boone's brother, U.S. Representative George Mahon, musicians Roy Rogers and Woody Guthrie, and the Spanish Flu Pandemic.
The History Press, 2021, 143 pages
976.4 L24T 2021


 

 

7. Quest for Justice: Louis A. Bedford Jr. and the Struggle for Equal Rights in Texas
By Darwin Payne
Portrays the life of Louis A. Bedford Jr., a prominent African American attorney in Dallas. Details the legal and social obstacles Bedford encountered and challenged. Describes his struggle to establish himself in jurisprudence during the 1930's and 1940's, and his path to becoming the first African American appointed in 1966 as a municipal judge in Texas. Provides behind the scenes examination of the civil rights movement in Texas.
Southern Methodist University Press, 2009, 273 pages
347.73 P346Q 2009


 

 

 

This entry was posted on May 20, 2022 at 10:05 AM and has received 687 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Consider aspects of recent supply chain disruptions. (Congressional Research Service, May 13, 2022)
• Review a statistical summary related to motor vehicle traffic fatalities and other crash statistics. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 2022)
• Examine statistics related to firearms commerce in the U.S. (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Annual Statistical Update 2021)
• Read about the connection between pollution and health outcomes. (The Lancet Planetary Health, May 17, 2022)
• Explore an FAQ about boater education and boating safety. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, accessed May 18, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on May 19, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 557 views. Print this entry.

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

• May 23, 2022
  • Senate Committee on Finance
• May 24, 2022
  • House Committee on Public Education
  • Senate Commitee on Education
• May 25, 2022
  • House Committee on Business & Industry
  • House Committee on Environmental Regulation
  • Senate Commitee on State Affairs
• May 26, 2022
  • House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety
  • Senate Commitee on Criminal Justice

May 23, 2022
Senate Committee on Finance
Charge: Property Tax Relief: Examine and recommend ways to reduce Texans' property tax burden.  Review and report on proposals to use or dedicate state revenues in excess of the state spending limit to eliminate the school district maintenance and operations property tax.

• Relief from Rising Values: 2019 Property Tax Reforms Cutting Tax Rates at a Record Pace, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, April 2022
• 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index, Tax Foundation, December 16, 2021
• Property Tax Relief for Homeowners, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, November 2021
• Total State and Local Business Taxes: State-by-State Estimates for FY20, Ernst & Young LLP, Council of State Taxation, State Tax Research Institute, October 2021
• 50-State Property Tax Comparison Study: For Taxes Paid in 2020, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, June 2021
• State Tax Actions Database, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 2, 2021

Charge: Tax Exemptions: Examine Texans' current tax exemptions and report on whether adjustments are merited because of inflation or any other factors.

• Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence Report, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 2020
• Guidelines to Texas Tax Exemptions, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

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May 24, 2022
House Committee on Public Education
Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 1525 and HB 3 (86R), relating to public school finance and public education;
• HB 4545, relating to assessment of public school students and providing accelerated instruction;
• SB 1365, relating to public school organization, accountability, and fiscal management; and
• SB 1716, relating to supplemental special education services and instructional materials for certain public school students.

Charge 2: Study the effects of COVID-19 on K–12 learning loss and best practices that exist to address learning loss. Monitor the implementation of state and local plans to address students' achievement gaps. Make recommendations for supporting the state and local efforts to increase academic development.

• Tracking COVID Learning Loss, Texas 2036, last updated July 27, 2021
• 2021 STAAR Analysis, Texas Education Agency, June 28, 2021
• Public Education's Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, National Conference of State Legislatures, March 15, 2021
• Restarting and Reinventing School: Learning in the Time of Covid and Beyond, Learning Policy Institute, August 2020

Charge 3: Examine the impact of COVID-19 on students' mental health, including the availability and workload of mental health professionals across the state and their role in the public school system. Make recommendations to reduce or eliminate existing barriers to providing mental health services in a traditional classroom setting or through teletherapy.

• States Take Action to Address Children's Mental Health in Schools, National Academy for State Health Policy, February 14, 2022
• Student Mental Health Legislative Trends, State Legislatures News, National Conference of State Legislatures, August 25, 2021
• Mental Health and Behavioral Health, Texas Education Agency, updated June 18, 2021
• Enhancing School Capacity to Support Children's Mental Health, National Conference of State Legislatures, January 19, 2021
• Statewide Plan for Student Mental Health: Senate Bill 11, Texas Education Agency, December 2020
• Year 1 Report (COVID-19 Specific Recommendations), The Collaborative Task Force on Public School Mental Health Services, Texas Education Agency, November 2, 2020

Charge 4: Examine the causes and contributors for chronic absenteeism in public schools and its impact on student outcomes. Consider techniques and approaches that have been utilized by public schools to identify students who are chronically absent and return these students to classrooms.

• Compulsory Attendance & Truancy, Texas Association of School Boards, updated February 2022
• Chronic Absenteeism in Texas, Children at Risk, February 26, 2021
• Ensuring Safe and Supportive School Climates in Texas, The Education Trust, November 10, 2020
• Data Matters: Using Chronic Absence to Accelerate Action for Student Success, Attendance Works, updated December 2018
• Why Do Students Miss School? The Central Texas Absence Reasons Study, Education Equals Economics [E3] Alliance, June 2015
• Chronic Absenteeism in Academic Accountability, Texas Education Agency

Senate Committee on Education
Charge: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Educator Talent Pipeline: Examine the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the public school educator talent pipeline, staffing patterns and practices, and declining student enrollment and attendance. Review any policies and regulatory actions that prevent students from receiving instruction from a highly effective teacher. Monitor the impact of both the Teacher Incentive Allotment and non-administrator compensation increases directed under House Bill 3 (86th Legislature), as well as the teacher pay raises implemented in 2019. Explore innovative models to improve recruitment and make recommendations to maintain a strong educator workforce pipeline, while adapting resilient school strategies to meet emergent demands in public education.

• Teacher Shortage in Texas Spurs Calls for Systemic Change, Courthouse News Service, April 30, 2022
• Teacher Vacancy Task Force, Texas Education Agency, March 10, 2022
• Teacher Incentive Allotment, Texas Education Agency
• Educator Quality: Recruitment & Retention, Learning Policy Institute

Charge: Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Education passed by the 87th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:

• House Bill 3 (86th Legislature), relating to public school finance and public education;
• House Bill 1525 (87th Legislature), Relating to the public school finance system and public education; and
• House Bill 4545 (87th Legislature), Relating to the assessment of public school students, the establishment of a strong foundations grant program, and providing accelerated instruction for students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments.

Charge: Bond Efficiency: Conduct a comprehensive review of the school district bond issuance process. Specifically, review public notice and disclosure requirements, the bond election process, procurement requirements, and how unused bond proceeds may be utilized. Study the best practices implemented by school boards and make recommendations to improve bond issuance efficiencies.

• School Board Member's Guide to Purchasing, Texas Association of School Boards, December 2021
• Overview of a School District Bond Issuance, Texas Association of School Boards, Updated September 2021
• All Bond Counsel Letters, Office of the Attorney General
• 86th Legislative Session Summary– New Ballot Language Requirements for School District Bond Elections, Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP
• Texas Local Government Bond Elections Database, Texas Bond Review Board

Charge: Homestead Exemption: Study the use and effect of the optional homestead exemption available to independent school districts. Examine and report on costs to the state if school districts receive incentives to increase the optional percentage exemption.

• School District Property Values and Tax Rates, Texas Education Agency
• Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence Reports, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

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May 25, 2022
House Committee on Business & Industry
Charge: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• SB 22, relating to certain claims for benefits, compensation, or assistance by certain public safety employees and survivors of certain public safety employees

Charge: Study workers’ compensation claims involving public safety employees described by SB 22. This study should include an analysis of medical costs, return-to-work outcomes, utilization of care, satisfaction with care, and health-related functional outcomes.

• COVID-19 in the Texas Workers' Compensation System (Workers' Compensation Research and Evaluation Group), Texas Department of Insurance, March 2022
• Adopted Fiscal Year 2022 Research Agenda, Texas Department of Insurance, September 10, 2021
• 2021 Workers' Compensation Network Report Card Results, Texas Department of Insurance, September 2021
• FAQs about Claims Subject to Senate Bill 22, Texas Department of Insurance, July 19, 2021
• Biennial Report to the 87th Legislature, Texas Department of Insurance, December 2020

House Committee on Environmental Regulation
Charge: Evaluate the allocation of TERP funds for effective air pollution reduction programs. Review which existing programs are over or under-subscribed and identify unrealized opportunities that would further program goals.

• Texas Emissions Reduction Plan: Biennial Report (2019-2020): Report to the 87th Texas Legislature (Appendix 2, TERP Funding Allocation), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, December 2020
• Interim Report (Charge 4 – Texas Emissions Reduction Plan), Senate Committee on Finance, November 2018
• An Audit Report on the Commission on Environmental Quality's Administration of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan Grants, Texas State Auditor's Office, October 2018
• Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Charge: Review recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law No. 117-58), specifically funds that may bolster efforts to clean up polluted sites and plug wells and how federal funds can be used to complement state efforts on well plugging and pollution clean-up.

• A Guidebook to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Governments and Other Partners (Environmental Remediation), The White House, January 31, 2022
• Green Stimulus for Oil and Gas Workers: Considering a Major Federal Effort to Plug Orphaned and Abandoned Wells, Columbia University, July 16, 2020
• Federal Orphaned Well Program, Bureau of Land Management
• Legacy Pollution, U.S. Department of the Interior

Charge: Monitor newly adopted and proposed federal regulations that could directly impact economic development, manufacturing, and industrial activities that fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, including regulations adopted or proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Senate Committee on State Affairs
Charge: Human Trafficking: Examine opportunities and make recommendations to reduce the profitability of and demand for human trafficking in Texas. Determine ways to increase public awareness of the proliferation of human trafficking, as well as resources for victims and survivors. Monitor the implementation of House Bill 1540 (87th Legislature) and examine changes in arrest rates, judicial dispositions, and sentencing amongst offenders due to provisions of the legislation. Examine opportunities for attorneys to combat human trafficking in their local communities, including use of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, to generate revenue for local law enforcement officials combating human trafficking. Make any other recommendations to prevent human trafficking.

• Use of Online Marketplaces and Virtual Currencies in Drug and Human Trafficking, U.S. Government Accountability Office, February 2022
• National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, U.S. Department of Justice, January 2022
• Interim Report (Charge 1 – Human Trafficking), Senate Committee on State Affairs, December 2020
• Human Trafficking Overview, National Council of State Legislatures, October 21, 2020
• Strategic Plan: Charting an End to Human Trafficking in Texas, Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Coordinating Council, May 2020

Charge: Investment Practices: Study the investment practices of financial services firms and how those practices affect the state's public pensions. Make recommendations to ensure the state's public pension funds are not being invested to further political or social causes.

• Texas Pension Woes, Texas A&M University, April 2021
• Debt Lessons from the States: Investing in Public Employees while Protecting Taxpayers, George W. Bush Institute, Winter 2020
• The Texas Pension Review Board: A Model for Nationwide Reform, Manhattan Institute, January 14, 2020
• Pension Research & Studies, Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems
• Texas Public Pension Data Center, Texas Pension Review Board

Charge: Privacy and Transparency: Review the current state laws that protect and secure individuals' biometric identifiers. Explore ways to protect against the use of biometric identifiers for unintended purposes without an individual's consent and make recommendations to the Senate. Study websites that closely resemble government websites or fraudulently represent companies that they are not, including websites that use names of state agencies or licenses. Make recommendations to ensure that Texans are not mislead, taken advantage, or defrauded, especially when they try to seek assistance from a state website.

• 2022 Consumer Data Privacy Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures, April 12, 2022
• 2022 Consumer Data Privacy Legislation, National Conference of State Legislatures, December 27, 2021
• Legislator Privacy Guide and Glossary of Privacy Terms, National Conference of State Legislatures, November 12, 2021
• How to Avoid a Government Impersonator Scam, Federal Trade Commission
• How to Spot and Report Internet and Email Scams, Office of the Attorney General
• Texas Business and Commerce Code Chapter 503, Biometric Identifiers

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May 26, 2022
House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety
Charge: Improving the ability of federal, state, and local governmental entities to address the needs of Texas youth through, among other things, expanded coordination between all programs and systems that serve youth and their families, including child protective services, mental health services, educational institutions, and the juvenile court system;

• Monthly Tracking of Adult and Juvenile Correctional Population Indicators, Legislative Budget Board, April 2022
• Texas Judges Aim to Better Serve Teens Caught Between Foster Care and Juvenile Justice, The Imprint: Youth & Family News, March 31, 2022
• Annual Report to the Governor and Legislative Budget Board: Community Juvenile Justice Appropriations, Riders, and Special Diversion Programs, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, December 2021
• Dual Status Task Force Final Report (Youth involvement in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems), Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth, and Families (Children's Commission), December 2021
• Dual System Youth: At the Intersection of Child Maltreatment and Delinquency, National Institute of Justice, October 2021
• 2020 Juvenile Justice Handbook: A Practical Reference Guide Including Updates from the 86th Legislative Session, Office of the Attorney General, June 2020
• The Juvenile Justice System in Texas, Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Charge: The expansion of prevention efforts and the strengthening of service systems to permit the behavioral health challenges faced by Texas youth to addresses closer to their homes, including efforts and systems that permit youth to remain in their classrooms and stay out of institutionalized healthcare and juvenile justice systems.

• Annual Report to the Governor and Legislative Budget Board: Community Juvenile Justice Appropriations, Riders, and Special Diversion Programs, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, December 2021
• Texas Juvenile Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law Bench Book, 2nd Edition, Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health, 2021-2022
• A Guide to Understanding Mental Health Systems and Services in Texas (Texas Juvenile Justice Department), 5th Edition, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, 2020

Senate Committee on Criminal Justice (Houston)
Charge: Automobile Parts Theft (Including Catalytic Converters): Review the effect of House Bill 4110 (87th Legislature), relating to the registration of metal recycling, and related catalytic converter theft legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Determine what actions are needed to aid law enforcement and stop catalytic converter theft and its related violence.

• Fiscal Year 2021 Activities and Funds Report of the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, April 1, 2022
• Surging Catalytic Converter Thefts Spur State Crackdowns, Pew Charitable Trusts, November 4, 2021

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This entry was posted on May 18, 2022 at 2:00 PM and has received 1296 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Find electric vehicle charging stations. (Alternative Fuels Data Center, U.S. Department of Energy, accessed May 11, 2022)
• Review recent county health rankings. (County Health Rankings & Roadmap, University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, April 2022)
• Read about surveillance conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). (Georgetown Law, Center on Privacy and Technology, May 10, 2022)
• See where tiny plastic beads called nurdles are washing ashore. (Nurdle Patrol, accessed May 11, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on May 12, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 724 views. Print this entry.

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

• May 16, 2022
  • Senate Special Committee on Child Protective Services
• May 17, 2022
  • House Committee on Insurance
  • Senate Committee on Finance CANCELED
• May 18, 2022
  • House Committee on Insurance
  • Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
• May 19, 2022
  • House Committee on International Relations & Economic Development

May 16, 2022
Senate Special Committee on Child Protective Services
Invited and written testimony only.

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May 17, 2022
House Committee on Insurance
Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee’s jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following

• HB 18, relating to the establishment of the prescription drug savings program for certain uninsured individuals;
• HB 3459, relating to preauthorization requirements for certain health care services and utilization review for certain health benefit plans;
  • Proposed Rules, 28 Texas Administrative Code § 12.4, Applicability, and 28 Texas Administrative Code § 12.601, Preauthorization Exemptions (Ch. 12, Independent Review Organizations), Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Register, April 8, 2022
  • Proposed Rules, 28 Texas Administrative Code § 19.1710, Requirements Prior to Issuing an Adverse Determination, and 28 Texas Administrative Code §§ 19.1730 - 19.1733, Preauthorization Exemptions (Ch. 19, Licensing and Regulation of Insurance Professionals), Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Register, April 8, 2022
  • Information on Implementation of HB 3459, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated December 14, 2021
• HB 3752, relating to the offering of health benefit coverage by subsidiaries of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company;
• HB 3924, relating to health benefits offered by certain nonprofit agricultural organizations;
• SB 1137, relating to the required disclosure of prices for certain items and services provided by certain medical facilities;
  • State Hospital Price Transparency Law Checklist, Texas Hospital Association, updated April 14, 2022
  • Price Transparency: A Primer on State, Federal Requirements (Texas Law), Texas Hospital Association, April 13, 2022
  • Health Facility Compliance Guidance Letter: Required Disclosure of Prices for Certain Items and Services (SB 1137-87R), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, February 3, 2022
• HB 2090, relating to the establishment of a statewide all payor claims database and health care cost disclosures by health benefit plan issuers and third-party administrators;
  • Proposed Rules, 28 Texas Administrative Code §§ 21.5401 - 21.5406 (Ch. 21, Subch. TT, All-Payor Claims Database), Texas Department of Insurance, Texas Register, April 8, 2022
  • "Power Data: Texas' Claims Database Will Help Clarify Care Costs," Texas Medicine, Texas Medical Association, last updated on March 31, 2022
  • Texas All Payor Claims Data Base-Common Data Layout Components and Requirements, UTHealth School of Public Health, March 17, 2022
  • Texas APCD Data Submission Guide, School of Public Health, Center for Health Care Data, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, January 10, 2022
  • Information on Implementation of HB 2090, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated December 13, 2021
• SB 790, relating to county authority to balance bill for county air ambulance services.
  • Ground Ambulance Report, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated January 6, 2022

Charge 5: Study the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association and the federal No Surprises Act (2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law No. 116-620) on the Texas insurance market.

• Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association;
  • "Rutledge vs. PCMA: The Future of State Regulation of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in the Wake of the SCOTUS Decision," Practitioner Insights Commentary, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, June 25, 2021
  • "The Implications of Rutledge v. PCMA for State Health Care Cost Regulation," Health Affairs Forefront, Health Affairs, December 17, 2020
• Federal No Surprises Act (Title 1, 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Public Law No. 116-260);
  • Balance Billing: Independent Dispute Resolution, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated April 18, 2022
  • "No Surprises Act Implementation: What to Expect in 2022" (Issue Brief), Health Reform, Kaiser Family Foundation, December 10, 2021
  • "Understanding the No Surprises Act," USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy Blog, Brookings Institution, February 4, 2021
• SB 1264 (86R), relating to consumer protections against certain medical and health care billing by certain out-of-network providers;
  • Balance Billing: Independent Dispute Resolution, Texas Department of Insurance, last updated April 18, 2022
  • A General Overview of SB 1264 (86th Texas Legislature) and Texas' New Arbitration Process for Certain Out-of-Network Claims, Texas Medical Association, revised June 30, 2020
• HB 1919, relating to certain prohibited practices for certain health benefit plan issuers and pharmacy benefit managers;
• HB 1763, relating to the contractual relationship between a pharmacist or pharmacy and a health benefit plan issuer or pharmacy benefit manager.

Senate Committee on Finance CANCELED
Charge: Property Tax Relief: Examine and recommend ways to reduce Texans' property tax burden.  Review and report on proposals to use or dedicate state revenues in excess of the state spending limit to eliminate the school district maintenance and operations property tax.

• Relief from Rising Values: 2019 Property Tax Reforms Cutting Tax Rates at a Record Pace, Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, April 2022
• 2022 State Business Tax Climate Index, Tax Foundation, December 16, 2021
• Property Tax Relief for Homeowners, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, November 2021
• Total State and Local Business Taxes: State-by-State Estimates for FY20, Ernst & Young LLP, Council of State Taxation, State Tax Research Institute, October 2021
• 50-State Property Tax Comparison Study: For Taxes Paid in 2020, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, June 2021
• State Tax Actions Database, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 2, 2021

Charge: Tax Exemptions: Examine Texans' current tax exemptions and report on whether adjustments are merited because of inflation or any other factors.

• Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence Report, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 2020
• Guidelines to Texas Tax Exemptions, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

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May 18, 2022
House Committee on Insurance (continued from May 17)
If the committee does not complete its hearing of all invited testimony scheduled for its May 17th public hearing, it will reconvene after a recess to continue hearing invited testimony only on the posted interim charges.

Senate Committee on Business & Commerce
Charge: Supply Chain: Examine the causes and impacts of recent supply chain disruptions on the Texas economy and individual industries. Study the factors that weaken links in the supply chain and the extent the pandemic has exposed those vulnerabilities. Recommend actions to strengthen the supply chain in Texas and mitigate disruptions in the future.

• The Economic Costs of the Recent Border Delays, The Perryman Group, April 2022
• "Global Supply Chain Pressure Index: March 2022 Update," Liberty Street Economics Blog, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, March 3, 2022
• "Supply Chain Disruption" (Newsletter), Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense, Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, Texas A&M University System, March 2022 Edition
• "Pace of Texas Economic Growth Slows as Supply-Chain, Staffing Woes Persist," Dallas Fed Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, February 3, 2022
• U.S. Ports of Entry: Update on CBP Public-Private Partnership Programs, U.S. Government Accountability Office, January 26, 2022
• "The Good for Texas Tour: Supply Chains," Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 2021-January 2022
• Supply Chain Risk Management, National Counterintelligence and Security Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
• Supply Chains in Texas, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Charge: Cybersecurity: Review current state and federal laws regarding cybersecurity protections and requirements for local governments, state agencies, and critical industries of our state. Make recommendations for legislation to improve resilience and protection against cybersecurity attacks and ensure the privacy protection of the citizens of Texas.

• "With Attacks on the Rise, Lawmakers Harden Cybersecurity," State Legislatures News, March 15, 2022
• "Cybersecurity and Texas," Fiscal Notes, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, January 2022
• 2020 Cybersecurity Report, Texas Department of Information Resources, November 15, 2020
• Interim Report, Senate Select Committee on Cybersecurity, October 2018
• Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature (Charge 1 – Cybersecurity), House Committee on Government Transparency & Operation, January 2017
• Security Policy and Planning (Cybersecurity rules for Texas state agencies, Texas cybersecurity framework, and related resources), Texas Department of Information Resources

Charge: State Workforce: Study where state employees are located and the benefits and drawbacks of remote working. Evaluate the impact of the potential growth of remote work and proximity of employees to their place of employment on traffic studies over the next 10 years. Study and make recommendations for establishing uniform statewide standards for remote work. Study possible implications and standards for statewide recruitment and employment of remote state employees from all parts of the state.

• "Largest Texas Metros Lure Big-City, Coastal Migrants During Pandemic," Southwest Economy, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Fourth Quarter 2021
• "Texas Traffic Gets a Pandemic Pause" (Addresses the 2021 Urban Mobility Report and the 2021 Texas' Most Congested Roadways project), Texas A&M Transportation Institute, December 21, 2021
• "Building a Post-Pandemic Economy That Supports All Workers, Remote or Not," State Legislatures, National Conference of State Legislatures, August 16, 2021
• "Why Working From Home Will Stick," NBER Working Paper Series, National Bureau of Economic Research, April 2021
• "Accessible Telework: Strategies for Developing Inclusive State Agency Programs" (Includes telework policies of multiple states), Council of State Governments, March 8, 2021

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May 19, 2022
House Committee on International Relations & Economic Development
Charge: Agency Oversight: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

• HB 619, relating to developing a strategic plan to support the child-care workforce;
  • Child Care and Development Fund: Executive Summary for the State Plan for Program Years 2022-2024 (Commission Meeting), Texas Workforce Commission, June 24, 2021
  • Child Care & Early Learning Services – Program Overview, Texas Workforce Commission
• HB 1792, relating to the evaluation of child-care providers participating in the Texas Rising Star Program;
  • Child Care Services Guide (Texas Rising Star Program), Texas Workforce Commission, April 2022
  • Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Subsidized Child Care Program: Report to the 87th Texas Legislature (Texas Rising Star), Texas Workforce Commission, January 15, 2021
  • Texas Rising Star Workgroup, Texas Workforce Commission
• HB 2607. relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards regarding the provision of childcare and the subsidized childcare program;
  • Evaluation of Board Oversight Capacity, Workforce Development Boards, Texas Workforce Commission
• HB 3767, relating to measures to support the alignment of education and workforce development with state workforce needs, including the establishment of the TriAgency Workforce Initiative; and
  • Comments on the Tri-Agency's Proposal on Statewide Workforce Development Goals (Comments to Commissioner Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency, Commissioner Harrison Keller, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Chairman Bryan Daniel, Texas Workforce Commission on HB 3767), Texas 2036, March 10, 2022
  • Linking Education and Workforce: Spurring Economic Growth Across Texas, Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, November 2020
• SB 1555, relating to establishing reimbursement rates for certain child-care providers participating in the subsidized childcare program.
  • Enhanced Reimbursement Rates, Texas Rising Star

Charge: Economic Recovery: Monitor the state’s economic recovery and identify obstacles impeding the state’s economic recovery. Examine the economic impact of inflation on both employers and employees. Examine global supply chain disruptions on state commerce and the flow of trade at Texas ports. Explore opportunities to attract businesses to Texas that have outsourced elements of their supply chain to foreign countries.

• Outlook for the Texas Economy, Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas A&M University, April 14, 2022
• "Texas Economy Strengthens as Omicron Fades; Costs and Wages Rise Further," Dallas Fed Economics, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, March 24, 2022
• "Inflation and the Policy Response in 2022," Working Economics Blog, Economic Policy Institute, February 7, 2022
• Supply Chain Assessment of the Transportation Industrial Base: Freight and Logistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, February 2022
• Gulf Intercoastal Waterway Legislative Report: 87th Texas Legislature, Texas Transportation Commission, Texas Department of Transportation, September 30, 2020
• 2022-2023 Texas Port Mission Plan: 87th Legislative Session, Port Authority Advisory Committee, Texas Department of Transportation Maritime Division, 2020
• Certification Revenue Estimates, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
• Inflation and Consumer Spending, U.S. Department of Labor

Charge: Workforce: Evaluate labor shortages and Texas’ unemployment numbers. Identify initiatives within the Texas Workforce Commission to expand job training and apprenticeship opportunities to help meet labor demands. Identify opportunities to increase outreach and information regarding career development.

• Texas Economic Indicators, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, April 19, 2022
• Texas Employment Forecast, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, April 15, 2022
• Interim Report to the 86th Texas Legislature (Charge 3 – Workforce needs), House Committee on Economic and Small Business Development, November 2018
• Skills Development - Program Overview, Apprenticeship - Program Overview, Texas Labor Market Information (Labor statistics), Texas Workforce Commission
• Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, Office of the Governor, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission

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This entry was posted on May 11, 2022 at 10:15 AM and has received 946 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.

• Review data and statistics from Child Protective Services. (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, accessed May 3, 2022)
• Consider guidance related to caring for patients with a post-COVID condition. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated March 21, 2022)
• Explore reports and publications on economic development in Texas. (Texas Economic Development & Tourism, Office of the Texas Governor, ©2022)
• Track road conditions in Texas via TxDOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems. (Texas Department of Transportation, accessed May 4, 2022)
• Read about organic foods. (Mayo Clinic, April 22, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on May 5, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 813 views. Print this entry.

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

• May 10, 2022
  • House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
  • Senate Committee on Higher Education
  • Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
• May 11, 2022
  • House Committee on Elections
  • Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

May 10, 2022
House Committee on House Committee on Licensing & Administrative Procedures
Charge 1: Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all the associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation including the following:

• HB 636, relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; and
  • Staff Report With Final Results: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, Sunset Advisory Commission, June 2019
  • Executive Order No. GA-06, Relating to Necessary Assistance From Qualified Plumbers With Disaster Recovery and Preparedness, Governor Greg Abbott, June 13, 2019
• HB 1560, relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
  • Staff Report With Final Results: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Sunset Advisory Commission, June 2021

Charge 3: Evaluate the qualifications for massage establishments, including gaps and loopholes in the application, monitoring, enforcement, and complaint processes that allow unlawful activity to occur. Consider the multidisciplinary and intergovernmental collaboration required to reduce illicit massage establishments and connect victims with services. Make recommendations to protect Texans against unlawful activity and victimization such as human trafficking.

• Staff Report With Final Results: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Sunset Advisory Commission, June 2021
• Occupational Licensing Final Report: Assessing State Policies and Practices, National Conference of State Legislatures, December 2020
• Human Trafficking State Laws, Awareness & Regulation (Massage services), National Conference of State Legislatures
• Massage Therapy, Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation

Senate Committee on Higher Education
Charge: Workforce Education: Evaluate state efforts to support access to work-based learning and microcredential opportunities, including apprenticeships, industry-based certificates and certifications, as well as competency-based education. Assess the potential benefits of expanding access to work-based learning, apprenticeships, microcredentials, and industry-based certifications that are aligned to workforce needs and provide in-demand workforce skills and competencies. Evaluate existing resources and programs at institutions, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Workforce Commission to support these opportunities and ultimately reach Tri-Agency goals. Consider recommendations to standardize these programs in order increase postsecondary degree completions.

• "Trying to Give Students in Low-wage Majors Some Extra Skills They Can Cash In On" (Microcredential pilot program at The University of Texas System), The Hechinger Report, February 18, 2022
• Credentials of Value, National Conference of State Legislatures, February 17, 2021
• Texas Credentials for the Future Initiative, The University of Texas System
• Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, Office of the Governor, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission

Charge: Enrollment Trends: Study the postsecondary enrollment trends across all sectors and levels of higher education in Texas, with a review on specific challenges to enrollment. Consider the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on direct high school-to-college enrollment, first-time college enrollment, transferability, and retention rates, as well as the overall impact on community college enrollment. Make recommendations on specific methods to address disparities and pandemic impacts relating to enrollment trends in order to achieve Texas' higher education goals in building a Talent Strong Texas.

• Building a Talent Strong Texas, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, March 21, 2022
• "Students Cut College During Pandemic; Their Return Is Uncertain," Southwest Economy, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, First Quarter 2022
• 2019-2020 Student Migration Report, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, September 29, 2021
• 2021 Texas Public Higher Education Almanac (Profile of state and institutional performance and characteristics), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Summer 2021
• #RealCollege 2021: Basic Needs Insecurity Among Texas College Students During the Ongoing Pandemic, The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, May 2021
• "A Review of Demographic Trends for Texas and the United States," Journal of College Academic Support Programs, October 2018

Charge: Funding Permanent University Fund: Review the history and use of the Permanent University Fund for the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, and explore the creation of a new legacy fund to address the needs of all other higher education institutions in Texas. Make recommendations on methods to streamline other existing research funds and finance research academic institutions in Texas.

• National Research University Fund Eligibility, September 1, 2019 - August 31, 2020: A Report to the Comptroller and the Texas Legislature, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, March 2021
• Formula Funding Recommendations for the 2022-23 Biennium, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, April 2020
• Financing Public Higher Education in Texas: Legislative Primer (Constitutional Funds and Statutory Funds, Appendix D – Constitutional and Research Funds, 2018–19 Biennium), Legislative Budget Board, March 2019
• THECB Board Meeting (Agenda Item IX-E: Higher Education Fund Re-Allocation Recommendation for Fiscal Years 2020 through 2035: Report, Presentation), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, October 25, 2018
• Higher Education Fund Allocation Recommendation for Fiscal Years 2016 through 2025, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, October 2014
• Funding Overviews, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Charge: Teaching and Health Care Workforce Participation: Review financial aid and scholarship opportunities in Texas related to teaching, health care, and law enforcement, and examine methods to increase participation in these and other high-demand fields. In particular, study the participation rates of the Math and Science Scholars Loan Repayment Program, the Peace Officer Loan Repayment Program, and the Nursing Corps Loan Repayment Program, and make recommendations on ways to increase participation rates in each area.

• 2021-22 State Financial Aid Program Guidelines, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, as of October 25, 2021
• Report on Student Financial Aid in Texas Higher Education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, September 2021
• "How Will Student Loan Borrowers Fare After the Pandemic?," Pew Charitable Trusts, updated August 13, 2021
• Interim Report to the 87th Legislature (Charge 1 - SB 16, Peace Officer Loan Repayment Assistance Program), House Committee on Higher Education, January 2021
• Report to Congress: Nurse Corps Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs Fiscal Year 2020, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2020
• Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers, Texas Education Agency
• Student Loan Repayment Programs, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• Types of Financial Aid, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Charge: Monitoring: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Higher Education passed by the 87th Legislature, as well as relevant agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. Specifically, make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation of the following:

• SB 1102, relating to the establishment of the Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education (TRUE) Program to support workforce education.
  • Texas Reskilling and Upskilling for Education (TRUE) Institutional Capacity Grants, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
• HB 3767, relating to measures to support the alignment of education and workforce development in the state with state workforce needs, including the establishment of the Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative.
  • Comments on the Tri-Agency's Proposal on Statewide Workforce Development Goals (Comments to Commissioner Mike Morath, Texas Education Agency, Commissioner Harrison Keller, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Chairman Bryan Daniel, Texas Workforce Commission on HB 3767), Texas 2036, March 10, 2022
  • Linking Education and Workforce: Spurring Economic Growth Across Texas, Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, November 2020
  • Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative, Office of the Governor, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Workforce Commission

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Charge: Water Utility Infrastructure: Evaluate the state's water infrastructure. Study and make recommendations on options to upgrade and update water infrastructure to address deferred maintenance, disasters, and water loss.

• 2022 State Water Plan, Interactive State Water Plan, Texas Water Development Board, adopted July 7, 2021
• State of Texas: Public Drinking Water Program, 2020 Annual Compliance Report, Water Supply Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, July 1, 2021
• 2021 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, Drinking Water, Wastewater, Texas 2021 Report, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2021
• Interim Report to the 87th Texas Legislature (Interim Charge 2: Promoting the Development of Future Water Supplies, Troubled Water Systems), House Committee on Natural Resources, December 2020

Charge: Water Supply: Review and make recommendations to complete specific projects identified in the 2022 State Water Plan. In light of recent changes to the global economy, consider the current regulatory process regarding innovative technology solutions to water supply needs, such as marine desalination, and make recommendations for their improvement.

• Environment and Natural Resources State Bill Tracking Database, National Conference of State Legislatures, April 13, 2022
• 2022 State Water Plan, Interactive State Water Plan, Texas Water Development Board, adopted July 7, 2021
• Overruling the Rule of Capture: What Can Texas Learn From 10 Other States' Groundwater Law Updates?, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, June 2021
• Legislative Priorities Report: TWDB Priorities for the 87th Texas Legislative Session, Texas Water Development Board, January 2021
• Master Technology Roadmap, National Alliance for Water Innovation, 2021
• The Future of Desalination in Texas: 2020 Biennial Report on Seawater and Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas, Texas Water Development Board, December 1, 2020
• Tech Trends (Interactive survey results), The Water Research Foundation, last updated May 6, 2020

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May 11, 2022
House Committee on Elections
Charge: Study the effectiveness of new poll watcher training required by SB 1 (87S2).

• Poll Watcher's Guide, Elections Division, Texas Secretary of State, updated January 2022
• Training and Education and Resources, Texas Secretary of State

Charge: Examine the reporting of election results following an election to determine the reasons for any delays and inaccuracies in the initial reporting of elections results. Make recommendations to ensure that election results are reported in a timely and accurate manner following the closing of the polls.

• Conducting Your Elections, Texas Secretary of State

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Charge: Rural Employment: Study and make recommendations on rural small business development and workforce needs. Consider and recommend innovative methods for business development in rural parts of the state.

• Rural Small Businesses Need Local Solutions to Survive, Brookings Institution, December 1, 2020
• 2020 Small Business Profile (Texas Congressional Districts), Office of Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration, August 2020
• Study of the Challenges and Opportunities of Developing Small Businesses in Rural Texas, Thomas P. Miller & Associates, Office of the Texas Governor, 2019
• Boosting America's Rural Workforce, Legisbrief, National Conference of State Legislatures, June 6, 2019

Charge: Rural Immigration: Consider the Federal government's open border policies and practices of releasing illegal immigrants in rural areas of the state. Report on the impact to rural Texas, and their local ability to address social, health, and law enforcement needs.

• "USDA Targets Funds in Texas to Help Producers with Infrastructure Repairs Along the Southern Border" (News Release), Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, February 16, 2022
• Medicaid Access and Participation: A Data Profile of Eligible and Ineligible Immigrant Adults, Migration Policy Institute, October 2021
• Left on the Table: The Unrealized Economic Potential of the Undocumented Population, Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, July 2021
• Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Cost-Benefit Assessment, Center for the United States and Mexico, Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, May 2020
• The Hidden Impact of Removal Proceedings on Rural Communities, TRAC [Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse], Syracuse University, April 9, 2020
• Texas Needs the Workers! An Analysis of the Economic and Fiscal Impact of Undocumented Workers, Perryman Group, February 2016
• Special Report: Undocumented Immigrants in Texas: A Financial Analysis of the Impact to the State Budget and Economy, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, December 2006

Charge: Agricultural Theft: Study the impact of cattle theft on farming and ranching operations throughout Texas and recommend cost-effective measures to mitigate loss and increase security.

• "Regional and Plant-Size Impacts of COVID-19 on Beef Processing," Food Policy, April 2022
• Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021, 51-3023 Slaughterers and Meat Packers, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified March 31, 2022
• "USDA Announces $500 Million for Expanded Meat & Poultry Processing Capacity as Part of Efforts to Increase Competition, Level the Playing Field for Family Farmers and Ranchers, and Build a Better Food System" (Press Release),U.S. Department of Agriculture, July 9, 2021
• The U.S. Beef Supply Chain: Issues and Challenges, Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University, June 3-4, 2021
• "Pandemic Demand Strains Central Texas Meat Supply Chain," Austin American-Statesman, July 4, 2020
• 2019 Economic Impact Report of the Meat and Poultry Industry (Texas), North American Meat Institute

Charge: Agricultural Theft: Study the impact of cattle theft on farming and ranching operations throughout Texas and recommend cost-effective measures to mitigate loss and increase security.

• "Where's the Beef: Con Artist Turns Texas Cattle Industry Into $100M Playground," AgWeb, Farm Journal, May 10, 2021
• "A New Frontier for Cattle Rustling," Animals, Fox West Texas, updated November 23, 2020
• "Catching Modern-Day Cattle Rustlers Is a Full-Time Job for This Texas Special Ranger," Spectrum News 1, August 18, 2020
• Theft and Law, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

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This entry was posted on May 4, 2022 at 3:00 PM and has received 919 views. Print this entry.