Texas Catholic Voice April 28, 2025

What an emotional week it’s been with the mourning of our beloved Pope Francis and the passage of the historic parental choice bill, SB 2.

Pope Francis was honored in the Texas House with a memorial resolution (HR 945) authored by Catholic representatives Anchia, Craddick, Moody, Thompson, and Phelan, and coauthored by a bipartisan group of representatives of various faiths and backgrounds. Rep. Anchia’s remarks were beautifully genuine and the gathering of all the legislators behind him was a testament to Pope Francis’s message of inclusion and mercy. You can watch the video here.

Last Thursday, the Texas Senate concurred on the changes made by the House to SB 2, the last step before Governor Abbott signs the bill within the next couple of weeks. Before the vote to concur, legislators were given the opportunity to ask questions and speak on the bill. Senator Bettencourt said the day was cause for joy and Senator Creighton, the bill’s author, delivered an amazing closing speech, negating many of the false narratives spun by opponents of school choice and emphasizing how life-changing this program will be for students and their families. You can watch Sen. Bettencourt’s speech here and Sen. Creighton’s here.

We were also encouraged this week by the passage of HB 37 from the Texas House. This bill ensures Texas families whose babies receive a life limiting diagnosis have the benefit of cooling devices to allow the family the opportunity for more time with their babies. It also provides a special recognition to hospitals providing specialized care for parents who lose a child to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. As families receive these prenatal diagnoses, they will have the benefit of selecting a hospital for delivery that has this specialized training. We thank Rep. Plesa for bringing this bill forward to increase access to compassionate perinatal bereavement services in Texas hospitals.

Last Tuesday, TCCB testified against SB 1798 which seeks to repeal the Texas Dream Act, a law enacted in 2001 that allows undocumented Texas residents to pay instate tuition at institutions of higher education. We are opposed to penalizing the children of migrants who came here unlawfully but who nonetheless have made Texas home, been educated and excelled in Texas public schools, and have gained admission to one of our state’s universities. Requiring these students to pay out-of-state tuition rates would prevent most, if not all, of them from pursuing a college education, thereby squandering their talent and potential to the detriment of our state. The Senate Education Committee has yet to take a vote on the bill, but if it does pass out of committee, deadlines are looming in the Legislature making it very difficult for further movement in the House.

Finally, we are opposing HB 2043 on the Texas House Floor on Tuesday. The earned wage access market in Texas is currently unregulated. While companies claim the products are “free,” the data shows otherwise:

• Annual percentage rate for a typical employer-partnered earned wage cash advance is 109.5%.
• More than 90% of workers paid at least one fee in 2022.
• Most fees are for expedited transfers, ranging from $1 to nearly $6.
• Many borrowers pay a monthly subscription fee (up to $14.99) and often make payments that providers characterize as “tips.”

The loans are paid off with the borrower’s next paycheck, often resulting in the borrower not having enough money for current expenses and consequently the need to take out another loan. There are no limits to the number and cost of fees that EWA companies can charge people who use their products.

HB 2043 claims to regulate earned wage access companies, which operate as cash advance apps. What it really does is carve these loans out from key consumer protections, including rate and fee caps and the military lending protections in state and federal law. These products actively target military and military dependents. In fact, in the past month and a half, seven class action lawsuits have been filed against Earned Wage Access companies for alleged violations of the Military Lending Act, including one filed just last week.

If this bill passes as is, it will enable these products to become a new form of predatory lending. Earned wage access cash advance products can benefit Texans when they are properly designed and regulated as loans. At a minimum this includes:

1. Reasonable maximum total monthly charges for advances, including all voluntary and required charges
2. Requirements to ensure people's wages are protected and clearly separated from company assets, wages are paid on time and in the correct amount, and that people have the right to access their wages in cash and in the account of their choice.
3. Explicit protection of the state and federal military lending acts.

Bills in Committee April 28 - May 2

House State Affairs, Monday, 8 a.m.

HB 4852 by Rep. Tom Oliverson allows investigations by the attorney general into foreign filing entities to examine written sworn statements or oaths given by those foreign entities. Failure of foreign entitles to comply with the investigation would not forfeit their right to do business in Texas if a court finds that the entity had a good faith reason to refuse to permit the attorney general to examine or make copies of certain records. However, it would be a criminal penalty to intentionally avoid or evade compliance by falsifying or destroying records. The TCCB opposes this bill because it could present harmful unintended consequences for our ministries’ religious freedoms.

Senate Water & Agriculture, Monday, 8 a.m.

SB 243 by Sen. Pete Flores makes several improvements to migrant labor housing facilities including educational outreach to inform both workers and operators about their rights and responsibilities, improving compliance and fostering better living conditions. The TCCB supports this bill to improve housing conditions for migrant workers. 

Senate State Affairs, Monday, 9 a.m.

SB 2101 by Sen. Bryan Hughes prohibits a municipal public library from making sexually explicit material available in a minor's section of the library and requires age verification to prevent minors from accessing such materials. It requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to establish guidelines for public libraries to review collections to determine if minor's sections contain sexually explicit material and remove or relocate the material, if found. The TCCB supports this bill to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate materials. 

Senate Local Government, Monday, 10 a.m.

SJR 60/SB 1633 by Sen. Donna Campbell allows for exemption from taxation of the portion of the appraised value of a person's property that is attributable to the installation in or on the property of a rainwater harvesting or graywater system. The TCCB supports this bill to alleviate the tax burden on property owners who invest in sustainable water systems.

HB 2525 by Rep. Drew Darby establishes enhanced guidelines for the exemption from ad valorem taxation for certain properties owned by charitable organizations that cater to elderly individuals, specifically those 62 years of age or older. The TCCB supports this bill to protect senior housing nonprofits from burdensome tax bills. 

House Higher Education, Tuesday, 8 a.m.

HB 232 by Rep. Cody Vasut eliminates the Texas DREAM Act which allows resident tuition for undocumented immigrants who completed high school in Texas. The TCCB opposes this bill which reduces access to education for immigrants.

House Intergovernmental Affairs, Tuesday, 8 a.m.

HB 3792 by Rep. James Talarico requires a survey of surplus state property to identify properties feasible for affordable housing developments and allows property tax incentives for developments with at least 30% of the units set at affordable prices. The TCCB supports this bill to increase access to affordable prices.

House Public Education, Tuesday, 8 a.m.

HB 4 by Rep. Brad Buckley requires TEA to implement an new instructionally supportive assessment program that includes reducing the length of tests and reducing the assessment burden on students and personnel. The TCCB supports this bill to improve public school assessments.

HB 775 by Rep. James Frank creates greater accessibility and inclusivity for non-enrolled students in University Interscholastic League activities by allowing students to play at other nearby districts if their local district declines their participation. The TCCB supports this bill to promotes equal opportunity for athletics for home school students. 

Senate Criminal Justice, Tuesday, 8 a.m.

SB 1278 by Sen. Tan Parker creates an affirmative defense to prosecution that the actor engaged in conduct charged because the actor was coerced, acting under duress, or reasonably feared harm as a result of being a victim of human trafficking or forced prostitution. The TCCB supports this bill to prevent the prosecution of trafficking victims.

SB 1602 by Sen. Brent Hagenbuch creates an offense of criminal trespass for remaining on school or day care property after being asked to leave by administrators. The TCCB supports this bill to improve the safety of schools and day care centers.

House Criminal Jurisprudence, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.

HB 115 by Rep. David Cook lowers procedural hurdles for habeas petitions. Currently the Court of Criminal Appeals does not have to issue a reason why they dismiss an 11.073 claims, but this bill makes them give a written reason why they did so. It lowers the standard for scientific evidence, easing the pathway for claims that challenge previous convictions based on newly available relevant scientific findings. The TCCB supports this bill to help petitioners in capital cases.

HB 3694 by Rep. Richard Raymond requires an online platform to create a clear and conspicuous process for a person to notify the platform that intimate materials of themselves are published on their platform without consent and a request for its removal. The request for removal must be in writing and reasonably identifies where the material is located on the website so it may be removed. Violation by a platform of this would be a deceptive trade practice and is legally actionable. The TCCB supports this bill because it protects victims of sexual exploitation.

HB 507 by Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins establishes policies and standards for providing legal representation in capital (death penalty) cases by establishing a statewide capital defense training and standards committee. The TCCB supports this bill to improve legal representation in capital cases.

House Corrections, Wednesday, 8 a.m.

HB 1969 by Rep. Nicole Collier requires that upon release an inmate is provided with a copy of any license they earned while imprisoned. The TCCB supports this bill to improve re-entry into the community for ex-offenders who have earned occupational licenses to re-enter the workforce.

House Natural Resources, Wednesday, 8 a.m.

HB 4212 by Rep. Pat Curry creates a comprehensive framework for the establishment, administration, and utilization of the Texas Land, Water, and Wildlife Conservation Account. The legislation emphasizes a strategic approach to project selection, requiring the conservation board to set application priorities based on the projects sustainability and ecological benefits. The TCCB supports this bill to encourage conservation efforts.

Senate Health & Human Services, Wednesday, 8 a.m.

HB 451 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson requires a screening for risk of commercial sexual exploitation for children who come into state custody. The TCCB supports this bill to protect children from sex trafficking.

SB 425 by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst establishes the Child and Adult Protective Investigations Advisory Committee to improve the accuracy and standardization of the application of investigative legal requirements and department investigative policies and procedures during child or adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation investigations. The TCCB supports this bill to improve child abuse investigations.

SB 466 by Sen. Angela Paxton allows a fetal death certificate for any fetus of any size. The TCCB supports this bill to recognize the humanity of unborn children.

House Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Thursday, 8 a.m.

HB 4103 by Rep. Joanne Shofner allows the Texas Historical Commission to enter into an agreement with the current owners of the miracle’s site to create a visitors center and other needed improvements. We support this bill because Father Margil’s charitable and miraculous work is important to remember in Texas history and culture.

House Land & Resource Management, Thursday, 8 a.m.

SB 673 by Sen. Bryan Hughes improves the permit process for property owners to construct accessory dwelling units by prohibiting excessive restrictions. The TCCB supports this bill to address the problem of housing affordability.

House Environmental Regulation, Thursday, 8 a.m.

SB 763 by Sen. Carol Alvarado states that the TCEQ shall conduct a protectiveness review every six years, specifically for permanent concrete plants that perform various mixing techniques. This review will include an evaluation of air pollution levels and stipulates that if any amendments are made to the permits following a review, existing operations can continue temporarily, ensuring minimal disruption to facility operators while requiring compliance within a reasonable timeframe. The TCCB supports this bill to improve the regulatory framework for concrete batch plant permits and improve air quality.