Texas Catholic Voice Feb. 18, 2025

We finally have House committee assignments! Last Thursday, the Speaker announced the eagerly awaited appointments and then the House adjourned until Tuesday afternoon.  

Per the House rules, all committee chairs must be Republicans, although some Democrats have been appointed as chairs of subcommittees. The parliamentarian begins referring bills today, Tuesday.

As hearings are scheduled, we will include in each issue of the Texas Catholic Voice the legislation being heard in committees on which TCCB is taking a position.

Emergency items will be heard quickly, and these bills can pass before the 60-day constitutional prohibition. School choice is one of those items; we are encouraged Rep. Brad Buckley remains chair of the Public Education and that Speaker Burrows has publicly declared that the House will pass it.  

Bills in Committee Feb 17-21 

Senate Business and Commerce, Tuesday, 9:30 AM. 

SB 703 by Sen. Zaffirini increases the offenses that make an entity ineligible for a massage license by adding sexual offenses, sexual performance of a child, possession of child phonography, and possession of lewd material depicting a child. The TCCB supports this bill to protect children from harm and to prevent the trafficking of persons.