Texas Catholic Voice March 10, 2025
In this issue of the Texas Catholic Voice:
- Committee hearings this week
- Bill positions posted; more to come!
- Prayers for Pope Francis
- Upcoming executions
- And more!
A Message from Jennifer Allmon, Executive Director
We are excited to welcome school leaders, educators, and parents to the Capitol tomorrow for the Public Education Committee hearing on HB 3, the House parental choice bill.
HB 3 satisfies all of the bishops’ requirements for support of parental choice legislation: prioritization of the poor and vulnerable, accreditation of private schools, strong religious liberty and autonomy protections, and norm-reference testing.
The hearing begins at 8 a.m. in the Reagan Building, which is located outside the Capitol on 1400 Congress Ave. We anticipate a large crowd tomorrow, but if you are in the area, please stop by and register your support!
The public also has the option to submit comments electronically and you can watch the livestream here. The hearing notice includes all these details and more.
Housing Affordability
Several bills were heard today in the Senate Local Government Committee that aim to address homelessness and the housing crisis.
More than half of renters in Texas are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities. Meanwhile, homeownership is slipping further out of reach for middle-income families, with homebuyers needing to earn 80% more than they did just a few years ago to afford a home. The impact of this crisis is profound.
Evictions are leading to homelessness and families who cannot afford to buy in the major markets are moving further away from their workplaces, schools, and places of worship, eroding the sense of community that is essential to human flourishing. We must address this crisis, which is why we support the following bills:
- SB 15 reduces minimum lot size requirements. Many cities in Texas require homes to be built on large lots of 7,500 square feet, one acre or more. Research shows that reducing these requirements increases homeownership opportunities, lowers housing costs, and can reduce homelessness.
- SB 840 allows new housing construction in areas zoned for commercial use or office space, creating more housing options in areas with high demand.
- SB 854, The “Yes In God's Back Yard” (YIGBY) bill, will improve permitting processes for churches and faith-based organizations to build housing. This will help religious entities re-envision housing ministry and land use while providing a critical need of the community.
Learn more about the TCCB's support of these bills, and others, on our website.
Testimony on Housing Affordability
See and hear Executive Director Jennifer Carr Allmon testimony in support of legislation that increases housing affordability in our state by clicking on the video below.
Bills in committee March 10-14
Senate State Affairs, Monday, 9 a.m.
SB 406 by Sen. Mayes Middleton requires a person's sex be recorded on a birth certificate as either male or female based on biology. The TCCB supports this bill to reinforce the biological reality of the human person as either male or female.
Senate Local Government, Monday, 2 p.m.
SB 15 by Sen. Betencourt restricts municipalities from enforcing ordinances that require residential lots to exceed 1,400 square feet, have setbacks larger than five feet, or maintain a density lower than 31.1 units per acre. The TCCB supports this bill to increase homeownership opportunities, lower housing costs and reduce homelessness.
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.
SB 840 by Sen. Bryan Hughes expands residential options in commercial zones. The TCCB supports this bill to allow housing to be built in areas zoned for commercial use or office space, creating much-needed housing options, especially in areas with high demand.
SB 854 by Sen. Mayes Middleton improves permitting processes for affordable housing for religious entities who build affordable housing on their property. The TCCB supports this bill to more efficiently convert property owned by churches and other faith-based entities to affordable housing.
Senate Business & Commerce, Tuesday, 8 a.m.
SB 610 by Sen. Agnela Paxton requires the Department of Licensing and Regulation to establish an Anti-Trafficking Unit that will identify businesses operating within industries affected by human trafficking and coordinate with the OAG to combat trafficking. It also requires that any information identifying someone as a victim be kept confidential. The TCCB supports this bill to combat human trafficking.
House Public Education, Tuesday, 8 a.m.
HB 3 by Rep. Brad Buckley establishes a universal education savings account that prioritizes access for the poor and students with disabilities while protecting the religious liberty of participants. The TCCB supports this bill to provide a parental choice program which prioritizes the poor and vulnerable and has strong accountability through accreditation requirements for private schools.
House Criminal Jurisprudence, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
HB 380 by Rep. Ryan Guillen requires sex offender registrations to include adjudications or convictions of "an improper relationship between student and educator" and child grooming violations. The TCCB supports this bill because it enhances child safety measures.
House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence, Wednesday, 8 a.m.
HB 421 by Rep. Mary Gonzalez requires deep fake generators to verify the age of the person apparently depicted by explicit deep fake material and prohibits the creation of material depicting a person younger than 18, and if over 18, without the person's consent. A private cause of action may be brought against a deep fake generator for violations. The TCCB supports this bill to protect children from digital victimization.
Senate Health & Human Services, Wednesday, 8 a.m.
SB 599 by Sen. Royce West prohibits local cities and counties from adopting health ordinances for childcare providers that are stronger than the state HHSC regulations. The TCCB supports this bill.
Senate Natural Resources, Wednesday, 9 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.
Pope Francis' prayer intention for March: For families in crisis
Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other's gifts, even in their differences.
For more information, visit the Pope's Video website.
Upcoming executions
- David Wood – March 13, 2025
- Moises Mendoza – April 23, 2025
- Matthew Johnson – May 20, 2025
We pray for the victims of violence and their loved ones, for those on death row and for an end to the death penalty.