The 88th Legislative Session started with an unprecedented $33 Billion surplus. The state Republican leadership has failed miserably with misplaced priorities and focused on “red meat” right wing issues that do nothing to improve the lives of everyday working Texas families. Our public schools did not get the funding they need to properly educate our children, teachers did not get the long overdue pay raises, our electric grid reliability was not addressed and property tax cuts never came to fruition.

It is unfortunate that they chose to prioritize and pass divisive policies that discriminate against people of color and select groups of Texans; ending Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies at our colleges and universities, banning books, attacking the LGBTQ+ communities, ending important tenure for Texas professors, and voter suppression bills.

The Republican leadership attempted but failed to create a voucher program to give your tax dollars to private schools. Here is a compiled list of the many bills Rep. Reynolds was honored to work on, as well as missed opportunities and bad bills that the Democrats led an unwavering fight against.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION/EQUALITY FOR ALL TEXANS:

HB 576 “The Crown Act” acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, and it prohibits school districts, colleges or universities, employers or labor unions to discriminate against any protected hairstyle as part of a dress code. In the bill, protected hairstyles are braids, locks or twists. EFFECTIVE 9/1/23

HB 850 would have prohibited certain discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression: providing an administrative penalty.

HB 851 would have created a task for to study the legal and societal barriers to equality for transgender persons.

HB 1020 would have allowed transgender voters to use their identification that may not align with their presenting gender expression or identity.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE, POLICE AND COMMON SENSE GUN REFORMS

HB 76 required the clerk of the court to provide written notice to the Department of Public Safety within five days of a person's conviction or deferred adjudication for an offense related to a lost or stolen firearm.

HB 110 stablishes specific requirements for sales at gun shows. It makes it an offense for a person to knowingly sell a firearm at a gun show without complying with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) or failing to maintain a record of the sale. The bill also holds gun show promoters accountable for permitting sales without NICS compliance and mandates written notice to local law enforcement, background checks for sales by unlicensed dealers, and posting of informational notices.

HB 136 "red flag law," are designed to temporarily restrict a person's access to firearms if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others. These laws are typically enacted to prevent potential gun violence or self-harm.

HB 220 introduced provisions to create a database of suspended and revoked handgun licenses, establish requirements for firearm transfers, and specify the duties of licensed firearms dealers in verifying license validity.

HB 236 would have established regulations for private firearm transfers in the state of Texas.

HB 298 proposed amendments to the existing laws related to the offense of unlawful transfer of handguns and other firearms and the duties of certain entities with respect to handgun licenses in the state of Texas

HB 415 would have made it mandatory for a peace officer to request and render aid for an injured person.

HB 418 Would have made Peace officers report offenses committed within their jurisdiction to a magistrate if there is probable cause to believe a violation of the penal law has occurred.

HB 484 Would have made it mandatory for Municipal jails must provide two hours of training to jailers or individuals responsible for supervising confined individuals on identifying, documenting, and handling individuals who may be suicidal or have mental health conditions.

HB 504/HB 762 would have banned the use of no knock warrants.

HB 761 would have prohibited the transfer of assault weapons to mental patients.

HB 847 would have stored firearms surrendered by a person subject to a magistrate's order for emergency protection or protective order in cases of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons.

HB 966 required an inmate to take classes or programs required to be completed by inmates before their release on parole.

HB 1019 would have had mandatory reentry and reintegration programs provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

HB 1524 would have made it mandatory for peace officers to wear body cameras.

HB 2044 would have made it mandatory for depression screenings for women inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

HB 2480 would have required the state to send notice regarding voting eligibility to recently released inmates.

HB 2834 would have raised minimum wage for inmates in work release programs operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

HB2915 would have made it illegal for requesting or allowing another to provide a breath specimen for an ignition lock device.

HB 2916 would have raised the age from 18 TO 21 years old to purchase or own a semi-automatic weapon.

*MISSED OPPORTUNITY ON SENSIBLE GUN REFORM

HB 3176 would have created a youthful offender pilot court program.

HB 3271 would have made it mandatory to seize firearms during the emergency detention of certain persons who may have a mental illness.

HB 3435 would have made it a criminal offense to make a firearm accessible to a detained person.

HB 4502 Bail Reform would have provided for the use of pretrial risk assessments in criminal cases, set out procedures governing bail proceedings, established educational requirements for justices of the peace, and, contingent on approval of a related constitutional amendment, created an exception to the right to bail for certain criminal defendants.

EDUCATION

HB 45 would require all public schools in Texas to include ethnic studies, specifically Mexican American and African American studies, as part of the social studies curriculum, along with other subjects such as English language arts, mathematics, science, and fine arts.

HB 683 would mandate that public institutions of higher education in Texas must waive tuition and laboratory fees for paramedics employed by a political subdivision of the state who are enrolled in emergency medical services courses.

HB 1548 would provide for a $15,000 teacher pay raise for the 2023-2024 school year and mandate a 25 percent increase in wages for full-time school employees. *MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHER PAY RAISE

HB 4449 would create a task force to study, evaluate and make recommendations for practices and polices relating to student discipline in public schools.

HB 4713 would create a group health benefit plan coverage for early treatment of first episode psychosis in the state of Texas.

HB 4777 would require training for school district peace officers and resource officers which must incorporate topics such as child and adolescent development, positive behavioral interventions and supports, conflict resolution techniques, restorative justice techniques, de-escalation techniques, limiting the use of force, mental and behavioral health needs of children with disabilities or special needs, mental health crisis intervention, and the effects of mental health conditions on student behavior.

ELECTIONS AND VOTER LAWS

HB 848 would have reinstated straight-party voting in Texas.

HB 849 would have allowed automatic voter registration upon issuance or change of a driver's license or ID card by DPS.

HB 1145 would have permitted online voter registration in Texas, joining the other 40 states that already provide it.

HB 110 would have made changes to the current suppressive Voter ID Law.

HB 120 would have reinstated straight-party voting in Texas.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLIMATE CHANGE GRID RELIABILITY:

HB 137 would have improved regulation of air quality permits for concrete batch plants located in certain areas.

HB 642 would have established the Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

HB 758 would have expanded the filing deadline for a contested case hearing on an authorization to use a standard permit for certain concrete plants.

HB 759 would have allowed a motion to overturn an executive director decision on an authorization to use a standard permit for certain concrete plants.

HB 846 would have established the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.

HB 981 would have provided notice to a state representative and senator of certain administrative actions of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

HB 1146 would establish the interconnection of the ERCOT power grid to grids outside the ERCOT power region.

HB 1175 would have distributed low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program funds.

HB 1387 would define persons entitled to request a public hearing from the TECQ related to the construction of a concrete plant.

SB 1397 will reauthorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the next 12 years and will improve public’s participation in the permitting process under the air and waste water program.

HB 2227 relates to the inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities.

HB 2391 would give authority to a municipality or county to request a hearing from the TECQ relating to construction of a concrete plant.

HB 2392 relates to the issuance of air quality permits for concrete plants located in certain areas.

HB 2502 would have established an energy efficiency loan guarantee program.

HB 3433 would have improved regulation of air quality permits for certain facilities located in a nonattainment area.

HEALTHCARE REFORMS AND PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE TEXANS

HB 12 will extend Medicaid coverage for a full year for low income women after they give birth. SENT TO THE GOVERNOR TO BE SIGNED.

HB 15 would have created the Mental Health and Brain Research Institute of Texas.

HB 1144 would have provided for a "Texas Way" to reform and address Medicaid Expansion to help provide insurance to some of the 5.2 million uninsured Texans. *MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR NEEDED HEALTHCARE COVERAGE REFORM.

HB 1200 would provide for a robust Medical Cannabis licensing and dispensing program in Texas.

SB 188/HB 1219 Requires criminal background checks for employees of group homes. Effective 9/1/23

SB 189 amended with HB 1220 creates an offense for failure to report assault and neglect in group homes. Amended with language from HB 3836 to require reporting of public safety incidents that occur in group homes. Effective 9/1/23

JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

HB 169 would have raised the minimum wage in Texas to $15.00 an hour. Raising the minimum wage in Texas will increase earnings for thousands of workers, and support the local economies where they live, work and spend their earnings.

HB 893 would have required employers to provide paid sick leave to their employees.

LOCAL/FORT BEND COUNTY

HB 1143 would have created six trustees elected by position from two multimember voting districts composed of three trustee positions each and one member elected at large for Fort Bend ISD. Residents of each multimember voting district are entitled to cast votes for each trustee position within the multimember voting district. This would ensure that the local community and area could elect the candidate of their choice that reflects the values and diversity of each district.

HB 5330 will extend Houston Community College’s service area boundaries to include the part of Fort Bend ISD that is outside of Wharton County Junior College’s service area. This will provide Fort Bend ISD students access to essential services and resources offered by HCC. Sent to Governor Abbott to be signed into law.

DANGEROUS LEGISLATION: OPPRESSIVE, SUPPRESSIVE, AND DISCRIMINATORY BILLS THAT REP. REYNOLDS AND DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES LEAD THE FIGHT AGAINST:

HB 900 this bill seeks to restrict access to books in school libraries by prohibiting acquisition and defining "obscenity" in an overly broad manner. The burden of determining what books constitute these definitions lays on the shoulders of publishers, allowing for the possibility of books being deemed "obscene" without consideration of their educational value. This also attempts to override First Amendment protections by compelling schools to adopt the view that "obscenity is unprotected" by the First Amendment.

SB 12 defines drag as a "sexually oriented performance" and threatens venues hosting all-ages drag performances with civil fines up to $10,000 and performers with criminal misdemeanor charges.

SB 14 prohibits physicians from providing best practice, life-saving healthcare for transgender youth. It bans insurance companies for covering such treatment and bans public funds that go towards their healthcare.

SB 15 extends the anti-transgender sports ban to collegiate levels and expands the ban itself to include banning trans youth from sports participation (in addition to competition).

SB 17 will eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives from our colleges and universities. Places our colleges and universities in jeopardy of losing millions in grants and federal funding.

SB 18 essentially eliminates tenure to Texas faculty at public colleges and universities. It weakens the protections and benefits of tenure and places the authority to grant tenure in the hands of those without disciplinary expertise and contains vague language around just causes for dismissal. This will be detrimental to professor recruitment in Texas.

SB 29 prohibits the state, a local government entity, an open-enrollment charter school, or an agency of the state or such a local government entity from implementing, ordering, or otherwise imposing any of the following mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19; a mandate requiring a person to wear a mask or other face covering; a mandate requiring a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19