TCAN

Thanks in large part to YOUR actions, we can count some real victories during this legislative session. No, we didn’t get all the things we hoped and worked for in the areas of ethics reform, campaign finance reform, redistricting reform, and election reform, but we got considerably more than almost anyone expected. Most importantly, we played a significant role in blocking some very bad legislation that could have disenfranchised many thousands of voters.

Legislation TCAN Actively Supported That PASSED Both Houses:

HB 343 (Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin)
Clearing voter rolls of deceased individuals

HB 770 (Rep. Dutton, D-Houston)
Requiring the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice to provide written notification to discharged prisoners regarding voting eligibility and to provide them with voter registration applications [Passed both houses but Gov. Perry VETOED!]

HB 2489 (Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler)
Requiring more specific reporting of lobbyist compensation

HB 2823 (Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston)
Authorizing voters who applied to vote early by mail but did not do so to cast provisional ballots and cancel their mail ballot application in person at the polling place

HB 3066 (Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller)
Prohibiting legislators from using campaign funds to pay rent for property of their spouses

HJR 19 (Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas)
Proposing a constitutional amendment to require each house of the legislature to take a record vote on final passage of any nonceremonial bill (other than certain local bills) or resolution and to publish the record vote on the Internet

SB 64 (Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo)
Requiring general purpose political action committees (GPACs) to report contributions just as candidates and their campaign committees must report them; providing a civil penalty for noncompliance

SB 129 (Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas)
Requiring that the value of gifts of cash or cash equivalent to public officials be reported to the Texas Ethics Commission

SB 393 (Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston)
Establishing “Volunteers for Democracy Day” as the second Tuesday of each year, recognizing precinct chairs and other election volunteers on the first day of a legislative session

SB 1325 (Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas)
Prohibiting relatives of public college and university board members from receiving certain scholarships from the institution or system whose board the member serves, with exceptions (preventing conflicts of interest and nepotism)

Legislation TCAN Actively Opposed That Was BLOCKED

HB 218 (Rep. Betty Brown, R-College Station)
Requiring voters to present multiple forms of identification at the polling place

HB 626 (Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford)
Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

(and all the other voter roadblock bills that were introduced during this session)

HB 731 (Rep. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham)
Allowing polling places to NOT meet federal accessibility requirements in elections in which there is no federal race on the ballot

HB 1031 (Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa)
Allowing polling places to NOT meet federal accessibility requirements in elections in which there is no federal race on the ballot

HB 1463 (Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington)
Increasing the legal penalties if someone possesses (or carries to mailbox) more than one vote-by-mail ballot or carrier envelope on behalf of other voters

Great work, TCAN activists! Stick with us to learn how you can stay involved in these critical issues beyond the 80th session.

Teri Sperry, Executive Director
True Courage Action Network