FOUNDERSPAC

Joan Huffman

This bill makes it a state crime to cross the Texas-Mexico border between ports of entry. The bill authorizes the Texas police to arrest illegal migrants and makes the crime a Class B misdemeanor carrying a punishment of up to 6 months in jail. Repeat offenders could face a second-degree felony. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Border Security and Immigration Section 257: "State Self-Defense". "We urge the Texas Legislature to invoke Article 1, Section 10, Clause 3 of the US Constitution, also known as the “state self-defense clause,” which asserts that under an active invasion (as defined or declared by the Governor of the State or Texas Legislature), the sovereign state of Texas has the authority and duty to defend Texas citizens against “imminent Danger,” not admitting delay, by any and all appropriate measures the sovereign state defines as necessary to defend from such assaults."

Restoring Law and Order by Authorizing Texas Police to Arrest Illegal Immigrants Crossing the Border from Mexico to Texas.

This bill imposes a series of new regulations on automobile dealerships pertaining to vehicle financing. For example, the bill imposes price controls which prevent a dealership from charging a customer a higher sales price if a buyer utilizes a third-party lender or offers cash. The bill is primarily directed at dealerships which offer discounts or condition vehicle sales on financing through preferred lenders. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Imposing Price Controls and New Government Mandates on Automobile Dealerships Pertaining to Vehicle Financing.

This bill allows public higher education institutions (state colleges and universities) to adopt policies which allow for the termination of tenured faculty for reasons such as "professional incompetence" or "conduct involving moral turpitude". Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Higher Education Section 131: "Tenure". "We support abolishing the system of tenure in academia and advocate replacing it with a merit-based system for teacher retention."

Ensuring Colleges and Universities can Remove Poor-Performing Professors by Restricting the Use of Tenure.

This bill prevents public colleges and universities within the state from taking certain actions against student organizations due to their membership policies surrounding sincerely held beliefs. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Higher Education Section 130: "Campus Speech". "We urge the Texas Legislature to recognize the rights of those on college campuses to practice their faith and their right to free speech. We support withdrawal of public funding from any college or university within this state that actively or passively discriminates or permits discrimination against the free speech of either students or guest speakers. Student groups shall have the unfettered right to elect their leaders, choose their members, and set their organization’s mission, purpose, and standard of conduct."

Protecting Free Speech and Assembly on Public College Campuses by Ensuring Student Organizations Can Set Membership Policies Based on their Sincerely Held Beliefs.

This bill establishes 10-year mandatory minimum sentences for individuals convicted of human smuggling and 5-year mandatory minimum sentences for operating a stash house (10 years if in an area subject to a declared state of disaster). The bill also enhances penalties for property damage that occurs as a result of concealing or harboring a person in the country illegally from a misdemeanor to a third-degree felony (2-10 years in prison). Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecutions, Restitution Section 187: "Human Trafficking Jurisdiction". "The Texas Legislature shall pass legislation granting the Texas Attorney General full concurrent jurisdiction over multi-jurisdictional cases, to be limited specifically to those cases involving human trafficking."

Strengthening National Security and Law and Order through 10 Year Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Human Trafficking.

This bill earmarks $1.54 billion in state funds to continue construction of barriers along the Mexico border. Additionally, the bill provides $40 million for State Troopers to patrol Colony Ridge which has high levels of illegal immigrants. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Border Security and Immigration Section 256: "Border Security Funding". "We expect both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to make a priority of allocating funds to effectively secure the border through whatever means necessary, including but not limited to barriers, a border wall, and/or fence everywhere along the border where it is feasible and useful, as well as personnel and technology over land, sea, and air. Texas shall seek repayment from the Federal Government for expenses incurred in securing the border."

Restoring Law and Order by Earmarking $1.54 Billion in State Funds to Construct Barriers Securing the Mexico Border.

This bill imposes a series of new regulations which are largely designed to prevent property insurance companies from steering their policy holders to select a contractor favored by the insurer to make the repairs. For example, an insurer is now no longer permitted to waive or reduce a deductible if policy holders utilize a contractor favored by the insurer. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Hiking Consumer Property Insurance Costs by Imposing New Protectionist Regulations on Insurance Deductibles.

This bill prohibits county clerks, elections administrators, early voting clerks and certain other officials from suspending laws relating to acceptance of early mail-in ballots. This includes suspension of requirements such as the carrier envelope certificate being properly competed, the signatures being valid, and the ballot application stating a valid reason for voting early by mail. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Elections Section 242: "Fair Elections Procedures". "We support the right of eligible voters to cast a ballot in each election once, but we oppose illegal voting, illegal assistance, or ineligible persons. We support: Increased scrutiny and security in balloting by mail, including removal of Section 87.014 (d1) of the Texas Election Code to require once again full signature verification with the need to rebut, regardless of whether paper identification numbers are on the application and ballot carrier envelope."

Strengthening Election Integrity by Prohibiting Election Officials from Suspending Requirements for Mail-In Ballot Review.

This bill allows courts to remove district attorneys for misconduct if they refuse to prosecute certain types of crime. The bill is largely in response to cases of "reform-minded" prosecutors that have refused to prosecute crime or uphold the state's abortion laws. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 183: "Court Accountability". "We believe district attorneys have a duty to seek justice for victims of all forms of crime and oppose policies that systematically decline to prosecute crimes."

Strengthening Public Safety by Allowing Courts to Remove Rogue DAs which Refuse to Prosecute Crime.

This bill authorizes El Paso County to issue bonds (debt) to be repaid by higher sales or property taxes in order to finance the construction of recreational facilities, if approved by voters. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under School Finance and Property Taxation Section 92: "Bonds Create Bondage". "We urge the Texas Legislature to amend the Texas Election Code to require bond issues be approved by a 2/3 majority of those voting and only if 20% of all registered voters in the district cast ballots. Taxpayer standing must be established to allow taxpayers to hold government entities accountable.  

Authorizing El Paso County to Indebt Taxpayers to Construct Recreational Facilities.

This bill establishes a specialized "Business Court" to hear cases involving certain business transaction and governance matters, with the judges appointed by the Governor. Judges are required to have at least 10 years of experience practicing complex civil business litigation or business transaction law, or as a judge of a court with civil jurisdiction. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 184: "Frivolous Lawsuits". "We support further reform to discourage frivolous lawsuits. We oppose the abusive use of class action lawsuits and any law that allows government agencies to collect lawyer fees from the plaintiff when they win but not have to pay the plaintiff fees when they lose."

Improving the State's Business Climate by Creating a Specialized Business Court to Hear Cases and Expedite Legal Proceedings.

This bill is largely targeted towards online providers of clear orthodontic aligners such as SmileDirectClub. Under the bill, clear aligners (which are similar to braces) are now classified as a "medical device" and can't be provided to an individual unless they undergo an in-person examination by a dentist, receive dental x-rays, and are provided a prescription for their usage by a dentist. SmileDirectClub was forced into bankruptcy and shutdown on December 21, 2023. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Expanding Government Power in the Orthodontics Industry to Shutdown Competition by Online Providers of "Clear Aligners" such as SmileDirectClub.

This bill generally raises the bar to prosecute organized retail theft by now requiring a person to steal at least $100 of merchandise and be found to have "intent for the redistribution of that merchandise into the supply chain" to be guilty. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 183: "Court Accountability". "We believe district attorneys have a duty to seek justice for victims of all forms of crime and oppose policies that systematically decline to prosecute crimes."

Fueling Lawlessness and Business Closures by Making it Harder to Prosecute and Punish Cases of Organized Retail Theft.

This bill directs the Public Utility Commission to provide a method to establish an "annual energy savings goal" of 1% for each electric utility by 2030. This is in addition to the existing energy efficiency goals and programs. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Energy and Environment Section 53: "Utilities". "We support free-market solutions for providing resilient and reliable utilities."

Hiking Electricity Rates by Imposing a 1% Annual Energy Savings Goal by 2030 on all Utility Companies.

This bill raises the maximum allowable interest rate which lenders may charge on consumer loans, by now allowing the federal funds rate to be included in the calculation. While existing law currently caps consumer loan interest rates between 18% and 30%, the addition of the federal funds rate could allow lenders to charge another 5% to 6% depending on the rate of inflation. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Expanding Borrowing and Lending Opportunities by Raising the Maximum Allowable Interest Rate on Consumer Loans by Including the Federal Funds Rate in the Calculation.

The bill prevents localities from imposing additional regulations on farmers and ranchers engaging in agricultural operations. Under the bill, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is directed to develop a list of "generally accepted agricultural practices" that do not pose a threat to public health, which cities also may not prohibit or restrict. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 38: "Municipal Preemption". "We encourage the Legislature to preempt local government efforts to interfere with the State’s sovereignty over business, employees, and property rights. This includes but is not limited to burdensome regulations on short-term rentals, bags, sick leave, trees, and employee criminal screening."

Protecting Farmers from Government Overreach by Preventing Local Governments from Imposing Additional Regulations on the Agricultural Industry.

This bill serves as the enabling legislation for constitutional amendment HJR 3. Through this bill and the constitutional amendment, a $3.4 billion research endowment is created for Texas State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston and the University of North Texas. The funds for the bill will come from the state's Economic Stabilization Fund, commonly referred to as the "rainy day" fund. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Spending Restraint Section 86: "Higher Education Spending Control". "We support freezing public spending on State higher education until waste and administrative costs are reduced." "We oppose the use of the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund) to expand government. Use of the Economic Stabilization Fund shall be limited to its intended purposes of preventing tax increases during economic downturns and responding to unforeseen disasters."  

Raiding the State's Rainy Day Fund to Channel over $3.4 Billion in Additional Funding to Woke Universities.

This bill provides rideshare companies (such as Uber and Lyft) with legal immunity from any harm or injury caused by a driver, provided the company has followed all applicable laws, unless a person can show gross negligence by "clear and convincing evidence." Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 184: "Frivolous Lawsuits". "We support further reform to discourage frivolous lawsuits. We oppose the abusive use of class action lawsuits and any law that allows government agencies to collect lawyer fees from the plaintiff when they win but not have to pay the plaintiff fees when they lose."

Reducing Frivolous Litigation by Providing Liability Protections to Rideshare Companies.

This bill amends the licensing requirements for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) technicians by establishing an alternative pathway to become licensed. The bill recognizes completion of a career and technology education program at a public school or institution of higher education as satisfying the certification training program requirements for licensure. The bill also provides for a waiver of any renewal fee and reduction in the number of required continuing education hours for technicians who provide instruction in a career and technology education program. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 39: "Licensing". "We call upon the Texas Legislature to review all Texas Department of Licenses and Regulations (TDLR), business/professional licensing programs, and associated licensing for the purpose of abolishing or removing as many as reasonably possible and repealing those laws, rules, and regulations."

Reducing Employment Barriers and Expanding Competition Through an Alternative Licensing Pathway for HVAC Technicians.

This bill extends the duration of postpartum coverage provided under Medicaid from 60 days to 1 year. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Life-Affirming Health Care Concepts Section 165: "Alternatives to Abortion". "We urge the Republican Party of Texas to support programs that provide assistance to pregnant women by: Ensuring women have medical insurance coverage up to one year postpartum, making it safer for pregnant women to give birth in Texas."

Increasing Government Dependency and Ballooning Medicaid Welfare Spending by an Additional $381 Million by Hiking Postpartum Benefits from 60 Days to 12 Months.

This bill imposes a series of new insurance mandates requiring automobile insurance policies offered in the state provide coverage for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts as opposed to less costly aftermarket parts. The bill applies to all policies covering vehicles 36 months old or newer. Additionally, the bill forbids policies from restricting the repair facility or persons performing repairs. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Hiking Automobile Insurance Premiums by Imposing New Mandates which Require Usage of OEM Parts for Vehicle Repairs.

This bill eliminates the state's mandatory vehicle safety inspection effective January 1, 2025. As a result, car owners will no longer be forced to annually take their vehicle in for an inspection, however a $7.50 annual fee (the current inspection fee) will still be assessed on vehicle owners. Texas was one of only 13 states which required annual vehicle inspections. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Transportation Section 64: "Vehicle Taxes". "Only commercial vehicles should be required to obtain a state safety inspection."

Providing Significant Regulatory Relief to Car Owners by Eliminating the State's Mandatory Annual Vehicle Safety Inspection.

This bill, the Save Women's Sports Act, requires public colleges and universities to allow males and females to only compete on the team of their biological sex based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up. However, females are allowed to compete in a male sport if their school does not offer a female team in that sport. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Governance Section 125: "Gender Identity in Schools". " The official position of the Texas schools shall be that there are only two genders: biological male and biological female. We oppose transgender normalizing curriculum and pronoun use. We hold that biological men shall compete only against other biological men and biological women shall compete only against other biological women in athletics in the public school system of Texas and at the collegiate level."

Ensuring Fair Competition in Collegiate Athletics by Prohibiting Biological Males from Competing in Female Competitions.

This bill, the Property Tax Relief Act, contains several provisions related to property taxes. Most notably, the bill increases the homestead property tax exemption from $40,000 to $100,000. Additionally, the bill enacts a "circuit breaker" provision on the appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead. As a result, the appraised market value of a property is limited to a 1-year increase of 20% plus any new improvements. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under School Finance and Property Taxation Section 90: "Axe the Property Tax". "We support replacing the property tax system for businesses and individuals with an alternative other than the income tax and requiring voter approval to increase the overall tax burden. We urge the Legislature to immediately develop and implement a transition plan that is a net tax cut."

Providing Property Tax Relief to Homeowners by Raising the Homestead Exemption to $100,000.

This bill allows school districts and charter schools to employ a chaplain for purposes of providing "support, services, and programs" to students. The bill also allows volunteer chaplains and provides that chaplains are not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Parents' Rights Section 108: "Religious Freedom and Public Schools". We urge school administrators and officials not to infringe on Texas school students’ and staffs’ rights to pray and engage in religious speech, individually or in groups, on school property without government interference. We urge the Legislature to end censorship of discussion of religion in our founding documents and encourage discussing those documents, including the Bible as their basis. Students have the right to exhibit religious items on school property. "

Protecting the Ability of School Districts and Charter Schools to Employ Chaplains.

This bill primarily targets a business model within the optometry industry which has been deployed by Visionworks of America, which is owned by an insurance company called Vision Services Plan (VSP) Insurance Co. The bill prevents VSP from incentivizing its enrollees to utilize the optometry company it owns (Visionworks) through the offering of discounts or other value-added benefits. Other optometry companies have alleged that since VSP owns its own optometry company and can "steer patients" it is provided an unfair competitive advantage in the industry. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Expanding Government Power to Shutdown Competition within the Optometry Industry.

This bill prohibits local governments from utilizing public funds to hire a lobbyist to lobby state legislators or pay a state association that does so. The bill does provide an exception for legislation related to the military, service members, or veterans. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Government Operations Section 232: "Tax-Funded Lobbying". "We oppose using tax dollars to hire lobbyists or paying tax dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature."  

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting Local Governments from Utilizing Public Funds to Lobby the Legislature.

This bill expands eligibility under the "Major Events Reimbursement Fund" to include a larger range of events ranging from Formula 1 to the country music awards, and equestrian competitions. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 97: "Special Funds". "We urge the Texas Legislature to abolish the Special Events Trust Fund program, the Texas Enterprise Fund, and the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program."

Worsening Cronyism and Government Central Planning by Forcing Taxpayers to Subsidize an Even Greater Range of Events (Formula 1 and Equestrian) under the "Major Events Reimbursement Fund".

This bill enacts an Education Savings Account Program, which allows all students who are eligible to enroll in public K-12 or public prekindergarten to receive funding for educational expenses such as tuition at a private school, textbooks, and tutoring. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Parents' Rights Section 101: "School Choice". "Texas families shall be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, and the funding shall follow the student without strings attached. We also support tax credits and exemptions for education and choice within the public school system."

Improving Educational Outcomes by Expanding School Choice Through an Education Savings Account Program.

This bill creates the "Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium," to, among other purposes, "develop a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing semiconductor innovation" and expand workforce training. The bill also creates the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to provide grants to state government entities and semiconductor manufacturing and design companies in the state "to encourage economic development." Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 95: "Bailouts and Subsidies". "We encourage government to divest its ownership of all businesses that should be run in the private sector. We oppose all bailouts of and subsidies to domestic and foreign government entities, states, and for all businesses, public and private."

Worsening Cronyism and Government Central Planning by Creating the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium to Enrich Certain Companies.

This bill, the Alan Vera Memorial Act, contains several provisions related to election integrity. The bill expands the required cooperation of the Secretary of State with other states to identify ineligible voters. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to contract with a private sector data system to identify voters whose addresses have changed, are registered to vote in more than one state, are deceased, or who are not eligible to vote due to a felony conviction. Finally, the Secretary is required to use the National Change of Address database to identify voters whose addresses have changed to prevent multiple registrations. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Elections Section 242: "Fair Elections Procedures". "We support the right of eligible voters to cast a ballot in each election once, but we oppose illegal voting, illegal assistance, or ineligible persons. We support: Allowing, by Open Records Request, a bit-by-bit forensic imaging of all electronic devices, including servers, at Central Counting immediately before and after each election."

Strengthening Election Integrity through an Additional Voter Crosscheck.

This bill requires an aspiring dietician to now obtain a master's degree, register with a national commission, complete an internship or other accepted training program, and undergo examination to work in the profession. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 39: "Licensing". "We call upon the Texas Legislature to review all Texas Department of Licenses and Regulations (TDLR), business/professional licensing programs, and associated licensing for the purpose of abolishing or removing as many as reasonably possible and repealing those laws, rules, and regulations."

Increasing Employment Barriers and Enriching Certain Educational Institutions by Forcing Dieticians to Obtain Masters Degrees.

This bill makes it easier for movie production companies to receive a grant under the moving image industry incentive program by reducing the percentage of production crew, actors, and extras who must be Texas residents from 70% to 55%. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 97: "Special Funds". "We urge the Texas Legislature to abolish the Special Events Trust Fund program, the Texas Enterprise Fund, and the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program."

Worsening Cronyism by Making it Even Easier for Woke Hollywood Production Companies to become Enriched through Taxpayer Subsidies.

This bill is designed to curb illegal immigration by allowing the Governor to establish an interstate compact for border security with any interested states for the purpose of sharing intelligence and resources to build a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Border Security and Immigration Section 256: "Border Security Funding". "We expect both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to make a priority of allocating funds to effectively secure the border through whatever means necessary, including but not limited to barriers, a border wall, and/or fence everywhere along the border where it is feasible and useful, as well as personnel and technology over land, sea, and air. Texas shall seek repayment from the Federal Government for expenses incurred in securing the border."