Employer Vaccine Mandates

The third special legislative session concluded with a few things left undone. One of those things is prohibiting employer vaccine mandates.

This happened despite the fact that more than 20 bills were filed that would have addressed the issue. It was not until Day 22 of the 30-day special session that Abbott added the issue to the agenda.

He did this in response to Republican activists, lawmakers, and partisan pressure on the issue.

Two different bills got hearings, but none were considered by the overall House of Representatives or Senate, and the session concluded with the issue left unaddressed.

Hours after the session ended, the Texas Freedom Coalition and Republican lawmakers from both the House and Senate held a press conference requesting the issue be added to a would-be fourth called special legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also called for a fourth special session, but notably, it was to consider other issues and not to prohibit employer vaccine mandates.

Abbott responded to calls for another special session by saying it was not needed.

The Texas GOP penned an open letter to Abbott requesting a fourth special session to consider a prohibition on employer vaccine mandates, among other issues.

Pressure continues to grow as more Texans are being forced to choose between getting vaccinated or giving up their livelihoods.

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Texas House of Representatives Considering First Bill

Of the 10 items on the agenda for the ongoing third special session, it looks like six will make it across the legislative finish line.

Things left undone:

Increasing the penalty for voting illegally

Prohibition on employer vaccine mandates

Addressing whether state and local governments can mandate vaccines and if so what exemptions should exist.

Bail Reform

As a result, will Gov. Abbott call another special session to address them? Can he afford not to?

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Employer Vaccine Mandates

The third special legislative session concluded with a few things left undone. One of those things is prohibiting employer vaccine mandates.

This happened despite the fact that more than 20 bills were filed that would have addressed the issue. It was not until Day 22 of the 30-day special session that Abbott added the issue to the agenda.

He did this in response to Republican activists, lawmakers, and partisan pressure on the issue.

Two different bills got hearings, but none were considered by the overall House of Representatives or Senate, and the session concluded with the issue left unaddressed.

Hours after the session ended, the Texas Freedom Coalition and Republican lawmakers from both the House and Senate held a press conference requesting the issue be added to a would-be fourth called special legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also called for a fourth special session, but notably, it was to consider other issues and not to prohibit employer vaccine mandates.

Abbott responded to calls for another special session by saying it was not needed.

The Texas GOP penned an open letter to Abbott requesting a fourth special session to consider a prohibition on employer vaccine mandates, among other issues.

Pressure continues to grow as more Texans are being forced to choose between getting vaccinated or giving up their livelihoods.

Social Media

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@TexasScorecard

@OpinionatedK

Facebook:

@TexasScorecard

@OpinionatedK

Texas House of Representatives Considering First Bill

Of the eight items on the special session agenda, none have passed through the House, and less than 10 days remain.

The overall House is set to consider House Bill 1 (the proposed redistricting boundaries for 150 Texas House districts) on Tuesday, October 12.

It’s possible that other agenda items—such as regulations on the restraints of dogs and the proposed constitutional amendment related to bail reform—will also be considered this week. They are merely awaiting the House Calendars Committee to set them on a calendar.

Texas Senate in Contrast

The Senate has passed seven of the eight agenda items from their chamber.

They have yet to consider any legislation related to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and whether any exemptions should exist for such mandates.

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Issues Left Outstanding

Despite the Legislature convening four separate times, many Republican Party of Texas legislative priorities (as well as legislation addressing vaccine mandates) remain undone.

Republican Party of Texas Legislative priorities left unaddressed:

Protecting children from gender modification

Abolition of abortion

Texas Heartbeat Act passed and is now law, but it still allows for abortions up to a certain point.

Monument protection

School choice for all

Ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying

The issue of prohibiting vaccine mandates also remains addressed, despite the fact that the issue was added to the agenda for the third special legislative session, executive orders issued by TX Gov. Greg Abbott, and judicial action on the issue.

All of this happened, despite the fact that Republicans control all statewide offices and majorities in the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives.

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Candidate Filing Deadline

The candidate filing deadline is Monday, December 13, 2021.

Almost all Statewide elected officials have multiple challengers from within their own party.

5 Senate Races are notable, Senate Districts 10, 11, 24, 27, and 31.

Multiple liberal House Republican lawmakers like State Rep. Travis Clardy (Nacogdoches), State Rep. Kyle Kacal (College Station), and State Rep. Ernest Bailes (Shepherd) all have multiple Republican challengers.

You can find the 3 part series with an exhaustive listing/explanation here:

Part 1: Statewide Races Taking Shape

Part 2: Texas Senate Races Taking Shape

Part 3: Texas House Races Taking Shape

Unofficial candidate list for Congressional districts, statewide offices, Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives, and Texas State Board of Education.

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Conservative Leader Award Recipients

The Conservative Leader Awards gala took place on Saturday, December 4 in Irving, Texas. The following activists were honored:

Ammon Blair, Ashley Brickett, Betty Anderson, Don Dixon, Dorothy Boyett, Hilary Raebler, Joe Murphy, Joy & Terry Putnam, Konner Earnest, Mary Trammel, Michelle Bishop, Rafael Cruz, Sue Evenwel, and Tom Glass.

Julie McCarty was awarded the Torch of Freedom Award.

Growing List of State Lawmakers Not Seeking Re-election

Republican State Rep. Jeff Cason (Bedford) announced last week he would not be seeking re-election to his House District 92 seat.

Republican State Sen. Larry Taylor (Friendswood) announced last week he would not be seeking re-election to his Senate District 11 seat.

Republican State Rep. Mayes Middleton (Galveston) filed to run for the seat vacated by Sen. Taylor, thereby creating an open seat for House District 23.

There are currently 31 state lawmakers who have announced they are not seeking re-election to their current elected positions.

This includes 26 House lawmakers, made up of 15 Republicans and 11 Democrats.

This includes 5 Senate lawmakers, made up of four Republicans and one Democrat.

Filing Deadline Approaches

Several incumbent lawmakers have already received filed/announced primary and general election challengers.

The candidate filing deadline is Monday, December 13 for candidates up and down the ballot.

All current statewide elected officials have multiple primary challengers, with the exception of Republican Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

Hotly contested races in Texas Senate appear to be for Senate Districts 10, 12, 11, 24, and 31.

Liberal Republicans like State Rep. Travis Clardy (Nacogdoches), Kyle Kacal (College Station), and Ernest Bailes (Shepherd) have received multiple primary challengers.

You can find the three-part series with an exhaustive listing/explanation here:

Part 1: Statewide Races Taking Shape

Part 2: Texas Senate Races Taking Shape

Part 3: Texas House Races Taking Shape

More Lawmakers Announce They Are Not Seeking Re-election

Currently, 28 lawmakers are not seeking re-election to their current positions.

24 in Texas House of Representatives (13 Republicans and 11 Democrats)

4 in Texas Senate (3 Republicans and 1 Democrat)

Freshman Democrat State Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Dallas) announced she will be running for Texas Congressional District 30 to fill the seat being vacated by longtime Democrat Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.

Republican State Rep. Matt Krause (Haslet) announced he was suspending his campaign for Texas attorney general. Instead, he is running for Tarrant County district attorney.

Longtime East Texas Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert made his candidacy for Texas attorney general official last week, joining the already crowded Republican field of those challenging Republican incumbent Ken Paxton.

Notably, Republican State Sen. Bryan Hughes (Mineola) and Republican State Rep. Matt Schaefer (Tyler) have already announced re-election intentions for their current positions.

List of Lawmakers Supporting a Fourth Special Legislative Session Continues to Grow

Thus far, 24 Texas House and Texas Senate Republican lawmakers have publicly voiced support for a fourth special legislative session to address a prohibition on employer vaccine mandates.

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Prohibition on Employer Vaccine Mandates

The list of Republican lawmakers calling for a fourth special legislative session is slowly growing. It now includes 21 Republican state senators and state representatives.

The Republican Party of Texas has routinely called for a fourth special legislative session to address the issue of prohibiting employer vaccine mandates, among other issues left on the table from previous legislative sessions.

Republican leadership in the state has ignored the issue so far. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order issued in October has routinely been ignored by companies across the state.

The list of other states addressing this issue continues to grow. It now includes Florida, Iowa, Tennessee, Utah, and Ohio, which have all recently passed legislation with varying approaches.

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Candidate Filing Period Begins

Saturday kicked off the candidate filing period for candidates hoping to seek election in 2022.

The filing period will last until Monday, December 13, 2021.

Unofficial list of currently announced/filed candidates for U.S. Congress, statewide office, and the Texas Legislature.

Guillen Switches Party Affiliation

Monday, State Rep. Ryan Guillen (D–Rio Grande City) announced he will be switching party affiliations from Democrat to Republican, making him the 85th Republican in the Texas House of Representatives.

Guillen was first elected in 2002 and has recently voted as one of the most conservative lawmakers among his now-former Democrat colleagues.

He recently voted in favor of the Texas Heartbeat Act and constitutional carry in the 87th regular legislative session earlier this year.

It is likely, however, that this move is more about personal preservation than personal politics. The new district boundaries for Guillen's district are much more favorable to a would-be Republican candidate.

List Grows for Non-Returning Lawmakers

Currently, 23 lawmakers have announced they will not be seeking re-election to their current positions.

19 from Texas House of Representatives

4 from Texas Senate

Republican State Rep. John Cyrier (Lockhart) announced last week he would not seek re-election to Texas House District 17. He was first elected in 2015.

Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert announced he was "exploring" a run for Texas attorney general. If so, reports have indicated that Republican State Rep. Matt Schaefer (Tyler) will likely run, opening up yet another House seat.

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