Harrison’s letter to Abbott notes that healthcare workers may now be fired for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine unless the Legislature steps in.
HB 7 contains measures that were lost in the House, including a border protection force and criminal penalties for illegal border crossings.
The bill would have made it a state crime to cross the border illegally, including a felony charge for illegal aliens who disobey an order to leave.
Texas has remained under COVID-19 emergency orders for three years and legislation to reform the state’s disaster laws has yet to pass.
A proposal in the Texas Senate would beef up the state’s border security laws with a new type of criminal trespass.
Several bills reining in the emergency powers used in the state’s response to COVID-19 are progressing through the legislative process.
After years of responding to individual ordinances, GOP legislators have an eye on passing a proactive preemption measure.
The Texas Constitution prohibits the Legislature from considering most bills on the floor until 60 days into session except for extenuating circumstances.
Texas state lawmakers have introduced bills to elevate the punishments for crimes such as human smuggling and operating stash houses.
Several local governments contend Gov. Abbott exceeded his authority in prohibiting local mandates.
Three years after COVID emergency powers were first deployed, momentum builds behind reforming the Texas Disaster Act.
Patrick appointed 12 Republicans and one Democrat to chair the Senate's committees, calling them the "best equipped group of senators in Texas history."
