Texas Scorecard by Jeramy Kitchen March 31, 2021
What remains unclear is whether Abbott will be willing to rein in his own powers if any of the bills make it through the entirety of the legislative process.Two bills seeking to curtail perceived authorities by the Texas governor in times of disaster are moving through the process in the Texas Senate.
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs met to consider Senate Bill 1025 and Senate Joint Resolution 45 authored by State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R–Granbury).
Contrasting Approaches Between Legislative Chambers
Almost immediately after being filed, the bills received support from 11 Republican and three Democrat members of the Senate (nearly half of the 31 members).
SB 1025 amends the Texas Government Code to make it clear that only the Legislature has the authority to suspend or make law in declared times of emergency. SJR 45 seeks to amend the Texas Constitution to allow any current legislator the ability to sue the governor in the Supreme Court of Texas at a time of disaster if the governor fails to convene the Legislature after a qualifying disaster or emergency declaration.
In contrast, the House of Representatives has several members who have filed bills related to emergency powers, but none have really moved through the legislative process so far.
State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler) filed House Bill 2097 and House Bill 2098, which relate to mask mandate authority and the inability for citizens to be fined for not following emergency orders. State Rep. Steve Toth (R–The Woodlands) filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a trigger for a special called legislative session in the event any statewide disaster declaration is extended beyond 30 days, while also barring any suspension of constitutionally protected rights.
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/bills-seeking-to-curtail-executive-overreach-get-hearing-in-senate-committee/
