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Special Session Wrap: Life Wins, Privacy Dies

August 15, 2017

Texas Values Action congratulates the Lt. Gov. and Texas Senate on leading the effort on to final passage of several key pro-life reforms, yet strong disappointment in privacy protection in showers, bathrooms and locker rooms being blocked and ultimately stopped by Speaker Joe Straus and Rep. Byron Cook.

“The leadership of Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, the Texas Senate, and a few House members are the only reasons why some positive things happened during the special session,” said Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values Action. “If Joe Straus and Byron Cook would have let the House vote we would also have a privacy bill being sent to the Governor, as well. There is unfinished business and the voters will soon have the final word.”

Bills signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday that Texas Values Action actively supports:

  • HB 13, by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell, enforces reporting requirements for abortion complications.
  • HB 214, by Rep. John Smithee and sponsored by Sen. Brandon Creighton removes elective abortions from standard Texas health insurance plans so Texans will not be forced to subsidize elective abortions through secret Obamacare rules.

Bills actively supported by Texas Values Action on their way to the Governor to be signed:

  • HB 215, by Rep. Jim Murphy and sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, improves reporting requirements regarding data on how minors receive permission for abortions
  • SB 11, by Sen. Charles Perry and sponsored by Rep. Greg Bonnen, protects patients from unwarranted do-not-resuscitate orders (DNRs).

Key bills that died which Texas Values Action actively supported:

  • HB 14, by Rep. Drew Springer, sponsored by Sen. Charles Schwertner, would have prohibited taxpayer funding for abortion providers. The Senate version of the bill passed quickly, but the House version stalled as the bill was “lost” in Chairman Byron Cook’s office printer for almost 3 weeks. The bill died in the Calendars Committee.
  • SB3/HB46, the Texas Privacy Act, by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and Rep. Ron Simmons, respectively, to keep men out of girls’ showers, restrooms, and changing areas, passed the Senate but House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook refused to schedule a hearing and send the bill to the full House. The Privacy Act, according to a recent survey commissioned by Texas Values, had the support of nearly 80 percent of Republican voters. A coalition of supporting pastors and a list of businesses reached well over a million Texans.
  • SB 2, school choice for special needs students through education savings accounts, passed the Senate but got held up in House calendars. Texas Values supports school choice in its various proposals as a means of empowering parents to determine their children’s educational future.

MORE INFORMATION:

More details on the Texas Privacy Act, including videos, testimonies, press releases, and fact sheets, may be found at http://www.txvalues.org/protectprivacy

About Texas Values Action

Texas Values Action is the 501(c)(4) advocacy arm of Texas Values, a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvaluesaction.org

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