Last week the Texas House wrapped up its major deadline to pass House Bills (HBs). While we still have time left to consider Senate Bills (SBs), bills originating in the House died at midnight last Thursday night.

There is good news, though. While some priorities did not survive the deadline, the Texas House has passed several conservative priorities already, and we’re teed up to pass more that have been sent over by the Senate.

Protecting Children in Public Libraries

The biggest news over the last two weeks has been the passage of HB 3225 — a Republican priority — and my #1 bill this session. This legislation requires municipal public libraries to move sexually explicit books off the shelves in minor sections and to the adult section. I was honored and grateful to have received broad support on the bill, with it passing the House in a 93 to 37 vote.

HB 3225 is now in the Senate where Sen. Bryan Hughes is sponsoring it, and I have full confidence that he will carry it across the finish line and it will soon be sent to the governor’s desk.

This common-sense legislation will be pivotal in protecting our children and fostering safe, welcoming spaces for families in our libraries.

More Priorities Moving

In addition to the library bill, the House has passed many other fantastic bills that will help make Texas safer and stronger.

✅ Securing Texas Elections: The House passed SJR 37, a constitutional amendment clarifying that voters must be U.S. citizens, and HB 5138 to allow the attorney general to prosecute election fraud.

✅ Safeguarding National Security: SB 17 will prevent hostile foreign nations from buying land and property in Texas as is currently in a conference committee to make it the strongest version possible, and HB 119 will prevent our adversaries from hiring lobbyists.

✅ Protecting the Second Amendment: HB 3053 prohibits the local governments from using taxpayer dollars to host “gun buyback” programs. 

✅ Promoting Medical Freedom: HB 3441 holds manufacturers liable for advertising vaccines that cause harm or injury to individuals, HB 1586 makes school vaccine exemption forms more accessible, and HB 4076 prohibits discrimination against organ transplant recipients on the basis of vaccination status.

✅ Stopping Sexualization of Texas’ Kids: HB 4901 requires apps to be rated and limited to age-appropriate downloads, HB 186 prohibits minors from using social media platforms, and perhaps most significantly, HB 4623 makes schools liable for sexual misconduct of employees.

Coming Up…

With the House bill deadline now behind us, our focus has shifted to the remaining priority bills that originated in the upper chamber. Near the top of the list, the House and the Senate have worked out a deal for a bail reform package, which we will be debating on the floor today. It is important to note that this Governor priority received wide bipartisan support in the committee, and the final product should be a major win for conservatives as the efforts on the subject have been stymied in previous sessions. With this victory, Texas will make sure rogue, activist judges aren’t recklessly releasing violent offenders on the streets.

A deal between the House and Senate has also been struck to provide more property tax relief, raising the homestead exemption by $40,000 and setting the business personal property tax exemption to $125,000 — a deal that will help out both homeowners and small businesses owners.

I look forward to getting these great packages of legislation and many other priorities across the finish line. 

As always, thank you for the opportunity to serve.

For Texas,
Daniel Alders
House District 6