MOMS

Juan Hinojosa

This bill is designed to curb illegal immigration by allowing the Governor to establish an interstate compact for border security with any interested states for the purpose of sharing intelligence and resources to build a physical wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Support is Moms for America's position as the promotion of an open-border immigration system places an immense strain on U.S. infrastructure and taxpayer resources, ranging from welfare to the education system, while also creating serious national security and human trafficking issues. Lawmakers should focus on growing the U.S. economy through reforms to the immigration system that both increase the number of skilled individuals who may enter and work in our country and reduce human trafficking across our borders.

Strengthening National Security by Creating an Interstate Compact for Border Security to Help Combat Illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking.

This bill allows retired judges who have a handgun license to carry a firearm into restricted places, such as courthouses, schools, and polling locations. Support is Moms for America's position as disarming individuals through pointless "gun control" measures merely make law-abiding citizens targets to criminals who do not abide by the law. And while all law-abiding individuals should be permitted to exercise their Second Amendment rights and defend themselves in these locations, this bill serves as a step in the right direction in helping protect individuals who may be at elevated safety risks.

Strengthening Self-Defense and Public Safety by Authorizing Retired Judges to Carry a Firearm into Courthouses and Other Restricted Places.

This bill permits the Arlington Independent School District to allow the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts facility. Support is Moms for America's position as this bill expands consumer choice and individual liberties while also generating additional sales tax revenue for taxpayers.

Expanding Individual Liberties and Tax Revenue by Allowing the Sale and Consumption of Alcohol at a Fine Arts Performing Venue in Arlington.

This bill creates the "Lone Star Workforce of the Future Fund" which provides grants to select public junior colleges, technical institutes, and nonprofits for workforce training programs. The bill allows the grants to be utilized for a wide range of purposes including staff salaries and curriculum development, with entities eligible to receive a grant of up to $15,000 per participant. Oppose is Moms for America's position as the free market - not central planning by government bureaucrats - is best equipped to determine the most in-demand career fields and direct resources to the most effective training entities. This measure merely enriches government-favored entities (some which may be ineffective) while further increasing out-of-control spending.

Fueling Runaway Spending and Enriching Government-Favored Educational Entities through the Creation of the "Lone Star Workforce Future Fund".

This bill prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 classrooms. The bill also requires school districts to adopt a policy related to school employees communicating with students outside of a human sexuality course and that directs employees to refer students to discuss such topics with a parent, counselor, or the student's teacher. Support is Moms for America's position as strong parental rights in their child's education is a critical element of a free society. This measure prevents discussion of sensitive topics in which it is the role of parents to address with their child, not government employees.

Strengthening Integrity of the Education System by Prohibiting Discussion of Sensitive Issues Surrounding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in K-12 Classrooms.

This bill requires school districts to allow parents the option to be notified whenever their child checks out materials from a school library, including the title and genre. Additionally, the bill prohibits school libraries from acquiring materials containing harmful, indecent, or profane content. Support is Moms for America's position as strong parental rights in education are critical to a free society. Parents, not government employees, should be the ones to make decisions over the types and degree of sensitive material that their child views.

Strengthening Parental Rights in Education by Ensuring only Age-Appropriate Materials are Displayed in Public School Libraries.

This bill, the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, provides select businesses which meet certain investment thresholds and job requirements with property tax exemptions. Under the bill, businesses will receive tax exemptions ranging between 50% and 75% for a period of 10 years, and a 100% tax exemption during the construction phase. Oppose is Moms for America's position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with as low of rates as possible for everyone. This and other tax cronyism schemes merely dilute the tax base which results in higher taxes on all other individuals and products to make up for the lost revenue. The free market (by lowering taxes for all businesses) can provide much greater returns on investment than this central planning by politicians.

Expanding Cronyism and Enriching Government-Favored Corporations through a New Property Tax Exemption Scheme.

This bill, the Alan Vera Memorial Act, contains several provisions related to election integrity. The bill expands the required cooperation of the Secretary of State with other states to identify ineligible voters. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to contract with a private sector data system to identify voters whose addresses have changed, are registered to vote in more than one state, are deceased, or who are not eligible to vote due to a felony conviction. Finally, the Secretary is required to use the National Change of Address database to identify voters whose addresses have changed to prevent multiple registrations. Support is Moms for America's position as maintaining strong safeguards against voter fraud are critical aspects of ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Strengthening Election Integrity through an Additional Voter Crosscheck.

This bill contains several provisions related to the release of individuals charged with felonies. Most significantly, the bill prohibits the release of a defendant on their own recognizance (no bond required) if they are charged with certain offenses, such as manufacture or delivery of fentanyl, terroristic threats, or unlawful possession of a firearm. Additionally, a magistrate may not release a defendant charged with a felony unless the defendant appears before the magistrate and the magistrate has considered the public safety report, which includes the defendant's criminal history. The bill also allows prosecutors to appeal a bail amount as being insufficient if a defendant is charged with a felony and is already out on bail for another pending felony. Support is Moms for America's position as ensuring public safety and protecting property rights serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Law and Order by Ensuring Bail is Imposed for Most Felony Offenses.

This bill allows school districts and charter schools to employ a chaplain for purposes of providing "support, services, and programs" to students. The bill also allows volunteer chaplains and provides that chaplains are not required to be certified by the State Board for Educator Certification. Support is Moms for America's position as this measure strengthens the First Amendment rights of individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs across the public education system.

Protecting the Ability of School Districts and Charter Schools to Employ Chaplains.

This bill prohibits home-rule municipalities from submitting any climate change charter to voters for approval unless the charter has been approved by the state legislature. This includes any rule or policy statement related to climate change or environmental impact. Support is Moms for America's position as a number of state and local governments across the country have imposed "clean energy" mandates on utility companies which unnecessarily drive-up consumer costs in order to advance a politized environmental agenda. While some may argue this bill undermines "local control", our founding fathers only recognized three entities within the U.S. Constitution - federal government, state government, and the individual. It is not the role for any level of government to unduly infringe the rights of individuals, therefore making preemption measures, such as this bill, necessary.

Protecting Texans from Politicized Climate Change Agendas by Requiring Municipal Charters on Climate Change be Adopted by the Legislature.

This bill earmarks $1.54 billion in state funds to continue construction of barriers along the Mexico border. Additionally, the bill provides $40 million for State Troopers to patrol Colony Ridge which has high levels of illegal immigrants. Support is Moms for America's position as ensuring public safety and national defense is arguably the most important role of government. Failure to secure our nation's border not only has catastrophic implications on the ability to maintain law and order, but also creates countless other issues ranging from welfare to the education system.

Restoring Law and Order by Earmarking $1.54 Billion in State Funds to Construct Barriers Securing the Mexico Border.

This bill places certain limitations on the ability of cities to limit the height of buildings. The bill applies to highly populated cities such as Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin and Forth Worth and only in cases where buildings are at least 50 feet from a lot line. Support is Moms for America's position as this bill strengthens property rights and helps empower the free market to make housing truly "affordable" by combatting overreaching zoning regulations which significantly drive-up housing costs.

Strengthening Property Rights by Limiting Certain Overreaching Building Height Restrictions Imposed in Densely Populated Areas.

This bill requires all restaurants to display a "food allergen awareness" poster for employees, with the content to be determined by the Department of State Health Services. Additionally, food education and training programs are now required to include food allergy information, and a food manager certificate examination must include this information. Oppose is Moms for America's position as while well intentioned, the private sector (such as non-profit entities) is much more effective in educating the public and food establishments about the dangers of food allergens and providing the necessary materials and awareness. The government regulatory and nanny state should not be continually expanded to perform an endless list of duties such as this measure.

Growing the Regulatory State through an Excessive "Food Allergen Awareness" Poster Mandate on all Restaurants and Food Establishments.

This bill prohibits local governments from enacting any ordinances which bans or restricts the sale or use of an engine based on the type of fuel used. Additionally, the bill prevents localities from banning any energy source infrastructure (such as gas stations). Support is Moms for America's position as this bill helps protect individual liberties as well as automotive freedom. While some may argue this bill undermines "local control", our founding fathers only recognized three entities within the U.S. Constitution - federal government, state government, and the individual. It is not the role for any level of government to unduly infringe the rights of individuals, therefore making preemption measures, such as this bill, necessary.

Protecting Consumer Choice by Preventing Localities from Imposing any Ordinance which Restricts or Bans Gas-Powered Engines or a Source of Energy.

This bill is largely targeted towards online providers of clear orthodontic aligners such as SmileDirectClub. Under the bill, clear aligners (which are similar to braces) are now classified as a "medical device" and can't be provided to an individual unless they undergo an in-person examination by a dentist, receive dental x-rays, and are provided a prescription for their usage by a dentist. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this measure represents one of the worst examples of cronyism and utilization of government power to stifle competition under the guise of "consumer protection". This protectionism merely enriches orthodontists and dentists and prevents the free market from expanding competition and lowering costs for consumers. Unfortunately, perhaps due to similar attacks in other states, SmileDirectClub was forced into bankruptcy and shutdown on December 21, 2023.

Expanding Government Power in the Orthodontics Industry to Shutdown Competition by Online Providers of "Clear Aligners" such as SmileDirectClub.

This bill amends the public information request system by allowing government agencies to withhold information that it makes a good faith determination is exempt from public disclosure. This is intended to reduce the amount of attorney general decisions requested and reduce the response time for information requests, with appeals of decisions to withhold information permitted. The bill also allows the attorney general to fine any governmental entity $1,000 for submitting a bad faith request for an opinion, and an additional $500 each day until the requested information is provided to the requestor. Support is Moms for America's position as this bill helps strengthen government transparency and accountability by increasing efficiency.

Strengthening Government Accountability and Transparency by Reforming the Public Information Request System to Quicken Response Times and Reduce Bad Faith Requests.

This bill directs the PublicUtilityCommission to provide a method to establish an "annual energy savings goal" of 1% for each electric utility by 2030. This is in addition to the existing energy efficiency goals and programs. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this bill unnecessarily drives up electricity costs for families and businesses in order to advance a politicized environmental and climate change agenda.

Hiking Electricity Rates by Imposing a 1% Annual Energy Savings Goal by 2030 on all Utility Companies.

This bill primarily targets a business model within the optometry industry which has been deployed by Visionworks of America, which is owned by an insurance company called Vision Services Plan (VSP) Insurance Co. The bill prevents VSP from incentivizing its enrollees to utilize the optometry company it owns (Visionworks) through the offering of discounts or other value-added benefits. Other optometry companies have alleged that since VSP owns its own optometry company and can "steer patients" it is provided an unfair competitive advantage in the industry. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this measure represents one of the worst examples of cronyism and utilization of government power to stifle competition. This protectionism merely enriches select businesses and prevents the free market from expanding competition and lowering costs for consumers.

Expanding Government Power to Shutdown Competition within the Optometry Industry.

This bill increases the penalty for tampering with a retail gas pump to steal fuel by making it a felony of the third degree. The bill is largely in response to organized criminal groups which have figured out how to disrupt fuel dispenser pulsers and as a result gain unlimited access to fuel. Support is Moms for America's position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Law and Order by Increasing Penalties for Tampering with a Gas Pump to Steal Fuel.

This bill expands the eligibility for the "Major Events Reimbursement Fund" which reimburses local governments for costs related to hosting events such as major sporting events, on the basis that doing so will attract more events and drive economic growth and tax revenue. Under the bill, each series of World Cup soccer games is considered a single event eligible to receive funding. Oppose is Moms for America's position as the free market - not central planning by government bureaucrats - is best equipped to drive economic growth.

Worsening Cronyism and Government Central Planning by Expanding Eligibility for the Major Events Reimbursement Fund to Include Additional Events.

This bill allows parents of public school students to transfer their child to a different school or receive funding to enroll their child in private school or home school if their child is a victim of an offense committed by an employee at their school. This includes any offense against the student, such as grooming, sexual offenses, and assault. Support is Moms for America's position as this bill promotes school choice as well as places greater pressure on public schools to protect children.

Providing School Choice for Students who are Victims of Misconduct or Sexual Grooming Occurring within a Public School.

This bill prohibits children under 18 years of age from receiving sex-reassignment procedures or puberty blockers until they reach the age of consent. Support is Moms for America's position as it is a role of government to protect children from abuse and physical harm. Irreversible decisions such as sex-reassignments should not be made until an individual reaches the age of consent.

Protecting Children Under 18 from Sex-Reassignment Surgeries and Prescriptions with Irreversible Implications Until they are Old Enough to Consent.

This bill requires an aspiring dietician to now obtain a master's degree, register with a national commission, complete an internship or other accepted training program, and undergo examination to work in the profession. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this bill serves as an unnecessary employment barrier primarily designed to restrict competition and enrich institutions which provide dietician education and training. Ultimately, the private sector, via certifications, rating systems, and the free market, is much better equipped to provide consumer protection while also ensuring competition and low consumer costs.

Increasing Employment Barriers and Enriching Certain Educational Institutions by Forcing Dieticians to Obtain Masters Degrees.

This bill creates a statewide framework for natural gas utility companies to offer energy conservation programs. These programs typically involve subsidies for purchasing higher energy efficiency appliances or for retrofitting a home or business to increase energy efficiency. The programs are paid for by raising natural gas utility rates on all customers through "rate recovery" which also provides utility companies a larger guaranteed profit. Additionally, the bill allows utility companies (which heavily lobbied for the bill) to receive additional profit for designing, marketing, administering, and delivering an energy conservation program. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this and many other energy efficiency schemes are largely designed to enrich select product manufacturers, service providers and utility companies at the expense of all other Texans. Such cronyism is especially harmful to low-income and elderly individuals on fixed incomes who can't afford rising utility costs.

Hiking Natural Gas Utility Costs for Texans to Enrich Utility Companies and Create New Energy Conservation Programs.

This bill prohibits a municipal library from receiving state or public funds for a period of a year if it hosts a "drag queen" event where a person dressed as the opposite gender reads a book or story to a minor. Support is Moms for America's position as taxpayer-funded spaces should not be utilized to promote sexual content to minors.

Protecting Minors from Sexual Content by Defunding Public Libraries which Host Drag Queen Events.

This bill establishes a series of new regulations which prohibit all insurance companies operating in the state from establishing their own policies concerning Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). The new mandate and price control apply to both the coverage decisions of insurers as well as their rate setting practices. Oppose is Moms for America's position as this government intrusion into the marketplace infringes the right of private insurance companies to set their own policies and coverage decisions. Instead of weaponizing government, lawmakers should instead work to reduce regulations and expand competition so the free marketplace can better reward and punish insurers based on the policies they enact.

Imposing Overreaching New Regulations on the Insurance Industry by Banning Private Companies from Setting their own Policies Surrounding ESG.

This bill allows courts to remove district attorneys for misconduct if they refuse to prosecute certain types of crime. The bill is largely in response to cases of "reform-minded" prosecutors that have refused to prosecute crime or uphold the state's abortion laws. Support is Moms for America's position as ensuring public safety and protecting property rights serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is necessary to combat many of the so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Public Safety by Allowing Courts to Remove Rogue DAs which Refuse to Prosecute Crime.

This bill prohibits faculty at public colleges and universities from advancing critical race theory (CRT) by compelling students to conform to a belief that one person is inherently superior to another based on characteristics such as race, sex, ethnicity, or beliefs. Colleges and universities are required to fire any faculty member who violates this provision. The bill provides that institutions must instead be focused on "intellectual inquiry and academic freedom" and "intellectual diversity." Support is Moms for America's position as colleges and universities should be focused on educating and preparing students for careers, not advancing social and political agendas.

Protecting Students from Forced Acceptance of Critical Race Theory (CRT) at Public Colleges and Universities.

This bill authorizes Angelina County to impose a new hotel tax, with the revenue to be used to promote tourism, conventions, and hotels. Oppose is Moms for America's position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with as low of rates as possible for everyone. Additionally, it is not the proper role of government to fund tourism promotion and taxpayer funds should not be utilized to advance government-favored industries.

Increasing Taxation and the Growth of Government by Allowing Angelina County to Impose New Taxes on Hotels for Wasteful Tourism Promotion Initiatives.

This bill provides $100 million in funding to establish a new state border policing unit made up of commissioned peace officers. Funding is also directed to a number of initiatives designed to boost border security such as detention facility upgrades, temporary border barriers and compensation to certain property owners impacted. Support is Moms for America's position as ensuring public safety and national defense is arguably the most important role of government. Failure to secure our nation's border not only has catastrophic implications on the ability to maintain law and order, but also creates countless other issues ranging from welfare to the education system.

Strengthening National Security and Helping to Combat Illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking Through Additional Border Security Funding and Property Owner Compensation.

This bill requires cities to provide written notification of any proposed zoning change which could cause a non-conforming use for a property owner or business. If the owner is required to close or cease operations, they would be entitled to compensation, such as the loss in market value of the property. The bill is, in part, in response to a case where a shingle factory operating for 80 years was forced to shut down without any compensation. Support is Moms for America's position as many of the zoning and land use ordinances enacted across the state are overreaching and oftentimes designed to benefit select property owners or restrict competition. Similar to cases of eminent domain, any business forced to shut down for public good reasons should be provided with just compensation.

Strengthening Property Rights by Protecting Businesses from Local Zoning Changes.

This bill provides rideshare companies (such as Uber and Lyft) with legal immunity from any harm or injury caused by a driver, provided the company has followed all applicable laws, unless a person can show gross negligence by "clear and convincing evidence." Support is Moms for America's position as protecting business operators from frivolous litigation due to factors outside of their control is critical to ensuring their operation and maintaining low consumer costs.

Reducing Frivolous Litigation by Providing Liability Protections to Rideshare Companies.

This bill prohibits county clerks, elections administrators, early voting clerks and certain other officials from suspending laws relating to acceptance of early mail-in ballots. This includes suspension of requirements such as the carrier envelope certificate being properly competed, the signatures being valid, and the ballot application stating a valid reason for voting early by mail. Support is Moms for America's position as maintaining strong safeguards against voter fraud are critical aspects of ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.