Governor Greg Abbott recently announced that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) launched the Texas Rent Relief Program - the first statewide rent and utility assistance program for qualifying households throughout Texas. TDHCA will begin accepting applications for the program on Monday, February 15th. Applicants will be able to submit their application by calling 1-833-9TX-RENT (1-833-989-7368) or submitting it online.
February 11, 2021 Newsletter
State Representative Michelle Beckley
The 87th Legislative Session carries on... and so does our pledge!
As you remember, last week I pledged to always test on days I am to be in the House Chamber or in Committee. This week I went to the House Chamber twice and thus tested twice. Negative on both counts! Additionally, staff continue to
test daily and do temperature checks upon entering the office.
Our Committees
With Committee assignments in, this week has been focused on planning how to be the most effective Committee Member possible on the International Relations and Economic Development Committee and the Elections Committee. We have been communicating with constituents and stakeholders in formulating our strategy for these Committees. When we have news of when Committee Hearings are scheduled, we will let you know.
Our Bills
This week we have been working with the Texas Legislative Council on the drafting of our two bills still in progress: tuition exemption for emergency operators or dispatchers attending certain courses of higher education and clarifying language surrounding massage parlors. We are hoping to be able to file those bills in the next couple of weeks, so please stay tuned.
Additionally, we will be meeting with the Railroad Commission regarding HB
520 and tomorrow will be meeting with Texas Package Stores Association and Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Texas regarding
HB 1519.
Our Meetings
Since our last message, I have also met with other organizations to discuss their legislative agendas, including the City of Plano, Target, and Texans for the Arts. Today I am looking forward to meeting with Pfizer, Lewisville Retired Teachers, and Farmers Branch Parks and Recreation.
Additionally, I was able to participate with some other of my colleagues in the Regional Meeting of the North Colleges convened by the Texas Association of Community Colleges as well as participate in the Texas Nurses Association's Virtual Visit with Legislators of Public Health Regions 2/3. Respectively I discussed the importance of access to education and health care for our fellow Texans.
Sincerely,
State Representative Michelle Beckley (HD-65)
Uncover the impact voucher programs have had on public schools in Texas and how defunding these institutions would be detrimental to student success.
The city council of Carrollton, Texas provided comments regarding House Bill 4072 , which was proposed during the 87th Texas Legislative Session. The city council of Carrollton, Texas expressed their opposition for HB 4072 . HB 4072 sought to simplify and clarify local sales and use tax administration by establishing as the state’s default sourcing method a destination-based method under which sales are sourced to the location where the item is shipped or delivered or where the purchaser takes possession. HB 4072 requires that local sales taxes be collected and reported based on an item’s final destination as opposed to the transaction location. The city council of Carrollton voiced that the proposed changes would have disproportionally impacted cities with large commercial bases, placed undue burden on businesses, and caused unintended consequences. Our office also reviewed the potential impact of HB 4072 on the City of Lewisville. If HB 4072 had been passed, the changes would have resulted in an annual loss of more than $10 million in sales tax for Lewisville. Lewisville would have likely faced reduced services and employee layoffs across all city departments, including police and fire departments. The Office of State Representative Beckley proudly represented the interests of Carrollton and Lewisville, by opposing this piece of legislation. HB 4072 intended to address a perceived inequity that results from the misuse of Chapter 380 agreements, but the Comptroller already has the authority to invalidate these types of agreements. Cities use Chapter 380 agreements to grow their economies and benefit their communities. HB 4072 was unsuccessful during the 87th Legislative Regular Session; it was voted out of the Ways & Means House Committee but did not make its way to the House Floor. HB 4072 was left pending in the Calendars Committee; the Calendars Committee has jurisdiction over the placement of bills and resolutions on appropriate calendars. The 87th Regular Session ended on May 31, 2021. Sincerely, State Representative Michelle Beckley
Are you or a loved one heading to college this Fall? Does he/she/they need financial help? The Office of Representative Michelle Beckley is asking for submissions for the Texas Armed Services Scholarship. The Texas Armed Services Scholarship (TASSP) has been created to assist promising students from the State of Texas who are committed to education and service. It encourages young leaders to participate in the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, the Texas State Guard, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Merchant Marine, or to become commissioned officers in any branch of the armed services of the United States. Each year the governor and the lieutenant governor may each appoint two students, and each state senator and each state representative may appoint one student to receive an initial conditional scholarship award. The amount of the award will be up to $10,000 and cannot exceed the student’s cost of attendance. Eligibility for Nomination: Students selected must meet two of these four academic criteria: Be on track to graduate or have graduated high school with the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP), the distinguished level of achievement under the Foundation High School program, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Have a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale Achieved a college readiness score on the SAT (1020) or ACT (23) Be ranked in the top one-third of the prospective high school graduating class Eligibility for Award: To receive a scholarship, an appointed student must: Be registered with Selective Service or be exempt Be enrolled an in good standing in a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program or another undergraduate officer commissioning program as certified by the institution Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) as indicated by the financial aid office at the recipient’s institution of higher education Enter into a written agreement with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Complete school-initiated Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program application by October 15, 2021 Repay the scholarship if requirements are not met If you’re interested in the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program, please send your resume and a short essay (300-500 words) explaining your interest in the program to Michelle.Beckley@house.texas.gov . You will receive an update to your nomination status by July 9, 2021. Feel free to reach out to our District Director , Ariana Johnson, if you have any questions about the Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program. Thanks and good luck! Please note: The scholarship applicant should be a House District 65 constituent. If you are unsure of who represents you in Texas, find out here . Best wishes, State Representative Michelle Beckley