January 2021 Newsletter

State Representative Michelle Beckley

This month in the Texas Legislature has been interesting to say the least.

Due to concerns about the Opening Day ceremony becoming a superspreader event, with all the guests that would be allowed to be in attendance, Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos and I were sworn-in offsite at the Mexic-Arte Museum's murals to Black Lives Matter and in remembrance to those lost to COVID-19. Follow this link to watch my swear-in.

The next two days I went to work in the Chamber to vote on House Rules, where we were still not socially distanced. That Thursday I learned that fellow Democrat Rep. Deshotel, who sits three feet behind me on the House Floor, tested positive for the virus... and he had not been utilizing free testing available to all of us that week as well as removing his mask at times while sitting behind me. As a result, I was quarantined through this week. Thankfully, I have tested negative and will be receiving my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine through Denton County Public Health next week.

Our Bills

Despite being in quarantine, my office and I have been working diligently on our bills. I have currently authored 18:

HB 508: Relating to health benefit plan coverage of pre-existing conditions.

HB 509: Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid to all persons for whom federal matching funds are available.

HB 510: Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment.

HB 511: Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for Medicaid recipients with increased household income from employment with a small business.

HB 512: Relating to a Medicaid buy-in program for employees of small businesses.

HB 513: Relating to the expansion of eligibility for Medicaid in certain counties.

HB 514: Relating to repealing provisions prohibiting a physician assistant from serving as a governing person or officer of certain business entities.

HB 516: Relating to the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of public school students.

HB 517: Relating to school district policy regarding custodian workloads.

HB 518: Relating to a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding recommended standards for school district facility maintenance and custodial services.

HB 519: Relating to the registration of voters at a polling place during early voting by personal appearance and related procedures.

HB 520: Relating to the regulation by the Texas Department of Transportation of right-of-way landscaping installed by utilities.

HB 661: Relating to voting system equipment used by counties participating in the countywide polling place program.

HB 1037: Relating to certain statutory changes to reflect and address same-sex marriages and parenting relationships and to the removal of provisions regarding the criminality or unacceptability of homosexual conduct.

HB 1038: Relating to the repeal of the criminal offense of homosexual conduct.

HB 1099: Relating to ad valorem tax protests and appeals on the ground of the unequal appraisal of property.

HB 1101: Relating to mandatory sales price disclosure in real property sales; providing a civil penalty.

HJR 58: Proposing a constitutional amendment to repeal the constitutional provision providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage.

We have a further three that are still being drafted: tuition exemption for emergency operators or dispatchers attending certain courses of higher education, clarifying language surrounding massage parlors, and allowing liquor to be delivered into any municipality.

If you have any questions about any of our bills, please do not hesitate to contact our Legislative Director Cesar Obregon at Cesar.Obregon@house.texas.gov. Either he or our new Legislative Aides will reach out to you.

Tomorrow at 1pm we will be going live on Facebook with Texas Academy of Physicians' Assistants President Matt Boutte to speak about Physician Assistants' role fighting against the pandemic and the importance of HB 514 for their small businesses. Watch our Facebook live here.

Our Cities

Additionally, we have been communicating with our cities about their legislative priorities. I have spoken with Lewisville Mayor Durham, Carrollton Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cochran, and a representative from the City of Coppell concerning an important issue in particular that is facing our cities - a rule change to how sales tax is collected that will have deep economic impact. As a result of these conversations, I spoke directly with Comptroller Hegar to address this proposed rule change and possible solutions for our cities.

Our Constituents

In our District Office, our District Director Ariana Johnson has celebrated her one year work anniversary with us! She has been working continuously to help countless constituents across the district access food, unemployment, rental assistance, career licenses, and other needed services. If you are in need of assistance, please contact District65.Beckley@house.texas.gov or call (972) 395-3519, and Ariana will respond.

Our Staff

Last but not least, we have three new interns added to our office! Texas A&M University students Abigail Jablon and Shruthi Murali have joined Team Beckley as Legislative Aides and Texas A&M University graduate Linda Quintero as Communications Director. They have been hard at work for the people of HD65! You will be hearing more from them in these emails as the 87th Texas Legislative Session moves on.

Even in subsequent quarantine, my staff and I have been moving forward on our work on our bills and representing our cities.

Sincerely,

State Representative Michelle Beckley (HD-65)

Newer Post >

The Impact of Voucher Programs on Public Schools in Texas: Why Defunding Public Schools is a Bad Idea

By Michelle Beckley • 06 Oct, 2023

Uncover the impact voucher programs have had on public schools in Texas and how defunding these institutions would be detrimental to student success.

House Bill 4072 Update

By State Representative Michelle Beckley • 06 Jul, 2021

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

Texas Armed Services Scholarship Program

By State Representative Michelle Beckley • 22 Jun, 2021

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