Help Save Texas Pollinators

Representative Michelle Beckley

Bee kind to our pollinators!

On Tuesday, March 23rd the House Committee on Transportation heard HB 520, my Bee Kind to Pollinators Bill. HB 520 would seek to remedy the damage done through destruction and placement of utility lines by requiring a utility that disturbs the right-of-way of a Texas state highway while constructing or maintaining a utility facility to plant native pollinator-friendly seed.

Let's save the bees! Call on your state legislators to create roadside habitat for bees. It's important we give bees the habitat they need to live. Tell your State Representative to support HB 520. 

to tell your legislator that you support HB 520.

At this time, HB 520 was left pending in committee - and we need your support! On Tuesday, March 23rd, we heard testimony from Erika Thompson with Texas Beeworks, Marianna Wright with the National Butterfly Center, Luke Metzger with Environment Texas, and Judith McGreary. Luke Metzger has said that HB 520 is “a really smart way to expand habitat for pollinators.” He also said, “pollinators are losing the food and nesting sites that are necessary for their survival; and so planting more habitat along our highways is a good way to help protect pollinators.”

The State of Texas has already determined that the health of the Western Honey Bee population is critical to the future of Texas and the health of our economy. The honey bee plays an essential role in the pollination of at least 90 commercially grown crops and 75% of all fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contributing more than $15 billion to the American economy every year. We understand that the utility companies cannot replace the trees as they pose a risk to the utility lines - which is why there is no requirement for tree replacement, just loss of plant life replacement. This bill ensures that Texas wildlife continues to flourish and helps preserve the essential jobs of our Texas bees. Honey bees are not only threatened by habitat loss, but also pesticides, mites, and climate change. During the winter freeze that we experienced in Texas in February - beekeepers say that many bees were killed off. Jerry Stroope with Stroope Honey Farms estimated that he lost about 30% of his bee colonies this winter from the freeze and from a phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder. My bill, HB520, would help create habitats for pollinators like bees and butterflies along state highways.

You can help save our precious pollinators by letting Transportation Committee Members know that you support HB 520.

 

Committee Members are as followed:

 


You may contact our Capitol Office at (512) 463-0478 if you have any questions. Thank you!

 

Sincerely,

 

State Representative Michelle Beckley (HD-65)

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
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