FOUNDERSPAC

Charles Anderson

This bill, the Property Tax Relief Act, contains a couple key provisions designed to limit increases in property taxes. Most notably, the bill lowers the appraisal cap from 10% to 5% and would expand the cap to also include business property owners, such as restaurants and apartment complexes, rather than just residential. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under School Finance and Property Taxation Section 91: "Property Tax Relief". "We support these incremental steps toward the ultimate abolition of property tax: b. Replace the appraisal system with a system that values property at the purchase price."

Protecting Homeowners and Businesses from Spiking Property Taxes by Limiting Annual Property Assessment Increases.

This bill creates both the "Texas Space Commission" and the Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium to promote innovation in the space, aeronautics, and aviation industry. The new entities are expected to require the hiring of at least 10 additional state employees at an estimated cost of $3.4 million over the next two years. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Spending Restraint Section 76: "State Fiscal Restraint". " We urge the Legislature to amend the Texas Constitution and State statute with a stricter spending limitation based on US Census population growth plus inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, and apply the new limit to Texas’s total government budget. We call on the Texas State Legislature to freeze State spending until wasteful programs have been eliminated, a sustainable size of government has been restored, and substantive property tax relief has been provided to Texas citizens. Any budget surplus shall be applied to property tax relief."

Growing Government Bureaucracy and Wasteful Spending through the Creation of the Texas Space Commission and the Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium.

This bill creates the "Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium," to, among other purposes, "develop a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure ongoing semiconductor innovation" and expand workforce training. The bill also creates the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund to provide grants to state government entities and semiconductor manufacturing and design companies in the state "to encourage economic development." Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 95: "Bailouts and Subsidies". "We encourage government to divest its ownership of all businesses that should be run in the private sector. We oppose all bailouts of and subsidies to domestic and foreign government entities, states, and for all businesses, public and private."

Worsening Cronyism and Government Central Planning by Creating the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium to Enrich Certain Companies.

This bill reduces regulatory barriers to now allow health insurance companies to incentivize their enrollees to utilize select healthcare providers based on quality and cost. This includes offering enrollees lower deductibles, co-payments or coinsurance. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Lowering Healthcare Costs by Allowing Insurers to Offer Incentives which Steer their Enrollees towards Providers based on Quality and Cost.

This vote convicts Attorney General Ken Paxton on Article 19 of the House impeachment inquiry. This article alleges Paxton engaged in private and public misconduct, described in the articles, that “indicate his unfitness for office.” This vote is also reflective of the other conviction votes cast by Senators against Paxton. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP based on the October 5, 2023 resolution issued by the party. The resolution expressed gratitude to the Texas Senate “for rejecting the politically motivated impeachment of Attorney General Paxton by the Texas House of Representatives that failed to satisfy due process, to comply with applicable Texas law and the Texas and United States Constitutions, and to adhere to precedent”.

Impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton

This bill increases the personal needs allowance provided to Medicaid welfare recipients at long-term care facilities (nursing homes). Under the bill the monthly allowance is increased by 25 percent to $75 from $60, which is more than double the federal $30 monthly minimum. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Government-funded Health Programs Section 146: "Welfare Reform". "We support the abolition of all federal welfare programs, as they are not an appropriate role of the federal government. Until such time, welfare reform should encourage partnerships with faith-based institutions, community, and business organizations to assist individuals in need. We oppose any further expansion of Medicaid."

Further Growing Medicaid Welfare Spending by Hiking the Monthly Personal Needs Allowance at Long-Term Care Facilities.

The Harrison and Leo-Wilson amendment #1 to a public school funding bill. This amendment provides that a school district is only eligible to receive the basic allotment funding if more than 50% of the district's maintenance and operations expenditures the previous school year were spent on salaries and benefits for full-time teachers. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under School and Property Taxation Section 93: "Administrative Bloat is Not Tranformative". "We call on Texas school administrators to deliver more education for our dollars, instead of nonstop lobbying for more dollars for education. At a minimum, 65% of revenue should be spent in the classroom. We oppose the underhanded strategy of making cuts to visible frontline teaching positions instead of administrators and overhead."

Protecting Taxpayers and Promoting Student Success by Ensuring School Funding is Directed to Teachers Instead of Wasteful Administration.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 183: "Court Accountability". "We believe district attorneys have a duty to seek justice for victims of all forms of crime and oppose policies that systematically decline to prosecute crimes."

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

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

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

This bill allows localities to implement a property tax credit equal to at least 50% of the value of property used for childcare services. Only facilities in which at least 20% of the children receive subsidized childcare services are eligible. Additionally, if the property owner leases the property to a childcare facility, the rent charged must be reduced to reflect the tax credit received. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 94: "Property Tax Abatements". "We support repealing Tax Code Chapter 312 county and municipal property tax abatements, and we oppose reintroducing school property tax abatements, formerly known as Chapter 313."

Hiking Property Taxes through a New Tax Exemption Scheme which Socializes Childcare Facility Costs.

This bill generally raises the bar to prosecute organized retail theft by now requiring a person to steal at least $100 of merchandise and be found to have "intent for the redistribution of that merchandise into the supply chain" to be guilty. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 183: "Court Accountability". "We believe district attorneys have a duty to seek justice for victims of all forms of crime and oppose policies that systematically decline to prosecute crimes."

Fueling Lawlessness and Business Closures by Making it Harder to Prosecute and Punish Cases of Organized Retail Theft.

This bill creates the employer child-care contribution partnership program for the purpose of "incentivizing eligible employers to contribute to employee child-care costs and providing a state match for funds contributed." Under the program, an employer must pay at least 20% of the employee's child care and the child care provider must be determined by the Texas Workforce Commission to be a "high-quality program." Individuals are eligible to receive a full match of the employer's contribution if their household income does not exceed the state median household income, with the matching amounts incrementally decreased if their income is higher. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 95: "Bailouts and Subsidies". "We encourage government to divest its ownership of all businesses that should be run in the private sector. We oppose all bailouts of and subsidies to domestic and foreign government entities, states, and for all businesses, public and private."

Growing Government Dependency and Wealth Redistribution through a New Program which Forces Taxpayers to Subsidize Childcare Costs via Employer Partnerships.

This bill provides that a person who sells or leases a vehicle weighing at least 6,000 lbs. is not liable for not retrofitting the vehicle with equipment, or selecting certain equipment, that was not required under federal regulations when the vehicle was manufactured or sold. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Courts, Prosecution, Restitution Section 184: "Frivolous Lawsuits". "We support further reform to discourage frivolous lawsuits. We oppose the abusive use of class action lawsuits and any law that allows government agencies to collect lawyer fees from the plaintiff when they win but not have to pay the plaintiff fees when they lose."

Protecting Truck Rental Companies from Frivolous Litigation for Not Retrofitting Trucks with Safety Equipment Upon their Sale.

The Bryant amendment #3 to a bill relating to teacher retirement benefits. This amendment increases the cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) by an additional 4%. For example, a retired teacher who would receive a 6% COLA under the bill, would now receive a 10% COLA. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Spending Restraint Section 78: "Government Pensions". "The Texas Legislature shall enact new rules to begin to transition government pensions for public sector employees from a defined benefit pension to a defined contribution retirement plan similar to a 403(b)."

Worsening Texas' Unfunded Pension Crisis by Providing Even Greater Unpromised Payouts to Beneficiaries.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Border Security and Immigration Section 256: "Border Security Funding". "We expect both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to make a priority of allocating funds to effectively secure the border through whatever means necessary, including but not limited to barriers, a border wall, and/or fence everywhere along the border where it is feasible and useful, as well as personnel and technology over land, sea, and air. Texas shall seek repayment from the Federal Government for expenses incurred in securing the border."

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

This bill requires anyone who provides sewage disposal system pumping services in the state to become licensed and empowers the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to determine the qualifications. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 39: "Licensing". "We call upon the Texas Legislature to review all Texas Department of Licenses and Regulations (TDLR), business/professional licensing programs, and associated licensing for the purpose of abolishing or removing as many as reasonably possible and repealing those laws, rules, and regulations."

Increasing Employment Barriers and Reducing Competition by Forcing Sewage Disposal Pump Technicians to Obtain a License.

This bill provides additional state subsidies ($25 million) to builders and purchasers of housing under the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. The LIHTC program subsidizes the acquisition, new construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income tenants. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 95: "Bailouts and Subsidies". "We encourage government to divest its ownership of all businesses that should be run in the private sector. We oppose all bailouts of and subsidies to domestic and foreign government entities, states, and for all businesses, public and private."

Expanding Cronyism and Diluting the Tax Base Through Additional Subsidies under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program.

This bill establishes a series of new regulations which prohibit insurance companies operating in the state from discriminating against companies on the basis of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). The new framework applies to both coverage decisions of insurers as well as their rate setting practices. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 46: "Texas Resistance to the Great Reset". "Texas should continue to pass legislation needed to protect the citizens of Texas from corporate violation of their rights in the Great Reset/Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) scheme as follows:  Make it illegal for banks and financial institutions operating in Texas to make lending decisions based on anything other than financial concerns. The model for such legislation shall be the Fair Access to Financial Services rule promulgated by President Trump’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which was immediately suspended by the current occupant of the White House.

Combatting Radical-Left ESG Policies Imposed by Insurance Companies

This bill prohibits "sexually oriented" shows and exhibitions from being performed on public property. Additionally, the bill requires any person or location that hosts such an exhibition (including drag shows) ensure minors are not allowed access. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Family and Gender Issues Section 209: "Protect Minors Until Age of Consent". "A law shall be enacted to protect the rights of the individual until the age of consent is reached. b. Protect against predatory sexual behaviors, including but not limited to “Drag Queen Story Hour.” 

Protecting Minors from Sexual Content by Ensuring Adult Entertainment is Not Performed on Public Property and that Minor Access is Restricted.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Energy and Environment Section 53: "Utilities". "We support free-market solutions for providing resilient and reliable utilities."

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

This bill changes the way the "no-new-revenue tax rate" is calculated by referencing the Texas Education Code. This new calculation will result in a higher rate (ultimately higher taxes) by including other funding within the formula. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under School Finance and Property Taxation Section 91: "Property Tax Relief". "We support these incremental steps toward the ultimate abolition of property tax: d. Close the loophole called the “Unused Increment Rate,” which allows taxing entities to bypass recently added limits to increases in property taxes.

Hiking Property Taxes by Gaming the Calculation of the "No-New Revenue" Property Tax Rate.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that .. businesses should be minimally regulated at all levels". 

Expanding Government Power to Shutdown Competition within the Optometry Industry.

This bill expands eligibility under the "Major Events Reimbursement Fund" to include a larger range of events ranging from Formula 1 to the country music awards, and equestrian competitions. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 97: "Special Funds". "We urge the Texas Legislature to abolish the Special Events Trust Fund program, the Texas Enterprise Fund, and the Moving Image Industry Incentive Program."

Worsening Cronyism and Government Central Planning by Forcing Taxpayers to Subsidize an Even Greater Range of Events (Formula 1 and Equestrian) under the "Major Events Reimbursement Fund".

This bill, the Restricting Explicit and Adult-Designated Educational Resources (READER) Act, prohibits school libraries from purchasing or possessing material that is harmful, sexually explicit, or "pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable." The bill also requires vendors to issue ratings for sexually explicit materials and schools must obtain parental consent before students may check out such materials from a school library. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Parents' Rights Section 106: "Inapporpriate and/or Harmful Content". "We request that the Texas Legislature pass legislation that requires Texas schools and libraries to filter inappropriate and/or harmful content, such as pornography, for minors. Operators of adult sex entertainment businesses and venues, adult entertainment of any kind, including Drag Queen Story Hour, shall not be part of educational programming in public schools, libraries, or any other taxpayer-funded program for children."

Protecting K-12 Students from Pornographic Content by Prohibiting the Sale or Distribution of Obscene Materials to Public Schools.

The Herrero amendment #45 to the appropriations bill. This amendment prohibits any funds in the bill from being used for school choice programs, including school vouchers, education savings accounts, tax credit scholarships, or grants that allow students to attend private schools. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Parents' Rights Section 101: "School Choice". "Texas families shall be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, and the funding shall follow the student without strings attached. We also support tax credits and exemptions for education and choice within the public school system."

Blocking School Choice by Prohibiting Any Appropriations within the Budget for School Choice Programs.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Transportation Section 63: "Freedom to Travel". "We oppose the Biden Infrastructure and Green Energy Plan that threatens our freedom to travel, imposes a federal mileage tax, as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or other social justice policies on Texas taxpayers and drivers. We oppose anti-car measures that punish those who choose to travel alone in their own personal vehicle, and oppose any measure to impose “road diet” mandates designed to shrink auto capacity and/or intentionally clog vehicle lanes to force deference to pedestrian, bike, and mass transit options (whose users do not pay gas tax)."

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

This bill authorizes a greater range of local taxing entities to provide tax freezes for seniors or individuals with disabilities. Previous law only provided school districts, counties, municipalities and junior college districts with the ability to provide a freeze, while this bill expands the authority to all local taxing units. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 94: "Property Tax Abatements". "We support repealing Tax Code Chapter 312 county and municipal property tax abatements, and we oppose reintroducing school property tax abatements, formerly known as Chapter 313."

Increasing Property Tax Burdens by Implementing a "Freeze" for Certain Older Individuals which Merely Shifts Burdens onto other Property Owners and Masks Underlying Spending Problems.

The Zwiener amendment #14 to a bill prohibiting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices at public colleges and universities. The amendment adds language requiring each public college and university to be committed to an environment of "racial, ethnic, and religious diversity that reflects the racial, ethnic, and religious diversity of the state of Texas." Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Higher Education Section 129: "Fund and Support Western Civilization Instruction, Defund Political Correctness". "Like Hillsdale College, we agree that state universities “should value the merit of each unique individual, rather than succumbing to the discriminatory trend of so-called social justice and multicultural diversity, which judges individuals not as individuals, but as members of a group which pits one group against other competing groups in divisive power struggles.” 

Advancing Affirmative Action by Mandating College Campuses Represent the Racial, Ethnic, and Religious Diversity of Texas.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Border Security and Immigration Section 256: "Border Security Funding". "We expect both the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress to make a priority of allocating funds to effectively secure the border through whatever means necessary, including but not limited to barriers, a border wall, and/or fence everywhere along the border where it is feasible and useful, as well as personnel and technology over land, sea, and air. Texas shall seek repayment from the Federal Government for expenses incurred in securing the border."

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

This bill, the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, prohibits local governments across the state from imposing additional regulations in various fields already regulated at the state level, such as agriculture, labor, and property. The bill also prohibits local governments from enacting any ordinance or rule that conflicts with state law. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 38: "Municipal Preemption". "We encourage the Legislature to preempt local government efforts to interfere with the State’s sovereignty over business, employees, and property rights. This includes but is not limited to burdensome regulations on short-term rentals, bags, sick leave, trees, and employee criminal screening."

Combatting Government Overreach by Prohibiting Local Governments from Imposing Additional Regulations on Certain Sectors.

This bill allows individuals who are not alcohol permit or license holders to sell wine to restaurants, provided the wine is at least 20 years old and still sealed. The restaurant may then sell the wine for on-premises consumption. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 41: "Reduce Business Regulations". "We believe that the following businesses shall be minimally regulated at all levels: Eliminate the three-tier alcohol system (production, distribution, and retail)."

Expanding Individual Liberties by Allowing Individuals to Sell Sealed 20+ Year Old Wine to Restaurants.

This bill allows most businesses subject to state licensing requirements to sue localities to prevent the enforcement of local regulations that are more stringent than state regulations or that can be shown to "result in an adverse economic impact." Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Markets and Regulation Section 38: "Municipal Preemption". We encourage the Legislature to preempt local government efforts to interfere with the State’s sovereignty over business, employees, and property rights. This includes but is not limited to burdensome regulations on short-term rentals, bags, sick leave, trees, and employee criminal screening."

Protecting Against Overreaching Local Regulations by Allowing Businesses to Sue to Block Enforcement.

This bill allows counties and municipalities which have established a "reinvestment zone" (i.e. tax increment financing) the ability to also utilize the funds to subsidize "legacy homeowners". As a result, individuals who have owned their property for at least 7 years and experienced a significant increase in their property taxes (due to a rise in their home value) would be eligible to have a portion of their property taxes subsidized. Oppose is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Opposition to Market-Distorting Tax and Fiscal Subsidies Section 94: "Property Tax Abatements". "We support repealing Tax Code Chapter 312 county and municipal property tax abatements, and we oppose reintroducing school property tax abatements, formerly known as Chapter 313."

Worsening Tax Cronyism by Providing Subsidies for Certain "Legacy Homeowners" in Government-Created Reinvestment Zones.

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 the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Parents' Rights Section 108: "Religious Freedom and Public Schools". We urge school administrators and officials not to infringe on Texas school students’ and staffs’ rights to pray and engage in religious speech, individually or in groups, on school property without government interference. We urge the Legislature to end censorship of discussion of religion in our founding documents and encourage discussing those documents, including the Bible as their basis. Students have the right to exhibit religious items on school property. "

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

This bill, the Save Women's Sports Act, requires public colleges and universities to allow males and females to only compete on the team of their biological sex based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up. However, females are allowed to compete in a male sport if their school does not offer a female team in that sport. Support is the position of the Texas GOP Platform under Governance Section 125: "Gender Identity in Schools". " The official position of the Texas schools shall be that there are only two genders: biological male and biological female. We oppose transgender normalizing curriculum and pronoun use. We hold that biological men shall compete only against other biological men and biological women shall compete only against other biological women in athletics in the public school system of Texas and at the collegiate level."