On Saturday, March 29, we celebrate Vietnam Veteran’s Day and honor the men and women who served overseas during the Vietnam War. We should always remember the selfless sacrifice of our armed service members who answered the call of their country, served honorably, and, too often, returned to a nation that did not honor their service until years after they got home. Let us never forget the service and dedication of the 2.7 million veterans who served in that war and hold the memories of the 58,000 soldiers who did not return close to our hearts.
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol…
Capitol Update
This past week, I had the opportunity to lay out six of my bills, before the Committee that each of them have been assigned to. Four of those bills, House Bills 2000, 2103, 2115, and 2563 are among my top priorities for this session.
I had the honor of laying out House Bill 2000, Audrii’s Law, before the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee in memory of Audrii Cunningham. I am very grateful that Audrii’s grandparents, Tabitha and Phillip Munsch along with other family members and friends, could be in Austin for the hearing.
As Tabitha said, the tragic death of Audrii is the catalyst for change to ensure that her death was not in vain and that we close legal loopholes to protect our children from dangerous sexual predators. I’m pleased to report that HB 2000 was voted unanimously out of the Committee, and I look forward to bringing this bill to the House floor for a vote in the near future.
HB 2103 and 2115 are both bills that aim to provide more assistance to our rural law enforcement offices and officers. HB 2103 adds jailers employed by sheriffs and the TDCJ to the list of public safety employees entitled to mental health leave.
HB 2115 adds dispatchers to the list of employees in sheriff’s offices eligible for a salary or raise from the Rural Sheriff’s Office Grant Program. Rural areas have a pressing shortage of emergency dispatchers in sheriff’s offices, which presents numerous operational challenges for our law enforcement personnel in responding to emergencies within their jurisdictions.
HB 2563 creates the Prescribed Burn Manager Self-Insurance Program, which would be administered by the Texas A&M Forrest Service. This bill provides general liability insurance for Certified Insurance Prescribed Burn Managers conducting prescribed burns across Texas to reduce our wildfire risk through responsible land management.
The mobile office is on the road again in April and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: April 2 at the San Augustine County Courthouse from 9:30-11:30 am; April 9 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 pm; April 16 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 am, or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 pm.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
