It’s back to school time! Last week, the Texas Comptroller announced the 25th Annual Texas Sales Tax Holiday, which will take place from August 9 to 11 this year. This year, the holiday is estimated to save Texans over $140 million at the checkout, and it has saved Texans nearly $2 billion since its inception in 1999.
The holiday exempts sales tax on qualified items, such as clothing, footwear, school supplies, and backpacks, priced below $100, saving shoppers about $8 per $100 they spend. As the start of the new school year draws near, Deep East Texans should take advantage of this savings opportunity to stock up for the new school year.
With that, we’ll dive back into our examination of House interim charges. . .
House Interim Charge: Human Services
The House Committee on Human Services has jurisdiction over bills regarding welfare and rehabilitation programs, intellectual disability support programs, and the prevention and treatment of intellectual disabilities. The Committee also oversees state agencies such as the Health and Human Services Commission, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners, and the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
Over the interim, the Committee will monitor the implementation of House Bill 1575 and Senate Bill 24. HB 1575, which was passed to improve health results for pregnant women, created an enhanced screening process for expecting mothers to identify better nonmedical health-related needs. The bill also sought to increase access to existing support services by reimbursing community health workers to provide services to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
SB 24 consolidated programs offered during pregnancy, childhood, and to disadvantaged families for prevention and early intervention under the Health and Human Services Commission. The bill also established the Thriving Texas Families Program to fund services to families to promote healthy pregnancy, childbirth, and family formation and to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Additionally, the Committee will evaluate the appropriate role of the state in overseeing Medicaid managed care and will also study access to Home and Community-based Services Waiver,
including the interest list, effects of inflation on the cost of services, and availability of services and service providers.
House Interim Charge: Public Health
The House Committee on Public Health has jurisdiction over bills regarding the protection of public health, the practice of medicine and dentistry, mental health support programs, and the treatment of mental health.
The Committee also oversees state agencies such as the Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Medical Board, the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, and many other agencies.
Over the interim, the Committee will monitor the implementation of Senate Bill 26, which seeks to expand mental health capacity, especially for children and adolescents, by creating an innovation grant program. The bill also implements a methodology for transitioning patients out of state hospitals.
Additionally, the Committee will study the best practices of procedures for the emergency detention of a person with mental illness. The Committee will also examine the causes contributing to the closures of obstetrics units in rural areas and the effects of the closures on births, infant mortality, and maternal mortality and will make recommendations to ensure access to prenatal and obstetrical care in rural Texas.
The mobile office is on the road again in August, and our District Director looks forward to seeing you on the following dates at the following times: August 7 at the San Augustine County Courthouse in San Augustine from 9-11 a.m.; August 14 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Livingston from 9-11 a.m. and the Tyler County Commissioner’s Courtroom in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m; and August 21 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9-11 a.m. and the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m
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 and my Capitol office may be reached at (512) 463-0508. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will be posting regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and sharing information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
