An Update From Austin
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Speaker Bonnen Makes Big Changes to Sunset Commission Membership
Even though he’s announced he will not be seeking re-election to the Texas House of Representatives, Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R-Angleton) is expected to continue in his role as the presiding officer of the House until the 87th Texas Legislature is sworn into office on Jan. 12, 2021.
In his role, the speaker appoints half of the members to the state’s Sunset Commission (Commission) that reviews and adopts changes recommended for state agencies. The other half are appointed by the lieutenant governor, who presides over the Texas Senate.
Recently, Speaker Bonnen announced he would be replacing current Sunset Commission Chair State Rep. Chris Paddie (R-Marshall) with State Rep. John Cyrier (R-Lockhart). The speaker also announced he would be replacing current Commission member State Rep. Poncho Nevarez (D-Eagle Pass) with State Rep. Tony Canales (D-Edinburg) and adding State Rep. Craig Goldman (R-Ft. Worth) as a new member.
Both Paddie and Nevarez factored heavily into the Legislature’s debate about the future of the State Board of Plumbing Examiners (SBPE) during the 2019 session. Their roles as members of the Commission added weight to their respective positions during the debate.
Rep. Paddie is seeking re-election and will be favored to win so despite his removal from the Sunset Commission, he will likely remain a key voice during the state licensure debate in 2021. Nevarez is not seeking re-election.
PHCC is continuing to work with its leadership and government relations team in assessing the impact of these changes on the state licensure debate expected in 2021. If you have or your company has a relationship with any of the newly named members of the Sunset Commission, please contact Sarah Rayburn (sarah@phcc-tx.org). PHCC will be encouraging its membership to contact key legislators regarding statewide licensure in the coming months.
Filing Deadline Ends, 2020 State and Federal Elections in Texas Set
The filing deadline for the 2020 elections in Texas has passed. With the 2020 presidential race heading the ballot, the election is expected to generate huge voter interest, with results impacting who will reside in the White House all the way down to which party will control the Texas House of Representatives.
There are no statewide office elections in 2020, but there is a full slate of races in the Texas Senate and Texas House.
A total of 17 candidates (12 Democrats/5 Republicans) have filed to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who will be seeking re-election in 2020.
In the Texas Senate, 16 of the 31 members are up for election. The current partisan breakdown of the Senate is 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Only one senator is retiring (Rodriguez, D-El Paso), resulting in a contested race in a heavily democratic stronghold. Ten Senate incumbents face opposition in the general election (Republicans: Hughes, Creighton, Taylor, Nelson, Kolkhorst, Flores, Birdwell and Buckingham; Democrats: Hinojosa and Zaffirini). Flores is the only incumbent who faces an uphill battle, as he is currently serving his first term after a surprising special election win in 2018 in a traditionally democratic district. While other incumbents will be favored to win, voter turnout will be an unpredictable factor that could produce some surprises on election night.
The outcome of races for the Texas House remains much more uncertain at this point. The current partisan breakdown in the House is 83 Republicans and 66 Democrats with one vacancy.
Some believe up to 31 House seats could have competitive races during the general election. To regain control of the Texas House, the Democrats would need a net gain of nine seats.
For a list of all state and federal contests in Texas during 2020, you may click here.
Strong Response to PHCC Key Contact Program — You Can Still Sign Up
Thank you to all who have expressed your interest in supporting PHCC’s legislative outreach program in 2020. In the months leading up to the 2021 session, PHCC will be helping to develop key contact relationships between its members and their respective legislators. Those who have volunteered to participate in the program should expect communications from PHCC in the coming weeks. If you have not volunteered to meet with your legislators on the importance of statewide licensure, you may do so by contacting Sarah Rayburn (sarah@phcc-tx.org).
