2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The Texas Young Republicans routinely survey our membership to determine what they think should be priority items of the Texas Legislature. At the TYRF 2020 Convention we passed a resolution with these legislative priorities for 2021:

Constitutional
Carry

Safeguard the right of all Texans to bear arms by adopting Constitutional Carry.

Abolish Abortion

Abolish
Abortion

Supporting bills that promote adoption, supporting Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act, the Heartbeat Bill, and the ultimate end of abortion in Texas.

Government
Reform

Protecting the freedom of Texans to engage in economic activity without abusive “emergency” regulations, and restoring the proper balance of power between the Texas legislature and governor.

Cannabis Policy

Cannabis
Policy

Penalty reduction for personal possession of small amounts of cannabis. Expand the Texas Compassionate Use Program to allow greater access to medical cannabis for Texans.

Bail Reform

Bail
Reform

Bail in Texas should be based only on a person’s danger to society and risk of flight, not that person’s ability to pay.

2021 Legislation that TYRF Supports or Opposes

The TYRF Policy Committee regularly meets to discuss bills introduced by the Texas Legislature.

Below you will find a list of bills that we, the TYRF Policy Committee, have chosen to support or oppose. You can read the bills in their entirety by going to https://capitol.texas.gov/ and looking up the bill by its number.

For questions or comments please contact our policy director, Jason Vaugn, at [email protected]

TopicPriorityTYRF PositionHB NumberSB NumberHB AuthorSB AuthorDescription
Bail ReformYESSupportsHB20Murr
CannabisYESSupportsHB1535KlickRelating to the medical use of low-THC cannabis by patients with certain medical conditions and the establishment of compassionate-use institutional review boards to evaluate and approve proposed research programs to study the medical use of low-THC cannabis in the treatment of certain patients.
CannabisYESSupportsHB99TothRelating to the possession of two ounces or less of marihuana; authorizing a fee.
Government PowersYESSupportsHB340/629/1690Cain/White/TinderholtRelating to the governor's power to control the sale, dispensing, transportation, storage, and use of alcoholic beverages, ammunition, explosives, combustibles, and weapons during a declared state of disaster or state of emergency.
Government PowersYESSupportsSB422SpringerRelating to the establishment of the Emergency Powers Board and its powers during a declared state of disaster or public health disaster.
GunsYESSupportsSB540SpringerRelating to authorizing certain person to carry a handgun
GunsYESSupportsSB546SpringerRelating to the places where a person may carry a handgun if the person is licensed to carry a handgun and to certain related criminal offenses.
Pro-lifeYESSupportsHB1515SB8SlawsonHughesRelating to prohibiting abortions after detection of an unborn child's heartbeat; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Pro-LifeYESSupportsHB3218SB1173SchaeferHancockRelating to the regulation of abortion, including information regarding perinatal palliative care and prohibiting discriminatory abortions; authorizing disciplinary action; providing a civil remedy; creating a criminal offense.
Pro-lifeYESSupportsHB3760SB1647OliversonPerryRelating to information regarding perinatal palliative care, regulation of abortion, and the availability of certain defenses to prosecution for homicide and assault offenses; providing an administrative penalty; creating criminal offenses.
"Let There Be Light"SupportsHB17DeshotelRelating to a restriction on the regulation of utility services and infrastructure based on the energy source to be used or delivered
AbortionSupportsHB69TothRelating to prohibiting abortion at or after 12 weeks post-fertilization.
AbortionSupportsSB294PerryRelating to reports on abortions performed at an abortion facility.
AnimalsSupportsHB399ShaheenRelating to a dog's restraint and shelter.
CannabisSupportsHB 439CanalesRelating to the criminal penalties for possession or delivery of marihuana and marihuana concentrate.
CannabisSupportsHB 441ZwienerRelating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain marihuana possession and drug paraphernalia possession offenses; imposing a fee.
CannabisSupportsSB 90MenéndezRelating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and testing facilities; authorizing fees.
Crim JusticeSupportsHB132CanalesRelating to criminal asset forefeiture proceedings
Crim JusticeSupportsHB1441SchaeferRelating to the state ’s burden of proof in certain asset forfeiture proceedings under the Code of Criminal Procedure
Crim JusticeSupportsHB3606LeachRelating to the provision of vocational training to inmates confined in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice transfer facility
Crim JusticeSupportsHB3655WhiteRelating to the authority of certain facilities to temporarily detain a person with mental illness
Crim JusticeSupportsHB4355KrauseRelating to providing children committed to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and prisoners serving a sentence in a county jail with certain documents on discharge or release
Crim JusticeSupportsHB667DuttonRelating to asset forfeiture proceedings under the Code of Criminal Procedure
EducationSupportsHB1603HubertyRelating to the use of individual graduation committees and other alternative methods to satisfy certain public high school graduation requirements
Government PowersSupportsHB1137CainRelating to limiting the assessment of certain fees and taxes during a declared state of disaster.
Government PowersSupportsHB1517DuttonRelating to the hours for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at certain licensed or permitted premises during special events
Government PowersOpposesHB2206TalaricoRelating to the Texas Climate Action Act.
Government PowersSupportsHB25SwansonRelating to a prohibition on the distribution of an application form for an early voting ballot.
Government PowersSupportsHB26SwansonRelating to the governor's power to control the sale, transportation, and use of weapons and ammunition during a declared state of disaster or state of emergency.
Government PowersSupportsHB329CainRelating to election integrity.
Government PowersSupportsHB335CainRelating to the cancellation of a person's voter registration on notice that the person has acknowledged that the person is not a citizen; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Government PowersSupportsHB61SwansonRelating to the signature required on an application for voter registration or for a ballot to be voted by mail.
Government PowersSupportsHB906KrauseRemoves the state or local government's authority to distinguish between "essential" and "nonessential" employment and services during a declared disaster
Government PowersSupportsHJR47KrauseA special session is triggered if certain disaster or emergency declarations last for 30 days
Government PowersSupportsHJR72SJR27LeachHancockProposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting a religious service conducted by a religious organization
Government PowersSupportsSB551CampbellRelating to wages and employment benefits
GunsSupportsHB1387HarrisRelating to the storage of firearms and ammunition in the same locked location in certain foster homes
GunsSupportsHB1500SB18Hefner
GunsSupportsHB1856HefnerRelating to carrying and storing a firearm or firearm ammunition by a hotel guest
GunsSupportsHB1911WhiteRelating to provisions governing the carrying of a handgun by certain unlicensed persons and to other provisions related to the carrying, possessing, transporting, or storing of a firearm; providing criminal penalties.
GunsSupportsHB530PattersonRelating to the applicability to election judges of a prohibition on the carrying of a handgun at a polling place
Pro-LifeSupportsHB 1424OliversonRelating to a health care provider's right to object to participation in a medical procedure that violates the provider's ethical, moral, or religious beliefs.
Pro-lifeSupportsHB1291SB573Bell, KeithSpringerRelating to notice of the right to object to participation in an abortion procedure for health care personnel of a hospital or health care facility.
Pro-LifeSupportsHB1452ShaheenRelating to prohibiting certain discriminatory abortions; authorizing disciplinary action; authorizing an administrative penalty.
Pro-LifeSupportsHB2727HefnerRelating to voluntary and informed consent to an abortion.
Pro-LifeSupportsSB917HughesRelating to advance directives or health care or treatment decisions made by or on behalf of patients.
RegulationsSupportsHB1071HarrisRelating to the presence of a qualified facility dog or qualified therapy animal in certain court proceedings
RegulationsSupport with AmendmentHB344CanalesRelating to the payment of gratuities to certain employees
TaxesSupportsHB1341LeachRelating to waivers for entrance fees to state parks for resident first responders, military service members, and veterans.
WaterHB 1801Larson
WaterSupportsHB 1926WilsonRelating to the extension of water or sewer service by certain retail public utilities at the request of a developer.
SupportsHB1057OliversonRelating to designating November 7 as Victims of Communism Day
CannabisYESSupportsHB 3772SB 1175WhiteJohnsonRelating to the criminal and licensing consequences of certain criminal offenses involving the possession or delivery of marihuana and cannabis concentrate or possession of drug paraphernalia; imposing a fee; authorizing a fine.