The Texas State Republican Executive Committee approved 13 ballot propositions which will appear on the Republican primary election ballot for the primary election on March 5, 2024. These propositions do not make law. They serve as an opinion survey of Republican voters and are designed to push an agenda for the party’s platform and for use in issue advocacy for the next legislative session.

Republican voters will have the option to vote in favor or in opposition to the following ballot propositions:

Proposition 1: Proposes the elimination of all property taxes in Texas without increasing the overall tax burden for Texans.

Proposition 2: Suggests the creation of a Border Protection Unit in Texas, employing additional state law enforcement and military forces to seal the border, use physical force to prevent illegal entry and trafficking, and deport illegal aliens.

Proposition 3: Recommends that the Texas Legislature require all employers in the state to use E-Verify to ensure jobs are provided to legal workers by preventing the employment of illegal aliens.

Proposition 4: Advocates for ending all subsidies and public services, including in-state college tuition and public-school enrollment, for illegal aliens.

Proposition 5: Urges the U.S. Congress not to grant any form of amnesty or a pathway to legalization for illegal aliens.

Proposition 6: Proposes that the Texas Legislature prohibit the deployment of the Texas National Guard to foreign conflicts unless the U.S. Congress formally declares war first.

Proposition 7: Suggests establishing authority within the Texas State Comptroller’s office to administer access to gold and silver via the Texas Bullion Depository for use as legal tender.

Proposition 8: Advocates for Texans to have the freedom to consent or withhold consent for any vaccine without coercion.

Proposition 9: Recommends that voting in the Republican primary be restricted to registered Republicans only.

Proposition 10: Proposes amending the Texas Constitution to restore authority to the Texas Attorney General to prosecute election crimes.

Proposition 11: Suggests that Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select public or private schools for their children, with funding following the student.

Proposition 12: Proposes amending the Texas Constitution to require proof of citizenship before an individual can be registered to vote.

Proposition 13: Advocates for banning the sale of Texas land to citizens, governments, and entities from China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Governor Abbott Appoints and Names Gleeson Chair Of Public Utility Commission Of Texas

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Thomas Gleeson to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) for a term set to expire on September 1, 2029. Additionally, the Governor has named him Chair of the PUC. The PUC regulates the state's electric, water, wastewater, and telecommunications utility industries, implements respective legislation, and offers customer assistance in resolving consumer complaints.

“Thomas Gleeson’s longtime service at PUC and wealth of knowledge make him the ideal choice for Chair of the Commission,” said Governor Abbott. “As a seasoned leader with over 15 years of experience at the agency, including serving as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Thomas will help ensure Texans and Texas communities have the utility services they need. I thank Kathleen Jackson for her time serving as Interim Chair of the PUC, and I look forward to working with Thomas as we improve utility services in Texas and build an even better state for every Texan.”

Thomas Gleeson of Pflugerville is the Executive Director of the PUC, a position he has held since December 2020. He has worked for the PUC for over 15 years in various roles including, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Finance and Administration, and as a fiscal project manager. He is a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. Additionally, he is the former chairman of the City of Pflugerville Finance and Budget Committee and the First United Methodist Church of Round Rock Finance Committee. Gleeson received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwestern University and Master of Public Administration from The Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M University.

Rep. Capriglione Announces Plans to File Artificial Intelligence and Data Privacy Legislation Next Session

Representative Giovanni Capriglione (R-Southlake) sent a letter to stakeholders announcing plans to file “a comprehensive artificial intelligence regulation bill in the 89th Legislature.”

To Whom It May Concern:

Over the past two years, we had great success working with our data privacy stakeholders to develop the nation's best data privacy law. As many of you will know, I intend to file a comprehensive artificial intelligence regulation bill in the 89th Legislature. I hope that we can continue to work together in a cooperative effort to ensure Texas can lead the nation when it comes to responsible AI development.

A comprehensive AI law will prove an even greater challenge than our data privacy effort, so I would like to begin our efforts now. To that end, we are sending this Request for Proposals/Information to help guide the development of our AI legislation.

On or before March 15th, 2024, please send us any information, comments, suggestions, model legislation, or policy research information on the following issues insofar as they relate to the topics of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data, and Privacy:

• Frameworks for Risk Categorization

• Applicability standards

• Definitions of key terms

• Responsibilities of AI developers and deployers

• Opt-in/out for Automated Decision-making Systems

• Bias, effectiveness, impact, and other forms of testing

• Changes needed to the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act

• Regulatory regime

• 3rd-party audits

• Consumer rights

• Regulatory sandboxes and other measures to support innovation

• Workforce, Education, and Economic Development Efforts

• Laws effecting licensed professions, critical infrastructure, and government processes

• Any other relevant issues pertaining to AI

Please note that the above list is intended to be a useful reference to guide comments not an indication of future legislative intent nor is it meant to be a comprehensive list. Additionally, if there are models or other laws you find useful or not, please let us know.

If you would like to submit a comment or be included in future data privacy stakeholder meetings please email giovanni.capriglione@house.texas.gov with the subject line “AI Stakeholder”. Please note your responses may be subject to Public Information Act requests.

We will aim to hold stakeholder meetings on these subjects as early as May 2024. As always, please feel free to contact my

Respectfully,

Giovanni Capriglione

State Representative, District 98

Texas Lottery Commission Executive Director Announces Retirement

Gary Grief, the Texas Lottery Commission’s executive director since 2010 and its longest-serving employee, recently announced he will retire at the end of February 2024. A new executive director has not yet been named.

House District 2 Special Election Runoff Election Day is Today

Today is the runoff election day in the special election being held to fill the remaining term of former State Rep. Bryan Slayton who was expelled from the House last year after it was determined the East Texas Republican engaged in inappropriate workplace conduct by having sexual intercourse with a 19-year-old legislative aide who worked in his office.

Voters in House District 2 will be choosing between Greenville lawyer and former city councilman Brent Money and former GOP county chair and school board trustee Jill Dutton. This race is turning out to be an interesting proxy fight indicative of the current state of many House republican primary races. On one side, Jill Dutton has the support of major business groups, such as Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Republican groups, such as the Associated Republicans of Texas, and allies of the House Speaker Dade Phelan. On the other side, Brent Money has the backing of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Sen. Ted Cruz, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and some Texas House members who oppose Speaker Phelan.

Early voting for the HD 2 special election runoff ended Jan. 26 with Hunt Co. (home to candidate Brent Money) comprising 43% of the vote, Van Zandt Co. (home to candidate Jill Dutton) comprising 39%, and Hopkins Co. comprising 18%.

Texas Primary Election Notes

• Out of 150 House seats, 90 have contested primaries. 60 House members do not have a primary opponent. 57 House members do not have a general election opponent. 33 House members do not have an opponent in the primary or general election. Only one Senate incumbent has a primary opponent.

• This election has seen a significant increase in republican primary challengers. After 43% of House Republicans faced opposition in 2022, 57% have primary challengers this time.

• This cycle, 16 House Republicans are facing multiple primary opponents. This is the most in any election cycle in state history, breaking the previous record of 11 set in 2022.

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