October was an exciting month for us! Early in the month, we visited several neighborhoods during National Night Out (NNO), including Hunters Creek North, the Bluffs at Two Creeks, Promontory Pointe and Timberwood Park. NNO is a great opportunity to meet neighbors and we certainly enjoyed visiting with so many constituents. In October, I spoke at the Texas Water Conservation Association Fall Conference, the Del Webb Hill Country Resort Republican Club meeting, the Texas Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association fall conference and the Alamo Kiwanis Club. I was also a part of Jack Riccardi's Gang of Four on 550 KTSA. If you missed the show you can listen to it here.  

Last month, Dr. John Folks, Northside Independent School District (NISD) Superintendent, earned the Texas Association of School Board's highest honor: Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Folks was selected from over 1,000 superintendents in the state for this well deserved honor. Because District 122 overlaps part of NISD, we have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Folks on public education issues and we are grateful for his leadership and commitment to providing students in our community with an exceptional education. Congratulations Dr. Folks!  

We're seeking outstanding teachers! Humanities Texas is accepting nominations for the 2011-2012 Outstanding Teaching of the Humanities Award. Twelve teachers will be selected from across the state to win a $5,000 prize and an additional $500 for their school to purchase humanities related instructional materials. If you know a teacher who you believe deserves to win this award, please visit the Humanities Texas website to complete the nomination form by Monday, December 12, 2011.
 
Fighting Exorbitant Water Costs in Northwest Bexar County

While most folks in District 122 get their water and wastewater services from SAWS or BexarMet, there are several small areas in Bexar County that are served by other utilities. In northwest Bexar County, the Stage Coach Hills, Country Bend, and Oaks North neighborhoods are served by Monarch Utilities, an investor-owned utility that owns systems throughout Texas. On September 1st, Monarch Utilities put into effect an exorbitant water and wastewater rate increase and folks in these neighborhoods have seen a 200 percent increase in their monthly bills, unrelated to how much water they use. My office received hundreds of calls and emails about the increase and we've been working to address this issue over the course of the last several weeks.  

As required by state law, Monarch Utilities has filed applications with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to increase water and wastewater rates and to consolidate 7 water utilities and 3 wastewater utilities across the state. Due to the large number of ratepayers who protested the increase, there are now two cases against Monarch that are being heard by the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).  

On behalf of hundreds of District 122 constituents, I voiced my opposition to Monarch's rate increase at the most recent SOAH hearing on October 10. Last week, we received great news: the TCEQ's Office of Public Interest Counsel (OPIC) stated that this rate increase is an "unfair burden to customers" and a "windfall for Monarch Utilities." They went on to recommend that the rate increase be suspended until the consolidation application is determined, something that we have been strongly encouraging the SOAH judges to do from the beginning. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and keep you updated of any developments. Please call my capitol office at (512) 463-0646 if you have any questions about the Monarch situation and the SOAH process.
 
Early Voting has begun in Texas

As you may know, unlike our U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is an extremely lengthy document that is rather easy to amend. As a result, after the Legislature meets each session, there are usually a few changes made to the constitution by the Legislature that need to be ratified by Texas voters. On the ballot, there are 10 amendments to the Texas Constitution. For a detailed explanation of the amendments, along with commentary from supporters and opponents of each amendment, click here.  

Additionally, many folks in District 122 will have the opportunity to vote in the BexarMet dissolution election, as well as the North East Independent School District bond election. Many of you who live in the BexarMet service area have contacted my office with various questions about the election, including who will be eligible to vote on this proposition. To clarify, the Bexar County Elections Department has included in their database the address of every individual registered voter who lives within the BexarMet service area. If you are a BexarMet customer, your ballot will automatically include the BexarMet proposition. Like any other election, you will simply need to provide your voter registration card or a form of identification and you will be able to vote on each proposition for which you are eligible. 

Now that Early Voting is underway, make plans to stop by one of the many polling sites in Bexar County. To find a convenient voting location and to see a sample ballot, click here.  

House Committee on Natural Resources Receives its Interim Charges  

As many of you are well aware, we're currently experiencing the worst drought in Texas history. I wanted to share this article with you, which describes how scientists analyzed tree rings to determine that the current drought is the worst Texas has experienced since 1789. Water planning is one issue Texas cannot afford to ignore. Fortunately, the Natural Resources Committee will spend a significant amount of time during the interim focusing on addressing this issue. On Wednesday, November 2nd, the Natural Resources Committee will convene for the first time since the Session ended. To view the Speaker's interim charges for this and other committees, visit this link.

Thank you for sharing your feedback through our online surveys!

As always, please feel free to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by phone at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.  

Best,
Lyle

We hope you've had a pleasant September. The last few weeks have been extremely busy for us around District 122. I've spoken at several meetings recently, including the Northside Neighborhoods for Organized Development (NNOD), San Antonio Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Real Estate Council of San Antonio, Alamo Pachyderm Club, San Antonio Chapter of the Society of Association Executives, and Bexar County Republican Women. Please let us know if you'd like me to speak at your organization's meeting!  

The role of the Edwards Aquifer Authority

Several of you have contacted my office about the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) pursuing fee increases and expanded regulatory powers. We held a meeting last week with a board member and senior staffer from the EAA to understand their point of view and to share your concerns with them. It's clear the EAA is concerned about the environmental impacts of stormwater runoff and preventing contamination of our drinking water. They certainly have pure intentions, however, with several government agencies providing oversight of water quality (Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ), San Antonio Water System (SAWS), and Bexar County), it doesn't seem necessary to have an additional bureaucracy duplicating the work of several others. Additionally, after speaking with several folks involved in crafting the legislation that created the EAA, it's clear the legislative intent never included these activities. We will remain engaged in this process and will keep an ongoing dialogue with the EAA and stakeholders who will be affected by the proposed changes.  

BexarMet Water District Update  

Last week, Speaker Straus appointed Rep. Jose Menendez and myself as Co-Chairs of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District Oversight Committee. In just a few weeks, many of you will have the opportunity to vote whether to remain a BexarMet customer, or to receive water from the San Antonio Water System. The BexarMet dissolution issue will be on the same ballot as the 10 constitutional amendments. Historically, turnout is extremely low at these elections, so please be sure to make time to vote. Early Voting begins October 24th and Election Day is November 8th. Click here to find out more about the election and to determine where you can vote.
 
Texas in the Spotlight  

With Governor Perry running for president, many of the decisions made by the Texas Legislature over the last decade have received a lot of attention. While I wasn't a member of the Legislature in 2001 when the Texas DREAM Act passed, my office received several emails and phone calls in opposition to it after last week's Republican Primary presidential debate. The Texas DREAM Act, which provides in-state tuition to illegal immigrants who have attended a Texas high school for at least three years, has understandably become a challenge for Governor Perry as folks across the nation try to understand his position on illegal immigration. We'd like to know what you think about the Texas DREAM Act, 10 years after it became law. Please take a moment to fill out this survey about this law and this survey to share your viewpoint on the Republican Party presidential hopefuls.  

Gaming in Texas  

As the constitutional amendment election approaches, we've received a number of calls and emails from folks asking why they will not have the opportunity to vote on whether to allow various types of gambling in Texas. Several bills were filed last session that would have allowed different types of gaming, including allowing slot machines in racetracks, or authorizing casino gambling in resorts, but none of them were voted out of committee to allow for debate on the House floor. We anticipate another sizable budget shortfall next session, so we expect to revisit the gambling discussion, possibly with much more interest as annual revenue projections from gambling are between $1 and $2 billion. We want to know what you think about gambling in Texas. Please take this survey to share your opinion!    

Constitutional Amendment Election

As you may know, unlike our U.S. Constitution, the Texas Constitution is an extremely lengthy document that is rather easy to amend. As a result, after the Legislature meets each session, there are usually a few changes made to the constitution that need to be ratified by Texas voters. We'd like to provide you with all the information you'll need about the proposed amendments before you go to the polls. Click here for a thorough explanation of the propositions and the actual ballot language.
 
National Night Out is October 4th. We plan to attend several neighborhood events as part of National Night Out. We hope to see you in your neighborhood!

Please feel free to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by phone at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.  

Best,
Lyle

Hope you had a relaxing Labor Day Weekend. Many folks in District 122 experienced a surprise ending to their long weekend when a wildfire broke out in Stone Oak on Monday. Thanks to our dedicated firefighters, the fire was isolated and contained and prevented what could have been a catastrophic incident like we've seen in other parts of the state. These fires underscore the severity of the drought we're experiencing and must emphasize our need to address the state's water needs.  

The driest ten months in Texas history

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the last ten months have been the driest in Texas history since 1895, when the state began keeping records. It is also the hottest summer on record for Texas. Many communities have reported a record number of 100+ degree days. It should come as no surprise then that 78 percent of Texas is under an exceptional drought category. To view the U.S. Drought Monitor site, click here. Much of the current drought is due to La Niña, a cooling of waters in the Pacific Ocean. We're currently experiencing one of the strongest La Niñas in the last century, and predictions are that we'll have below normal rainfall levels until spring 2012. September 10, 2011 is the peak of the tropical cyclone season. If La Niña returns, the winter will probably be a dry one.   TCEQ is holding weekly meetings to ensure there is communication between national and state agencies and local municipalities and public water systems. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is involved in these meetings, along with folks from their 16 field offices throughout state. 6,000 public water systems have received letters from the TCEQ, urging them to curtail their usage.  Currently,

• 826 public water systems are under some sort of restriction
• 533 public water systems are under mandatory restrictions
• 292 public water systems are under voluntary restrictions
• 36 public water systems are in the strictest category: no outside watering allowed.
  

According to TCEQ, San Antonio and El Paso will likely fare much better than other cities due to contingencies and programs they already have in place.   TCEQ offers several resources to individuals and both municipally and privately owned water utilities, including:

• The Drought Hotline: 1-800-447-2827
• TCEQ's website lists news updates, alert letters, notices of curtailed water rights.
  

Proposition 2

This drought has provided a clear impetus to address our state's future water needs. This November, we'll have the opportunity to take action by voting for Proposition 2 in the Constitutional Amendment Election on November 8, 2011. Proposition 2 will help local communities grow and maintain their water supplies with the authorization of $6 billion in bonds by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Proposition 2 will not cost state taxpayers any money, and the bonds used through this measure will save local taxpayers money when building and financing water projects.   

SB 341 - The Fix BexarMet Bill

In other water related news, yesterday, the Department of Justice provided preclearance for the election for dissolution of the BexarMet Water District. The ball is now in BexarMet's court because the legislation requires that their board call the election. The authors of the bill, Senator Uresti, Senator Wentworth, Representative Menendez and I, sent a letter urging the board's president to call an election so BexarMet ratepayers will have the opportunity to vote this November, rather than next year. Please take a moment to read this article in the San Antonio Express-News.

Wurzbach Parkway Groundbreaking

Last week, TxDOT held a groundbreaking ceremony for the last segment of Wurzbach Parkway, a project 20 years in the making. Upon completion it will host 40,000 cars per day, relieving traffic from Loop 1604 and Loop 410. This segment of the project will cost $49.4 million. Construction began in July 2011 and will be completed in early 2015. The “book-ends” – Blanco Road (FM 2696) to West Ave. and Jones Maltsberger Road to Wetmore Road are both currently under construction. Construction on the Blanco Road (FM 2696) to West Ave. segment began in January 2011 and is expected to be completed in late 2012/early 2013. Jones Maltsberger Road to Wetmore Road went to construction in November 2010 and is expected to be completed in late 2013/early 2014. The three projects will have 4 to 6 lanes of divided roadway, signalized intersections as well as overpasses at Blanco Road, West Avenue, US 281, Jones Maltsberger and Starcrest Road.      

First Interim Meeting of the Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee  

Last week, several Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee members traveled to Medina County to see firsthand the economic impact of the dove and deer breeding industries in Texas and to look at and discuss various aspects of the wildlife and address regulatory issues. Representatives Tracy King, John Kuempel, Four Price, John Frullo and I attended the meeting, along with several Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) staff. In the morning, we watched the flight patterns of white-winged dove on the opening day of dove season and listened to a presentation by Corey Mason, TPWD dove program leader on the migratory bird study they're completing. Next, we traveled to the Nooner Whitetail deer breeding facility and listened to biologist Chase Clark discuss the genetics of whitetails. In Texas, the migratory bird industry represents a $300 million annual economic impact while the deer breeding industry has a $700 million economic impact.

Please feel free to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by phone at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.  

Best,
Lyle

Since session ended a little over a month ago, we've been grateful for the opportunity to spend a lot more time in the district and meet and visit with many of you. Last week we held our district office grand opening. Over 200 neighbors and friends attended, toured our office, discussed their concerns and shared their thoughts with us. We're glad to be officially up and running and look forward to serving you in our brand new San Antonio office. 

Over the past few weeks, we've worked to meet with San Antonio directors of several state agencies, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Our state law enforcement officers, both the game wardens and the DPS officers, are doing a great job protecting Texans. As for TxDOT, stay tuned for upcoming announcements about new road projects including work on IH-10 near Leon Springs, the completion of Wurzbach Parkway and the time line for the 281/1604 interchanges.    

Ensuring funding for nursing homes was a major concern while necessary budget cuts were being made during Legislative Session. As we worked through the process we were fortunate to hear from various individuals who would be affected by these cuts. Our office was recently invited to tour a nursing home facility in Bexar County called the Pecan Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, a premier long term care provider in our community. The owners, who are passionate about providing affordable long term care and rehabilitation to residents throughout Bexar County and south Texas, discussed the challenges they face and showed us how they fulfill their mission each day.

Though we're just over a month into the interim, we're busy listening to constituents and collecting ideas for legislation for next session. As the interim progresses, each of the House committees will meet to address the interim charges provided by the Speaker. The following is a list of interim studies we have requested that the Speaker include in his charge. If you have an idea to help make Texas an even better place, we encourage you to share it with us and we'll work together to make it happen.  

Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism:

• Determine the double-breasted cormorant's impact on Texas fisheries.
• Look into determination of the south and north zone lines and season dates for dove hunting.
• Track implementation of SB 460 regarding Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for Mule Deer.
• Explore issues surrounding the declining quail population.
• Meet with Texas Historical Commission to determine the condition of the historic buildings under their care.
  
• Monitor implementation of HB 716, the "pork chopper" bill.
  

Committee on Defense and Veterans Affairs:

• Investigate occurrences of individuals marrying service members, divorcing them shortly after, then receiving their retirement funds in divorce court. The former spouses are sometimes being awarded up to 1/2 the service member's retirement due to a provision in the Uniformed Services Federal Spouse Protection Act (USFSPA), PL 97-252. Oklahoma has passed legislation that remedies the problem, and we've been asked by a constituent to look further into the issue.
• Develop a more comprehensive military base protection template for all Department of Defense installations in Texas. HB 3533 (82R) by Larson would have allowed local jurisdictions to protect their Air Education and Training Command (AETC) bases from encroachment. We would like to see what other states have already accomplished through their legislatures for guidance, as Texas is behind in finding a solution on this issue.
  

Committee on Natural Resources:

• Stormwater capture (82R SB 467). This is a complicated issue that needs to be addressed, and we'd like to find a workable solution for the stakeholders. 
• Determine how to implement desalination of brackish water in urban areas.
• Create an effective drought management plan.
• Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs): ensure notification to school districts and other refinements needed on current MUD templates.
• Meaningful reform of investor owned utilities (IOUs), specifically, more practical rate structure.
  

Committee on County Affairs:

• Develop creative ways for counties to cut costs and find savings at the local level. Examine city/county consolidation by looking at successes and failures in other states (82R HJR 44/HB 431 by Larson). Ensure county leadership has access to all available funds when budgeting (82R HB 2465 by Larson).
  

Committee on Appropriations:

• Determine how, over the next several sessions, the Legislature can restore transparency and regain confidence by ending diversions from specific dedicated accounts. Examples include the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, diversions from the Highway Fund (Fund 006), and the Trauma Fund (Account 5111), as addressed by Rep. Larson's 82R HB 1628, 82R HJR 84/HB 1131, and 82(1) amendment to SB 2, respectively.
• Examine what other state legislatures do when their revenue projections are off, especially during a budget crisis. Determine how we can promptly deal with declining revenues by making requisite cuts immediately.  Look into feasibility of Texas Legislature meeting for a special session when revenue projections vary by 5% more or less to reallocate funding (82R HJR 149 by Larson).
  

  General Interim Studies:

• Ensure Trauma Hospitals receive funding from their dedicated account - Fund 5111: Determine how best to ensure the Trauma Centers actually receive the funds that have been collected through Account 5111.
• Evaluate the annual cost of illegal immigrants to the state of Texas (82R HB 1553 by Larson).
• Examine feasibility of merging the Public Utility Commission and Railroad Commission to eliminate redundancy and streamline communication and operations. Research what other states have done, how much money it has saved them, and if it would work in Texas (82R HB 1302 by Larson).
• Determine ways to cut costs and provide flexibility to jails by revisiting jail standards and inmate classification. Examine successes and failures in other states (82R HB 684 by Larson - tent jails; 82R HB 2348 by Larson - paper ready inmates).
• Examine what Texas can do to combat harsh environmental restrictions coming from the EPA to ensure state sovereignty, protect residents and businesses from unnecessary regulations (82R HB 3188 by Larson).
  
• Examine the feasibility of implementing statewide adoption programs to expedite and improve the adoption process. Look at Project PUSH and Project SWIFT in Bexar County (PUSH facilitates adoption by stable and caring family members, and SWIFT streamlines the adoption process).
• Transportation: Studying the cost impact of abiding by federal highway program specifications vs. allowing the state to build projects to their own specifications. 

Let us know what you think of this list and what you believe should be studied over the interim.
 
Please feel free to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by phone at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.  

Best,
Lyle

After months of discussion on the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) security procedures and debates on the legislation addressing the issue during the regular and special sessions, my office set up a meeting with the head of TSA for south Texas to discuss Texans' concerns and determine how we can work together to address them. With over 45,000 employees nationwide, the TSA works to meet the challenge of protecting travelers throughout our nation each day. While some mistakes have been made the TSA has done a good job of protecting our citizens.

The TSA has existed for less than a decade, as the agency was created shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, to ensure better protection of travelers. The TSA functions as an arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and exists to protect folks who travel by airplane or train. A very interesting little known fact is that over 50 percent of TSA's national workforce once served in the military. Approximately 60 percent of TSA's San Antonio workforce are military veterans. As you would expect, we met several veterans during our tour.
 
To begin the meeting, Leo Vasquez, federal security director for the San Antonio International Airport (SAT) and 7 other airports in south Texas, took us through the screening process that each airline passenger undergoes before boarding a flight. As we approached the metal detectors, we were introduced to the TSA staff known as "behavioral detection officers" (BDOs).
Like their title suggests, the BDOs are trained to monitor passengers and look for suspicious behaviors. If they notice a passenger acting strangely, they will ask the individual to go through the scanner, like they do in Europe and Israel.

When an individual is screened, the image appears on a computer in an enclosed room several feet away from the screener. A technician looks at the image and notifies the TSA screeners by radio if there are anomalies on the image. The image looks much like an avatar and the face and body parts are not discernible. If the individual has more than 4 anomalies or an anomaly in the groin area, he or she will be offered the opportunity to pass through the screener again several times. He or she will also be asked to remove jewelry, things from their pockets, or anything that may appear as an anomaly on the screen. If the anomalies continue to appear, they will be asked to undergo a resolution pat down, which is a full body pat down provided by a highly trained TSA employee. According to the TSA representatives at SAT, fewer than 1 percent of travelers will receive a resolution pat down.
 
After conclusion of the traveler screening process, TSA staff took us to the baggage screening section. As checked luggage passes through screeners, technicians watch screens that show the contents of each bag. When the software detects something that could potentially be hazardous, the bag will be searched by a gloved TSA agent. Roughly 13 percent of bags screened will trigger the alarm in the software requiring a bag search. We saw a few bags get searched because folks decided to bring along some BBQ or Pace Picante Sauce on their trip. Remember, if you must bring your favorite condiment on vacation with you, your bag will likely be diverted and hand searched!
 
TSA by the numbers
• 2 million people travel through 450 American airports each day
• 12,000 people travel through the San Antonio International Airport daily
• Less than 1 percent will undergo a resolution pat down each day
• 13 percent of luggage screened will be individually checked by TSA  staff
• There are 45,000 TSA employees nationwide
•More than 50 percent of TSA's national workforce are United States military veterans

Photos from our meeting with the San Antonio TSA


 

What development in the Eagle Ford Shale means for San Antonio

To say folks in south Texas are excited about what's happening in the Eagle Ford Shale is an understatement. New technology, in the form of hydraulic fracturing, has created huge economic opportunities for Texans throughout the region. Major energy companies are moving in to develop these natural resources, and everyone from landowners to hoteliers to waiters are realizing the benefits. Developing oil and gas in the Eagle Ford Shale is not only great for the Texas economy,
but the abundance of oil collected limits our dependence on foreign oil.
 
Recently, I toured a well near Carrizo Springs, about 2 hours south of San Antonio. The oil field staff explained the fracturing technology, described the processes used to extract oil from the shale formations and demonstrated how they monitor
production using extremely sophisticated software.   
 
As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee during the 82nd Legislative Session, I heard concerns from various individuals about how hydraulic fracturing will affect water quality and quantity in the region. Some contend that the chemicals used in the fracking process are contaminating ground water, worrying individuals and organizations statewide. The San Antonio Express-News  recently published an editorial outlining these concerns. In an effort to ensure drilling companies use appropriate methods to obtain oil and provide information to the public about these processes, the Legislature passed House Bill 3328, which requires that companies disclose the content of the fluid they use in the fracking process. We hope this bill will allay concerns and ensure that best practices are used throughout the fracking process in the Eagle Ford Shale. We will continue to work with stakeholders to meet any challenges that arise in developing this resource.
 
We look forward to the continued success of the Eagle Ford Shale play and the promise it presents for our state and our nation.

Touring a well in Carrizo Springs in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale

District 122 Office Grand Opening

Due to an overwhelming response to our invitation, we are changing the format of the meeting to a meet and greet because of space limitations. TxDOT representatives will not be present at this meeting, but we will ask them to provide an update
at our next town hall meeting, which will likely take place in October. Please feel free to stop in any time between 6:00-7:30 p.m. on August 2nd. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. We look forward to seeing you next Tuesday! 
  

Please feel free to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by phone at (210)  402-5402 or lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.

Best,
Lyle

Yesterday, the House adjourned Sine Die on the 30th day of the first called session. Tough decisions were made in the face of a $25 billion shortfall. Fortunately for many members who are ready to get back home to their districts, the Texas
Constitution limits the length of special sessions to 30 days. The Governor, however, may continue to call additional sessions and add items to the Legislature's agenda. Because most agenda items were accomplished during the special session, it doesn't seem likely that we will be called back a second time, but anything is possible in Texas government! I look forward to returning to San Antonio full time and connecting with many of you in the weeks to come.

The Legislature passed several important pieces of legislation during the special session that were not approved by both the House and Senate during the regular session. Each of the bills described below were passed by the Legislature and sent to the Governor for signature.  
 
• SB 1 and 2, bills that determine how the budget is funded, also known as the "fiscal matters" bills.

 • SB 6 and SB 8, which determine how text book funding may be used and removes state mandates on local school
districts.

 • SB 7, the health care savings bill, which will save Texas more than $400 million over the next biennium by making Medicaid more cost-effective. 
 
•SB 4, the congressional redistricting bill, adjusted districts of the U.S. House of Representatives to reflect population growth based on the 2010 Census. The new map includes 4 new congressional seats that Texas gained. 
 
• HB 3, which provides a fix for ongoing issues with the Texas Wind Insurance Association.

 •As you may have already heard, issues with process between the House and the Senate prevented SB 9, prohibiting sanctuary cities and SB 29, the TSA "anti-groping" from getting to the Governor's desk.

5,796 bills were introduced by both the House and Senate
1,379 bills were passed by both chambers and sent to the Governor for signature
1,327 bills were signed by the Governor
27 were filed without the Governor's signature
24 were vetoed by the Governor
 
Please stay tuned for our next newsletter indicating when our district office grand opening will take place!

The House Natural Resources Committee of the 82nd Legislative Session
 We will continue to work on statewide water challenges during the interim.

If we may be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact our Capitol office at (512) 463-0646, our District Office at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us.  Please continue to let us hear from you! 

Best,

We're well into June and the Special Session is still going strong. June 19th was the deadline for Governor Perry to veto legislation. We are thrilled that all of our bills made it over the last hurdle!  Last week we wrapped up the last part of our
once-a-decade duty by passing a new congressional map for Texas. We also passed legislation reforming the Texas Wind Insurance Association (TWIA) and legislation removing state mandates from school districts. This week we'll deal with budgeting for our state's judicial system and we'll debate SB 9, the sanctuary cities bill. Last night, Governor Perry added the TSA "anti-groping" legislation to the special session call. The House passed HB 1937, which would prevent the TSA from conducting invasive pat downs in all Texas airports, during the Regular Session but the Senate was unable to garner the votes to approve it. We'll likely consider the bill later this week.

Thanks to all who participated in the surveys in last week's newsletter. There were certainly some interesting results. As you
can see below, nearly 75 percent of you support SB 9, the anti-sanctuary city legislation. The House should consider this SB 9 later this week.

When asked who you'd vote for if the Presidential Election were held today, a majority chose Barack Obama. Rick Perry came in a close second.  Interestingly, Other came in fourth, indicating a preference for a candidate who isn't listed or hasn't yet announced.

The following bills that we worked hard to pass during the regular session were approved by the Governor and have become law!

•SB 341 the "Fix BexarMet Bill": After years of fiscal mismanagement by the utility's board and inability to provide adequate delivery of water and waste water services, a solution to this ongoing problem is long overdue. For several years, we've worked with stakeholders and constituents served by BexarMet to develop a solution that incorporates their needs and addresses their concerns. This bill will allow BexarMet ratepayers to decide whether they wish to dissolve the BexarMet board of directors and receive water and waste water service from SAWS, or to continue with the status quo. The election could be held as early as this coming November. 

•SB 988 Creation of a Cyber Security Council: SB 988 would create a "Cyber Security, Education, and Economic Development Council." The Council would develop synergy between governmental agencies, businesses, and institutions of higher education to help Texas become a leader in cyber security technology. Cyber security is one of the fastest growing industries in the
nation. In San Antonio, cyber security is part of an information technology sector whose local economic impact in 2008 was $8 billion, according to a study distributed by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. This council will
help Texas become a leader in cyber security technology and set an example for the rest of the nation. 

•SB 1543 Helping school districts with their investment strategy: This bill will allow public school districts to invest in corporate bonds to provide them with an additional tool to use in their investment strategy. This bill is permissive, it would only allow districts to use this method of investment if they choose to. This measure is already available to public universities. 

•HB 3726 Helping the DRT manage the Alamo: As discussed in previous newsletters, I have been working with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) over the past few months to craft legislation to address concerns dealing with their custodianship of the Alamo. This bill requires the DRT to submit annual financial reports to the state, and sets up a preservation advisory board comprised of representatives from the city, county, and state levels. 
 
•HB 3597 Super PIDs: Authorizes certain public improvement districts (PIDs) to annex land and issue bonds on hotel occupancy tax revenue.  Cibolo Canyons is one of these PIDs, and is home to the world's largest JW Marriott hotel. 

•HB 1499 Historic designation of roads comprising the Old Spanish Trail in north western Bexar County: HB 1499 would designate a group of roads that were part of the Old Spanish Trail as the "Scenic Loop Road--Boerne Stage
Road--Toutant Beauregard Road Historic Corridor."

We received another honor: "Best of the Freshman Class" by the Capitol Inside, a publication that covers the Texas Legislature. The excerpt of the story can be found here.

Discussing the budget on the House floor last week

If we may be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact our Capitol office at (512) 463-0646, our District Office at (210) 402-5402 or  by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us. Please continue to let us hear from you!

We're two weeks into the Special Session and have accomplished arguably the most challenging task, addressing education funding.  This week we will tackle congressional redistricting, Texas Wind Insurance Association (TWIA) reform, bills removing state  mandates from school districts and sanctuary city legislation. Before we kick off the third (and hopefully final) week of the
Special Session, we hope you'll take a moment to read our recap of last week and then let us know your opinion in the brief surveys below!

SB 7 Improving the Quality of Texas Health Care 
SB7, which was passed by the House last week, aims to make Medicaid and private healthcare more cost efficient in the state of Texas. Representative Zerwas, M.D., led us through the process of making fundamental changes in delivery of medical care in Texas to prepare for the impact of the federal healthcare legislation passed last year. Medicare costs in the next biennium will cost at least $4 billion more, so SB 7 is one way to help save Texas money. Several amendments were offered, including limiting funding for Planned Parenthood and requesting a waiver from the Obama Administration so that Texas can operate Medicaid under the state's guidance, further guaranteeing a more local solution to solving our country's health care issues.

After 18 hours of debate on the House floor last week, we passed SB 1, the last of the budget legislation, with a vote of 83-62. Funding education was the priority of this bill. As a product of Northeast ISD public schools, I approached my first term in the Texas House with the commitment to ensure Texas public schools were not adversely affected by budget cuts. The Legislature worked hard to prioritize. As a result, several state agencies experienced deep cuts but education topped the priority list. With the passage of SB 1, the 2012-2013 budget will provide $1.6 billion more directly to our public schools than the 2010-2011 budget, from $27.6 billion in the current biennium to $29.2 billion for 2012-13. This amounts to a 5.6 percent increase in state funding for education from the previous budget. The following components of the budget were cut as follows:

       •natural resources budget was cut by 25 percent

      •general government operations by 19 percent

      •the judiciary by 13 percent 
 
      •higher education by 9 percent

      •the Legislature by 9 percent

      •public safety and criminal justice by 5 percent

As you are likely aware, the Legislature approved spending $3.2 billion of the "rainy day fund" to pay for the deficit in our current budget. What is left over in the "rainy day fund" will used to pay for increased costs of Medicaid and education in the next biennium. As discussed above, as a result of the federal healthcare bill passed last year, we expect to see thousands of new Medicaid enrollees, at a cost of at least $4 billion to our state, possibly much more. The good news is that sales tax revenues have increased several months in a row over last year's figures. We will make adjustments as the economy turns around and more revenue is available to fill holes in the budget. 

The House is expected to soon debate SB 9, the anti-sanctuary cities bill, which was added to the Special Session call by the Governor early last week. A sanctuary city is defined as a city in the US that protects illegal immigrants by not enforcing federal mmigration law. What do you think about SB 9? Tell us in this survey.
 
There has been a lot of chatter about the 2012 race for president. Several candidates have already emerged and there are serious rumors going around the Capitol about a certain governor's potential entry into the fray. We want to know who you think has the best chance to win in 2012.  Click here to take our unscientific survey.

Texas Monthly will soon release its list of the "Best and Worst Legislators" of the 82nd Legislative Session. In advance of the list's release, the Texas Tribune asked its "insiders" to determine who they thought should be included. We were surprised to see who they picked for "Rookies of the Year" out of 37 new members!

With staff members and Speaker Straus on May 30th, the last day of the regular session.

If we may be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact our Capitol office at (512) 463-0646, our District Office at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us. Please continue to let us hear from you!

Best,

What's new in District 122

We're one week into the Special Session. We're looking for the light at the end of the tunnel! The Senate is moving quickly and has passed several bills that the House will consider this week. The first, SB 7, which creates strategies for improvements and efficiencies in the quality of health care provided through various state programs, will be voted on tomorrow. Also on the agenda is SB 1, the new fiscal matters bill, which failed to pass due to a filibuster in the Senate the night before Sine Die. SB 2, another key appropriations bill and SB 13, which will achieve Medicaid reform, will also be considered. The Governor has also added congressional redistricting and reforming the Texas Wind Insurance Agency to his special session call.

When we're not in Austin for the Special Session, we've been moving into our new district office! We plan to host constituents for a grand opening later this month, so we'll keep you posted.

Recap of the 82nd Legislative Session

 
While we will need to stay in Austin for a few more weeks to address some unfinished business, the Legislature can be proud of its many accomplishments. Several pieces of legislation that our office worked to pass are currently awaiting the Governor's signature:

• SB 341 the "Fix BexarMet Bill": After years of fiscal mismanagement by the utility's board and inability to provide adequate delivery of water and waste water services, a solution to this ongoing problem is long overdue. For several years, we've worked with stakeholders and constituents served by BexarMet to develop a solution that incorporates their needs and addresses their concerns. This bill will allow BexarMet ratepayers to decide whether they wish to dissolve the BexarMet board of directors and receive water and waste water service from SAWS, or to continue with the status quo. The election could be held as early as this coming November.
• SB 988 Creation of a Cyber Security Council: SB 988 would create a "Cyber Security, Education, and Economic Development Council." The Council would develop synergy between governmental agencies, businesses, and institutions of higher education to help Texas become a leader in cyber security technology. Cyber security is one of the fastest growing industries in the nation. In San Antonio, cyber security is part of an information technology sector whose local economic impact in 2008 was $8 billion, according to a study distributed by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. This council will help Texas become a leader in cyber security technology and set an example for the rest of the nation.
• SB 1543 Helping school districts with their investment strategy: This bill will allow public school districts to invest in corporate bonds to provide them with an additional tool to use in their investment strategy. This bill is permissive, it would only allow districts to use this method of investment if they choose to. This measure is already available to public universities.
• HB 3726 Helping the DRT manage the Alamo: As discussed in previous newsletters, I have been working with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) over the past few weeks to craft legislation to address concerns dealing with their custodianship. This bill requires the  DRT to submit annual financial reports to the state, and sets up a preservation advisory board comprised of representatives from the city, county, and state levels.
• HB 3597 Super PIDs: Authorizes certain public improvement districts (PIDs) to annex land and issue bonds on hotel occupancy tax revenue. Cibolo Canyons is one of these PIDs, and is home to the world's largest JW Marriott hotel.
• HB 1499 Historic designation of roads comprising the Old Spanish Trail in north western Bexar County: HB 1499 would designate a group of roads that were part of the Old Spanish Trail as the "Scenic Loop Road--Boerne Stage Road--Toutant Beauregard Road Historic Corridor."

The following pieces of legislation were drafted and passed by majorities of both houses of the Legislature to reflect the desires of our constituents who voted to send us to the Capitol last November.

• Budget: On opening day of the Legislative Session in January, we knew we were facing a daunting $25 billion shortfall. We also knew that voters sent us to Austin to make tough decisions, while ensuring that we didn't neglect the state's most important functions, including public schools and universities, mentally ill and nursing homes. We passed a two year budget totaling $172.3 billion, a $10 billion decrease from current spending levels.
• Tort Reform: HB 274, the "Loser Pays" bill, will allow a judge to make a loser in a civil case pay legal fees for the prevailing side. This measure should reduce the amount of the frivolous lawsuits filed in Texas.
• Election Reforms: Several measures that will ensure integrity in elections in Texas were passed this Session. Citizens will now be required to show a valid form of identification when voting, as required by SB 14, the Voter ID bill. SB 100 will improve the ability of military personnel who are overseas to vote in elections. 
• 2nd Amendment Protections: The Legislature passed SB 321 which allows concealed handgun licensees to store their firearms in their vehicles while parked on private property. We also passed SB 766 which provides a mechanism to identify sports shooting ranges whose operations needed to be corrected or closed, but would protect ranges who met best practices and accepted industry safety standards.
• Eminent Domain: SB 18, which provides greater protection for property owners from government condemnation, was passed this Session.
• Veterans: The Legislature approved SB 516, which allows the surviving spouse of a totally disabled veteran to continue to receive the property tax exemption for a residential homestead after the veteran’s death. We also passed SB 201, which allows a totally disabled veteran's property tax exemption to move with the veteran. The bill would allow a qualifying disabled veteran who sells their old home and purchases a new one to continue to use their property tax exemption for the duration of the year.
• State Sovereignty: Several House Resolutions affirming Texas as a sovereign state as guaranteed by the 10th amendment were passed by the House. Our EPA push back bill, known as HB 3188, was passed as an amendment to the fiscal matters bill, SB 1811, but was removed in conference committee. While we were unsuccessful with this measure and a few others, we will continue fighting unfair intrusion from the federal government.
• Ethics Reform: The House passed HB 1616, which strengthens the reporting requirements of political contributions and expenditures. 

We will continue to keep you informed of the Legislature's action on a weekly basis as the Special Session continues. In the meantime, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns, or feel free to visit our district office beginning June 13th. The office is located at 14607 San Pedro, Suite #180, just north of the Bitters Exit on the southbound side of 281 in San Antonio.

Working on budget legislation with fellow House members.

Greeting family members of a fallen soldier from District 122 at the
Legislature's Memorial Day ceremony honoring those who lost their lives defending our freedom

If we may be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact our Capitol office at (512) 463-0646, our District Office at (210) 402-5402 or by email at lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us. Please continue to let us hear from you!

Best,
Lyle

140 days wasn't enough! Months ago, many predicted we'd need a Special Session or two to address all of the State's business. Unfortunately, they were right. We wish the twentieth newsletter in this series signaled the end of Session until 2013, however, several bills imperative to running state government for the next biennium were not considered by the deadlines put in place by both the House and Senate. We arrived back under the dome this morning at 10:00 a.m. to address the unfinished business. The Governor has included two items on his Special Session call so far, addressing school funding and changes to the Medicaid program.
 
Fortunately, several bills that will have a profound impact on the Bexar County community were passed and await signature by the Governor. SB 341, which will allow BexarMet ratepayers to vote whether to dissolve the BexarMet board and receive water and wastewater from SAWS, received final approval on Sunday. Click here to read the San Antonio Express-News recap. HB 3726, which provides the Daughters of the Republic of Texas with assistance to continue their hard work as custodians of the Alamo, was also sent to the Governor's desk this weekend. A story by the San Antonio Express News about HB 3726 can be found here.

Additionally, SB 1543 passed this weekend. With the imminent reduction in state funding to public education, districts need to be creative and thoughtful in maximizing their investment opportunities. SB 1543 is a permissive bill allowing school districts to invest in AAA corporate bonds. Institutions of higher education are already able to do this, and this would apply to approximately 135 school districts in Texas that have long-term debt greater than $100 million. The additional earning from corporate bonds when compared to commercial paper could pay for more than 4 teachers if $100 million was invested over a course of a year. Several school districts in the State asked that we pursue this on their behalf. We are pleased to report that SB 1543 is on its way to the Governor's desk.
 
A few of our bills didn't make it simply because the clock ran out before they could be brought up for a vote. We have asked Governor Perry to include these bills in his Special Session call. The letter we sent to the Governor can be found here.
 
While budget reconciliation, education funding, Texas Wind Insurance Association reform, congressional redistricting and sanctuary cities are all outstanding issues, even more may be added to the Special Session call. The good news is that the House approved most of these bills, but they hit roadblocks in the Senate. Hopefully motivation to return home for summer will help get the job done! We will keep you updated on the issues we consider. Take a look at this blog by the Dallas Morning News discussing the House's plan for this week. Please feel free to contact my office to find out more about what the House is working on during this Special Session.

Presenting SB 341, the BexarMet bill, with fellow Bexar County Rep. Jose Menendez

Working with fellow Local and Consent Calendars Committee members, Rep. Joe Farias and Marisa Marquez

If we may be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact our Capitol office at (512) 463-0646 or lyle.larson@house.state.tx.us. Please continue to let us hear from you!

Best,
Lyle