This Week in Texas: May 1, 2013

Posted May 1, 2013 in The Mignon Memo

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Veronica Edwards of San Antonio to the Texas Lottery Commission for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2017.  Edwards is founder and CEO of InGenesis Inc.

Gov. Rick Perry also made two appointments to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board. John H. Walker III of Houston was appointed to chair the board, replacing departing chair Victor Vandergriff.  Walker is owner and president of J.H. Walker Trucking, chief operating officer of Superior Delivery Services, and owner of Texsix Ranch. Joseph Slovacek of Houston was also appointed to the Board.  Slovacek is senior partner at Hoover Slovacek LLP.

The Texas Legislature is still struggling with legislation to fund the state’s water plan.  House Bill 11, a bill that would have used $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to pay for infrastructure, was taken down by a point of order.  House Bill 11 could return or other vehicles could be used, assuming the support of enough members is gathered.  The Senate has passed House Bill 4, a comprehensive restructuring of the Texas Water Development Board as well as an alternate method of financing, Senate Joint Resolution 1. Senate Joint Resolution 1 would ask Texas voters to take funds from the Rainy Day Fund to create accounts to pay for water and transportation infrastructure.  We expect to see more action in this area in the coming week.

Only 26 more days left in the 83rd Regular Session of the Texas Legislature.  Deadlines for action under the House and Senate rules begin to kick in next week.  The members will begin spending most of their day on their respective floors debating bills as opposed to hearing testimony in committees.