(This legislative update is produced by the UH System Office of Governmental Relations and the UH Division of University Advancement as a service to the UH System community, our alumni, and our friends.)
Contrary to reports in the Houston Chronicle, under HB 53, the Governor will have the authority to appoint the chairs of public university boards of regents. The bill has passed the House and if it passes the Senate, it will be effective November 1.
On Thursday, July 10, the House passed a number of other bills dealing with the reorganization of government: Under one, the Office of State-Federal Relations will become a division of the Governor’s office. Another allows the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to meet by teleconference. The House did not pass, however, a bill exempting the budget working papers of the LBB and Governor’s office from public disclosure.
Rep. Robby Cook passed an amendment to exempt higher education from a provision of his bill (HB 63), which requires agencies to finance capital projects through energy savings. That bill has passed the House.
The House has adjourned until tomorrow, July 15, and the Senate has adjourned until today, July 14.
While the election is still more than a month away, the Texas Legislative Council has produced their report on the proposed constitutional amendments. You can access them through http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/research/pubs.htm#leganalysis