STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
February 26, 2007
(This 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.)
300 TRAVEL TO AUSTIN FOR UH SYSTEM DAY
Over 300 students and alumni converged on the Capitol Tuesday, February 20, for UH System Day in Austin. They were accompanied by all of the members of the UH System Board of Regents, headed by Chairman Leroy Hermes, and by UH System Chancellor Jay Gogue and Presidents Bill Staples, Max Castillo, and Tim Hudson. The group visited with elected officials and their staffs.
The visit to the Capitol began with the UH System group being recognized from the floor of thr House and welcomed with a joint resolution proclaiming UH System Day in Austin.
Full photo coverage of the event will be posted on the UH System legislative webpages in a few days.
SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES COMPLETE PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Both the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees have completed public testimony. In the House, the Education Subcommittee is meeting daily. Two workgroups in the Senate are working on education-related items as well. The House plans to move the appropriations bill first with a target date for floor action on March 27. Decisions have not been reached in either house on substantive higher education issues.
The number of bills the Office of Governmental Affairs is tracking has reached almost 300. The number of bills filed daily will continue to rise exponentially for the next two weeks. March 9 is the filing deadline and we expect as many as 2,000 more bills to be filed during that time.
RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS OF INTEREST
- At least ten bills have been filed that either eliminate, cap, or limit increases in tuition.
- Rep. Dennis Bonnen has filed a bill to create a severe storm research and planning center. A UH appointee is included on the advisory committee.
- Sen. Judith Zaffirini has a filed a resolution extending the maturity for HEF bonds.
- Sen. Kyle Janek has filed a bill (SB 479) authorizing universities to contract for health insurance for students.
- SB 445 by Sen. Juan Hinojosa was filed relating to design and construction standards for newly constructed state buildings.
- The House Higher Education Committee will meet today to consider bills revamping the top ten percent law.
