by Sahar Chmais
The 87th Legislative Session might be more challenging than years prior due to the financial setbacks of COVID-19, but State Senator Judith Zaffirini and Texas House Representative for District 45 Erin Zwiener are taking quick actions and pre-filed bills as early as possible.
There are still a lot more bills to file according to Zwiener, but so far, she has pre-filed 10 bills and Zaffirini pre-filed 34.
“Because of the pandemic, my staff and I are working harder than ever,” Zaffirini said. “COVID-19 has exacerbated inequities that must be rectified. I pre-filed this legislation because I understand the urgency with which we must address these issues.”
Among Zaffirini’s main focus are bills on the economic and health effects of COVID-19. Affordable healthcare has always been on Zaffirini’s agenda, but she believes it has become a more urgent issue during the pandemic.
She filed Senate Joint Resolution 11 to extend Medicaid services to persons at or below 138% of the federal poverty level and Senate Bill 39, to prevent children from losing Medicaid due to paperwork issues.
Zwiener said she looks forward to getting behind expansion of Medicaid, once again emphasizing the need during the pandemic.
Senate Bill 32 also stems from the coronavirus epidemic. This bill would provide up to $5,000 of student loan debt relief to frontline workers.
“Our frontline workers have been heroes throughout the pandemic, and we owe them an enormous debt,” Zaffirini explained. “SB 32 is the very least we can do to acknowledge their efforts and sacrifice.”
Zaffirini will also include more expansions to mental healthcare access for children under Senate Bill 51 and 52.
More of her proposed bills will include college students; Senate Bill 33 and 34 will make public higher education and community colleges tuition-free for qualifying Texans. Another student-focused bill is Senate Bill 35, which offers zero-interest on student loans that could be forgiven for students who earn their degrees in a timely manner and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Zwiener has also filed a bill to benefit university students in their voting journey. House Bill 160 would allow university students to use their student identification from a Texas institution to vote.
She does not think this will pass, but she believes it is important to get the conversation going.
“Sometimes you file legislation to start conversation and bring people to the table,” Zwiener told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch, “even if you don’t think the momentum is there yet. There’s a joke is it takes three sessions to pass a bill.”
While Zwiener does not believe this bill will pass, she has hope that House Bill 48 will pass this session. This bill provides sexual harassment protections at workplaces with fewer than 15 employees. She explained that oftentimes in small work environments, victims of sexual harassment do not receive proper due process, which is why she is adamant on proposing and moving this bill forward.
House Bill 176 is another one that Zwiener feels optimistic about. The bill would allow local municipalities to enact ordinances around disposable containers such as plastic bags and beverage cans.
Today, Zwiener added another bill that she feels might pass this session. House Bill 441 proposes to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis from a Class B misdemeanor to a civil penalty.
Legislative session convenes Jan. 12.
