Contact:

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa – (512) 463-0120

Rep. Abel Herrero – (512) 463-0462

Rep. Todd Hunter – (512) 463-0672

Austin, TX – The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently directed Flatiron/Dragados, LLC to suspend construction of the main-span of the new cable-stayed bridge in Corpus Christi. The suspension stems from TxDOT’s concerns, confirmed by independent reviews, regarding the overall design of the main-span part of the bridge. Since this announcement, our offices have been receiving many calls about this decision and its impact to the residents of the Coastal Bend.

As your state elected officials, we have been in communication with TxDOT’s District Engineer and its leadership in Austin to make the following clear. Public safety and transparency are a priority. It is important for the public to know TxDOTs reasoning for their decision to direct the suspension of construction of the main-span and we expect the agency to release the findings of the independent reviewer as soon as possible. We also expect Flatiron/Dragados to address the issues and concerns identified in the review in an expeditious manner with safety as a priority. It is also our expectation and understanding that construction crews will continue working on parts of the project not related to the main-span. We have been informed that there will be no additional local funds required for any delays or changes to the project. We also expect to be updated as significant changes or decisions are made regarding the Harbor Bridge Project.

TxDOT will provide an update to the residents of Nueces and San Patricio Counties of their review of the project. Any questions from the public or the media can be made to Rickey Dailey with the TxDOT Corpus Christi District Office at (361) 808-2544.

AUSTIN, TX  — Today, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick reappointed Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa to the Windstorm Insurance Legislative Funding and Funding Structure Oversight Board which was created in 2019 with the passage of House Bill 1900, co-sponsored by Senator Hinojosa. Due to the COVID pandemic in 2020, the Board was not able to meet and produce a report. This Board was re-authorized during the 2021 legislative session with the passage of Senate Bill 1448 also co-authored by Senator Hinojosa. The board is charged with gathering information regarding how the association’s current funding and funding structure operate and how the catastrophic risk pools of other states operate.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I appreciate Lt. Governor Dan Patrick reappointing me to the Windstorm Insurance Legislative Funding and Funding Structure Oversight Board. As a strong advocate for fair windstorm insurance rates, I will continue to monitor how TWIA is funded and operates. I proudly co-sponsored HB 1900 in 2019 and SB 1448 in 2021 to create this oversight board to develop recommendations that make TWIA operational and sustainable. I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues and our coastal communities to improve regulations and propose funding structures that ensure reasonable, fair, and affordable windstorm insurance rates for coastal residents.”

The board is mandated to report its recommendations to the Legislature by Nov. 15, 2022. Other members of the committee include Co-Chair Senator Charles Schwertner, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, Senator Brandon Creighton, Representative Ryan Guillen, Representative Abel Herrero, Representative Mayes Middleton, and Representative Ed Thompson.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; Transportation, and Special Committee to Protect All Texans

Next week, from July 25-30, free health clinics will be available to anyone as part of Operation Border Health Preparedness. This program allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. These services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. A complete listing of sites and services can be found at https://dshs.texas.gov/obhp2022/, but include:

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Brownsville: James Pace Early College High School, 314 W. Los Ebanos Blvd.

Harlingen: Harlingen School of Health Professions, 2302 N. 21^st St.

Laredo: Lyndon B. Johnson 9^th Grade Campus, 5511 St. Luke Blvd.

Raymondville: Raymondville High School, 601 F.M. 3168

Rio Grande City: AC2E Elementary School, 1 S. Fort Ringgold St.

 Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and Friday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

San Juan: PSJA Early College High School, 805 W. Ridge Road

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process. Just last year, these clinics provided over 21,000 health services to nearly 5,000 people. Healthcare is a critical need for South Texas residents, and I hope every resident needing these services goes to one of these clinics to get this free care.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; Transportation, and Special Committee to Protect All Texans.

Today, the Office of the Governor announced the launch of the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program. This grant was established by the Legislature with the passage of SB 8, which I co-authored, during the Third Called Special Session. This bill allotted $180 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to be awarded to businesses in tourism, travel, and hospitality industries across Texas. Applicants in the following industries are eligible for a one-time grant of up to $20,000: arts, entertainment, and recreation; food services and drinking places; traveler accommodation; RV parks and recreational camps; traveler arrangement and reservation services; convention and tradeshow organizers; breweries; wineries; and distilleries. Please join me in sharing this information with those in our communities who may be eligible to apply for these grants.

Governor Abbott Announces Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program Applications Opening for $180 Million of Grant Funding for Tourism, Travel, and Hospitality Businesses in Texas For Immediate Release: July 5, 2022 AUSTIN ─ Governor Greg Abbott and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism today announced the opening of applications, beginning July 6, for the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR) established by Senate Bill 8 and signed into law by the Governor following the 87th Legislative Session to administer $180 million of funds received from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The purpose of the TTIR program is to provide grants for the recovery of Texas businesses in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry that were negatively impacted due to COVID-19. “Travel and tourism is a critical component to both the state and local economies,” said Governor Abbott. “Visitor spending at Texas destinations brings new money into communities and spurs local job creation across industries in every region of the state. After a decade of record expansion where 1 in 10 Texas jobs were supported by tourism, the travel industry was among the hardest hit by the pandemic. While direct travel spending in Texas is recovering at a faster rate than national averages, allocating these grant funds paves the way for a more prosperous, brighter future for all Texas communities.” The TTIR program will support the Texas tourism, travel, and hospitality industry by making grant funds available to businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. Applicants in the following industries are eligible for a one-time grant of up to $20,000: arts, entertainment, and recreation; food services and drinking places; traveler accommodation; RV parks and recreational camps; traveler arrangement and reservation services; convention and tradeshow organizers; breweries; wineries; and distilleries. The TTIR program application requires all applicants to submit supporting documents along with their application to demonstrate compliance with grant and eligibility requirements. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism will host a series of webinars for specific industry groups to provide more information and answer questions on the application process and the TTIR program: ·    Breweries, Wineries, Distilleries, Travel Arrangement & Reservation Services, Convention & Trade Show Organizers, and RV Parks & Recreational Camps Webinar – Tuesday, July 12, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., CT ·    Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Webinar – Thursday, July 21, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., CT ·    Traveler Accommodation Webinar – Thursday, August 11, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., CT ·    Food Services and Drinking Places Webinar – Thursday, September 1, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., CT To register for the webinars and for eligibility and grant application details, deadlines, and more, visit: https://ttir.gov.texas.gov The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism is tasked with marketing and promoting the state of Texas as a premier business location and travel destination.

Yesterday, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was appointed to the Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans. The committee is charged with studying five areas: school safety, mental health, social media, police training, and firearm safety. Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I want to thank the Lt. Governor for appointing me to this committee to do the critical work of ensuring all Texans can safely live their daily lives. The most important responsibility of government is to keep its citizens safe. Sadly, the recent mass shootings have shown that we have work to do to meet this responsibility, and I am ready to get to work to find real solutions that make our schools, churches, grocery stores, and neighborhoods safe for everyone.

Every issue identified as a focus for this committee is an important area that merits a robust discussion on what more we can do to prevent future mass shootings. We must make schools safer. We must do more for mental healthcare, not just when someone is in crisis, but to prevent crises altogether. We must ensure social media is being used responsibly and that police have the proper training to quickly respond if a shooting takes place. And we must implement policies to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of those who would use them as tools of unthinkable destruction instead of personal protection.

I recognize that this is a process that will invite intense discussion from many viewpoints. However, it is my hope that we can arrive at thoughtful solutions to keep our communities safe and mitigate mass shootings.” 

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; Transportation, and Special Committee to Protect All Texans.

Austin, TX – Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa wants to remind everyone of the upcoming sales tax holiday for water efficient products intended to encourage water conservation. This Memorial Day Weekend, beginning Saturday, May 28 through midnight on Monday, May 30, Texans can purchase water conservation products and/or a WaterSense product without paying a sales tax.

In 2015, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa authored and passed SB 1356 to add water efficient products to the already existing tax free weekend for energy efficient products to incentivize consumers statewide to make smart choices in conserving water. Water efficient products save consumers money and reduce consumption rates for our state’s valuable water resources, which are even more valuable in the event of a drought.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“Water conservation is critical to protecting our planet. Everyone needs this limited resource, and the best way to ensure there is sufficient supply is for everyone to conserve as much as they can. Texas is no stranger to droughts, which have traumatic effects on people’s lives and severely impact the state and local economies.

I’m proud to have passed legislation to help our families statewide get a tax break as they do their part to conserve water and utilize water efficient products. This tax free weekend is estimated to save our hard-working Texans almost $14 million in state and local sales tax. We hope to raise public awareness about the importance of water conservation through this tax free weekend highlighting the steps that Texans can take to make smart water choices in an effort to have more water available during times of drought.”

Tax free items include shower heads, a soaker or drip-irrigation hose, mulch, plants, trees, and grasses, rain barrels, a moisture control for a sprinkler or irrigation system, and others. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. The following link to the Texas Comptroller’s webpage will provide more information:

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1018.php

Rising property taxes are something we all feel on an annual basis. These taxes have continued a painful increase for too long and our families are burdened with paying a property tax bill that sometimes feels like a second mortgage. Texans need meaningful property tax reduction, and this May we will vote on two constitutional amendments that if approved will provide tax relief. I was proud to co-author both of these proposals passed during the 2021 special sessions and will continue to advocate for additional property tax relief in the future.

The first item on the ballot, Proposition 1, allows for school property taxes to decrease year after year for homeowners who are disabled or 65 or older. This fixes an oversight from 2019 legislation that reduced property taxes but excluded these homeowners from this reduction because their tax rates were frozen.

Current law puts a ceiling in place for these taxpayers, and their school property taxes cannot rise above that for as long as they are in their home. However, the ceiling for these homeowners cannot be adjusted downward either. Proposition 1 fixes this error by adjusting the ceiling downward to reflect the new ceiling at the lower amount anytime tax rates are lowered.

The second proposition on the ballot, Proposition 2, makes a serious down payment on decreasing property taxes for all homeowners by increasing the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000. This follows an increase in the homestead exemption, which I also co-authored and the voters approved in 2015, from $15,000 to $25,000. Just like in 2015, this increase in the homestead exemption will lower the amount of your home’s value subject to school taxes – the largest share of property tax bills.

If approved, Proposition 2 will save Texans over $350 million in 2023; a number which will only increase in subsequent years. These savings will be made up by the state and have zero effect on the funding for our schools.

Texas is blessed to have a strong robust economy to help cover these costs. However, we must also recognize that we were able to not only balance the budget but walk away with a surplus thanks to federal stimulus dollars provided in the American Rescue Plan.

I hope you will join me in supporting both of these overdue propositions and provide real property tax relief to Texans. You work hard to earn your money, let’s keep more of it in your pocket. You can vote early on these propositions from Monday, April 25th through Tuesday, May 3, and Election Day is Saturday, May 7th.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; and Transportation.

AUSTIN — Recently, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) approved a Local Parks Grant for the City of Robstown’s “Robstown Swimming Pool.” The City of Robstown received a $41,250 grant for the re-plastering and retiling of the swimming pool. This grant was a part of the $12.5 million awarded by TPWC to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. Funding for the Local Parks Grant comes from a portion of the state sales tax attributable to sporting goods and from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am pleased that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved a Local Parks Grant for improvements to the Robstown Swimming Pool. The funds will help the City of Robstown meet its recreational needs and improve the quality of life for their residents. Local parks are a vital part of creating a livable community. I applaud Robstown officials for applying for this grant and for their efforts in improving their community.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, and the Senate Committee on Redistricting, and serves on the Senate Committees on Border Security; Criminal Justice; Natural Resources & Economic Development; and Transportation.

Austin, TX – Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa wants to remind Texans that the Texas Sales Tax Holiday on Emergency Preparation Supplies is coming up soon. Beginning Saturday, April 23 through midnight on Monday, April 25, Texans can purchase emergency supplies and hurricane-proofing materials without paying a sales tax.

This sales tax break is thanks to Senate Bill 904, which was authored and passed by Senator Hinojosa in 2015. Under this legislation, Texans will be better able to prepare themselves for severe weather events like winter storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“Sadly, in recent years natural disasters have become more and more frequent and intense across Texas. Due to climate change, these disasters are likely to continue and even worsen.

I was proud to pass legislation in 2015 that makes it easier for families across Texas to purchase the supplies necessary to be ready for any disaster their communities might face. I urge all Texans to have an emergency preparedness plan and ensure you have all the supplies necessary to keep loved ones safe during an emergency. Despite our inability to prevent disasters from occurring, we are able to be as prepared as possible.”

Tax free items include certain portable generators and hurricane shutters, as well as smaller emergency and storm preparedness items such as weather radios, rope ladders, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and first aid kits. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase. A full list of emergency preparation supplies can be found on the Comptroller’s website:

https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1017.php

Austin, TX – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas (ACEC Texas) presented Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) with the Champion of Infrastructure Award for his work on behalf of Texas engineering firms during the 2021 Texas Legislative Session.

The Champion of Infrastructure Award recognizes elected officials who support the engineering community by promoting policies that encourage infrastructure development and create a fair, business-friendly environment in the State of Texas. The award recipients are chosen by the members of the ACEC Texas Public Policy Council (PPC).

Senator Hinojosa worked with ACEC Texas and several stakeholders in the design and construction industry to pass legislation that would uphold our laws on the appropriateness of energy savings performance contracts (ESPC) and remove unintended loopholes in procurement statutes to protect the public.

“Prior to the legislative session, there were instances of ESPCs being used in ways outside their original intended purpose, which unfairly altered the public procurement process,” stated ACEC Texas President Peyton McKnight. “Senator Hinojosa recognized this problem and worked with stakeholders to pass legislation that would enforce EPSC laws as originally intended and close loopholes to prohibit abuse of these contracts.”

“I’m honored to receive the Champion of Infrastructure Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas,” said Senator Hinojosa. “Our engineers play a key role in building infrastructure, creating jobs, and growing our economy and our state. I look forward to continue working with ACEC Texas and supporting legislation that protects taxpayers and keeps Texas strong.”

ACEC Texas is the business association of Texas engineering firms. The organization is committed to advancing the private practice of consulting engineering, enhancing markets for private engineering services, educating the public on the importance of infrastructure investment, and promoting sound business practices within the industry and its client base.