AUSTIN, TX — The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to recognize Javier Norberto Garcia on his 75th birthday and to honor him for his outstanding service to his community, county, and country. Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa presented a Texas Senate Resolution to Mr. Garcia in recognition of his many achievements and contributions to the well-being and prosperity of the communities in Jim Wells County. 

Mr. Garcia was born on April 12, 1948, in Alice. After graduating from the Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Consolidated Independent School District in 1967, he enlisted in the National Guard and served his country with honor and distinction for 22 years. In addition to his service in the National Guard, he became an educator with the Alice Independent School District, where he taught for 20 years. He was also elected to the board of the Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco Consolidated Independent School District and served for 10 years.

Throughout his life, Mr. Garcia has embodied the traits of selflessness and devotion to service, dedicating himself to helping others and to serving as a voice for those around him. He served on the Jim Wells County Appraisal District Board of Directors for 32 years and served as Jim Wells County commissioner for Precinct 4 for 24 years. During his time as county commissioner, he collaborated with nonprofit organizations, including Community Action Corporation of South Texas, to establish parks in Ben Bolt and in Palito Blanco. He also provided services and meals for the elderly in Jim Wells County.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa said, “It is an honor to present this Texas Senate Resolution to Javier Garcia on his 75th birthday. Mr. Garcia has dedicated his life to serving his community, this county, our country, and his contributions have made a significant impact on the well-being and prosperity for the residents of Jim Wells County and the State of Texas. He is a true example of selflessness and devotion to service, and I am proud to recognize him for his outstanding achievements.”

Senator Hinojosa also joined Jim Wells County Judge Pete Treviño and current Precinct 4 County Commissioner Wicho Gonzalez at the dedication ceremony of the park in Ben Bolt that was renamed after Mr. Garcia in his honor. Commissioner Gonzalez played a key role in the renaming of the park. Senator Hinojosa congratulated Mr. Garcia for this well-deserved honor.

“I was proud to be part of the ceremony to rename the park in Ben Bolt after Mr. Garcia. His lifelong dedication to public service is truly deserving of this honor, and it ensures that his legacy will continue to live on in the community he served,” said Senator Hinojosa

The Texas Senate Resolution commends Javier Norberto Garcia on his many achievements and contributions to the well-being and prosperity of his community and the Lone Star State and extends to him best wishes for much joy and fulfillment in the years ahead.

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (TCDLA) presented Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen) with the Legislator of the Year Award for his service on the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and for his passage of legislation supported by TCDLA.   

The Legislator of the Year Award recognizes a member of the Legislature who has championed the advancement of a fair criminal justice system and has made significant contributions to legislation focused on protecting the constitutional rights of defendants. Nominations are made by the TCDLA Legislative Committee to the TCDLA Executive Committee, which makes the final determination of the award recipient.

Of significance during the 88^th Legislative Session were two billes passed by Senator Hinojosa relating to criminal justice reform: Senate Bill 338 and Senate Bill 991. The first, SB 338, bars the admissibility of witness testimony derived from forensic hypnosis, a practice that has long been considered outdated and unreliable. The second, SB 991, creates a centralized Crime Laboratory Portal at the Department of Public Safety which will allow for key forensic laboratory records to be made accessible seamlessly to prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Throughout his legislative service, Senator Hinojosa has been instrumental in the state’s efforts to reform our criminal justice system. During his time serving in the State House and in the wake of the Tulia drug bust scandal, he worked to improve public safety and rule of law by prohibiting Texans from being convicted of drug charges based solely on the testimony of undercover officers. This change in policy brought greater oversight and transparency of drug task force operations. Also of great importance was the Senator’s work on HB 1068 in 2005, which created the Forensic Science Commission (FSC) and charged it with investigating allegations of negligence or misconduct that would substantially affect the integrity of the results of a forensic analysis conducted by crime laboratories. The FSC now serves as a model agency across the nation for ensuring that forensic laboratories meet the highest standards of quality and integrity.

“Senator Hinojosa has given long and distinguished service to his country and to the State of Texas, especially in the area of human rights and equal treatment for all Texans,” said TCDLA President Heather Hagerty Barbieri. “Senator Hinojosa has compassion and understanding for all Texas citizens and his focus on equal justice for all citizens makes him the 2023 TCDLA Legislator of the Year.” 

Senator Hinojosa expressed his appreciation for the award and remarked on the importance of a fair and just criminal justice system:

“I am honored that the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association has recognized me with this distinguished award. As an attorney, I understand the critical role one plays in the legal system by ensuring that those accused of a crime receive due process of law and enjoy every possible benefit from our profession that justice allows.

Once signed, I look forward to seeing the improvements that SB 338 and SB 991 will add to our criminal justice system. As a state, we have made great progress in ensuring due process for all Texans, but there is still work to be done. I remain committed to working towards a system that is effective, efficient, and equal.”

AUSTIN, TX — Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa is pleased to announce that the City of Corpus Christi has been awarded two Defense Economic Adjustment Grant (DEAAG) program awards. The first award is for $175,000 to the Corpus Christi Army Depot for the acquisition of solar powered electric charging stations. The second award is for $1,000,000 to the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi for perimeter fencing and gate replacement.

“The DEAAG program is a vital resource for our military communities. These grants fund projects to improve infrastructure at our installations, increase their military value, and help further their mission,” said Senator Hinojosa. He added, “The Texas Legislature continues to fund this program in the state budget for our military installations which are not only key to our safety and national defense but also generate billions for the Texas economy and support thousands of jobs.”

The City of Corpus Christi applied for these grants last month and included a letter of support from Senator Hinojosa for both projects. The project at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi will be used to leverage an additional $1,000,000 from the Navy Region Southeast to replace the deteriorated perimeter fencing and gates to help prevent unauthorized entry into protected areas.

The grant to the Corpus Christi Army Depot will leverage a match of an additional $175,000 from the Army Working Capital Fund to purchase two portable solar-powered electric vehicle charging stations. These charging stations will maximize their capacity to operate its fleet of 280 electric service carts and other future electric vehicles purchased for use at the facility.

Senator Hinojosa would like to thank Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission for their support of this program. He would also like to thank Corpus Christi Mayor Paulette Guajardo, the City Council, the Corpus Christi Army Depot, and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi staff for all working together to apply for these grants.

“These grants will help support the important work being done at the Corpus Christi Army Depot and the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi,” said Senator Hinojosa. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues in the Texas Legislature to secure funding for this program and I look forward to seeing the positive impact these grants will have on our community. I am committed to continue working to protect the mission of our Texas military installations.” 

This week, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved three resolutions requesting financial assistance from the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP) for the City of Mission and the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation (Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties). EDAP provides cities, counties, water districts, nonprofit water supply corporations with financial assistance in the form of grants and loans for projects serving economically distressed residential areas where water or sewer services do not exist, or existing systems do not meet minimum state standards. An economically distressed area is a political subdivision in which the median household income is no greater than 75 percent of the state’s median income.

The City of Mission applied for $8,510,000 in financial assistance consisting of $4,255,000 in financing and $4,255,000 in grant funding from EDAP for planning, acquisition, and construction of a wastewater system to bring first-time sewer service to 14 subdivisions northwest of the City. These subdivisions are in an unincorporated area of Mission which currently utilizes septic tanks and pit privies to manage its wastewater. Some of these systems do not meet the standard requirements for on-site systems. In addition to the grant funding, the City could also save approximately $309,597 over the life of the financing.

The North Alamo Water Supply Corporation submitted two separate applications. The non-profit Corporation was approved for $4,400,000 in financial assistance consisting of $1,320,000 in financing and $3,080,000 in grant funding to provide first-time wastewater service to 2 unincorporated subdivisions north of the City of Weslaco. The second application approved would provide the Corporation with $9,800,000 in financial assistance consisting of $2,940,000 in financing and $6,860,000 in grant funding to provide first-time sewer service to 9 unincorporated subdivisions north of the City of Donna.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“EDAP has been an important program for our communities in the Rio Grande Valley. Funding authorized by the Legislature for this program allows communities to provide water services to rural areas where access to safe water does not exist or is not provided. I want to thank our local officials for their continued efforts in working with the Texas Water Development Board to obtain funding for their respective projects.” 

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 9 by Senator Brandon Creighton and joint-authored by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa which outlines a bill of rights for teachers and provides additional compensation. This bill will now head over to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“I am a joint author of Senate Bill 9 because supporting our teachers continues to be a priority for me this session. With this legislation, we are standing up for teachers and providing them with additional compensation and benefits for their dedication to the education of our children. This payment will be in addition to the pay increase we authorized in 2019 with the passage of HB 3. The $1.625 billion that the Senate has committed to invest in this bill will provide a $2,000 to $6,000 payment for our teachers who stay in the classroom during the next school year. While I know that they deserve and need much more, my vote today is not to show my satisfaction with the proposed compensation, but rather a commitment to continue advocating for more funding and to show my support for the additional benefits this bill provides. On the Senate floor, I voted for Senator Morgan LaMantia’s floor amendment to increase the compensation to $10,000 but it did not have enough votes to get adopted. I will continue working with my legislative colleagues to fight for additional compensation and to get this bill to the Governor’s desk.”

Highlights of Senate Bill 9 as passed by the Texas Senate:

• Childcare for Teachers – Free Pre-K for children of classroom teachers.
• Across the Board Teacher Payment – $2,000 payment to all teachers and an additional $4,000 for teachers in small and rural districts.
• Performance Based Bonuses – Increased funding for the Teacher Incentive Allotment that provides bonuses up to $36,000 for high-performing educators.
• Re-Hiring Retired Teachers – Creates a grant program to reimburse school districts that employ retired teachers for the cost of their contribution amount to TRS.
• TEA Assistance to School Districts – TEA will assist school districts with implementing certain teacher programs including programs that encourage high school students or other members of the community in the area served by the district to become teachers, including available teacher apprenticeship programs.
• Study of Teacher Time – TEA will provide support to school districts to study how the district’s or school’s staff and student schedules, required noninstructional duties for classroom teachers, and professional development requirements for educators are affecting the amount of time classroom teachers work each week.
• Transparency In Schedules – Provides clarity and guardrails for any duties outside the classroom.

AUSTIN, TX — Today, the Texas Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 10 by Senator Joan Huffman and Joint-Authored by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. This bill, if passed by the Texas House and approved by the Governor, would provide a one-time 13^th check of $7,500 to eligible Teacher Retirement System (TRS) retirees who are at least 75 years old. It would also provide a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for members who retired on or after September 1, 2013, and 4% for members who retired before that date.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“The Texas Senate continues to make significant investments in the Teacher Retirement System to ensure that the system is actuarially sound and can guarantee that our retired school employees receive the retirement paycheck they worked hard to earn. Over the past two years we have heard from our retired teachers who are on fixed income and are suffering because inflation has reduced their purchasing power.

“This session, I am honored to joint author SB 10 to support our retired school employees. We are using part of the historic budget surplus to fund a long overdue cost-of-living adjustment. The Senate’s proposed budget, SB 1, allocates $4.7 billion in General Revenue which includes $3.323 billion for the cost-of-living pay increases and $1.394 billion for the $7,500 one-time payment to retirees that are age 75 or older.

“I appreciate the leadership of Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman for authoring this bill and our Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for making SB 10 a priority bill for the Texas Senate. I look forward to supporting this bill as it moves through the legislative process.

AUSTIN, TX — On Wednesday, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a package of property tax bills that will provide tax relief to homeowners and businesses. Senate Bill 3 by Senator Paul Bettencourt and joint-authored by Senator Hinojosa would increase the Homestead Exemption from $40,000 to $70,000. Senate Bill 4 by Senator Bettencourt and co-authored by Senator Hinojosa would lower the tax rate school districts can levy by about 7 cents. Senate Bill 5 by Senator Tan Parker and joint-authored by Senator Hinojosa would increase the Business Personal Property Tax exemption from $2,500 to $25,000. These three bills would take effect if Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 3 passes this session and the voters approve these provisions in a constitutional amendment in the November 2023 General Election.

State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, who joint-authored or co-authored all of these bills issued the following statement:

“Property tax reform continues to be a top priority for Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and all the members of the Texas Senate. The property tax relief bills I joint authored and we passed out of the Senate this week total $16.5 billion. Rising property taxes are something we all feel on an annual basis. For the past three sessions we have focused on reducing property taxes to help our families burdened with paying these taxes that sometimes feels like a second mortgage. With the passage of SB 3/SJR 3, SB 4, and SB 5, we are providing meaningful property tax relief to all Texans.

“SB 3 will increase the Homestead Exemption from $40,000 to $70,000 which will in turn lower the amount of our home’s value subject to school taxes. Homeowners ages 65 and older and the disabled would see their additional exemptions jump from $10,000 to $30,000, resulting in a total Homestead Exemption of $100,000.

“This will be the third time in less than ten years that we have increased the Homestead Exemption. In 2015, the exemption was set at $15,000 and the voters approved the increase to $25,000. In 2022, the voters approved increasing it to $40,000. It is estimated that this increase would save taxpayers an additional $341 on top of the average savings of $454 from the 2021 exemption. SB 4 will provide an additional $5.38 billion in school district tax rate compression and will reduce recapture for a number of school districts.

“I was also proud to joint author SB 5 to increase the Business Personal Property tax exemption from $2,500 to $25,000 to provide tax relief to our businesses. This bill also creates new inventory tax credits to further support our businesses and keep our Texas economy strong.

“I look forward to continue working with the members of the Legislature to get these bills to Governor Abbott’s desk and have Texans vote this November to provide this much needed property tax relief. 

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Governor Greg Abbott announced the appointment of Mr. Alex Meade of Mission to the Texas Transportation Commission. He will serve as one of five Commissioners charged with governing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and will be responsible for policymaking regarding the state’s highway system, developing a statewide transportation plan, assisting the development of public transportation and adopting rules for TxDOT’s operation.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, as the senator representing Mr. Meade’s hometown, had to concur with Governor Abbott’s recommendation for this appointment. Senator Hinojosa will also introduce Mr. Meade during the Senate Confirmation hearing and help secure the votes from the full Senate for final confirmation in the next few weeks.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa released the following statement:

“The appointment of Alex Meade to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission is an excellent choice by Governor Abbott. Given his past experience as CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation, his role as City Manager of the City of Pharr, and as the current Executive Vice President of Texas Regional Bank, Alex has the public and private sector experience needed for this important position. He understands how critical transportation infrastructure is to our cities, our businesses, and for our state’s continued success and economic growth. Alex has first-hand knowledge of the importance of the Texas-Mexico border and the benefits of the trade with Mexico through our international ports of entry. I am confident Alex will work tirelessly to provide transportation solutions that will take care of the needs of all Texans. I look forward to supporting him through the Senate confirmation process.”

The last Transportation Commissioner from the Rio Grande Valley was Ruben R. Cardenas from McAllen. He served from May 1994 until April 1995. The last Transportation Commissioner from the border region was Ted Houghton of El Paso who served from February 2009 until February 2015. 

AUSTIN, TX — Senate Bill 409 has been filed by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, which if passed into law, will further empower victims of sexual assault and ensure their sensitive and fair treatment in the criminal justice system.

An act of sexual violence can devastate and often derail someone’s life. Victims can face immediate and direct negative impact such as injury, physical trauma, or even death. It can also lead indirectly to a variety of effects on physical and mental health and well-being. In fact, victims are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, even years after the assault took place, than non-assaulted individuals.

While victims are afforded a number of rights under Texas law, sexual assault remains one of the most underreported crimes in the state. Less than 5% of rape victims ever report their assault to law enforcement, and even less see their offender prosecuted and convicted. Reporting sexual assault requires incredible courage, but all too often, brave survivors are blocked from moving forward with their cases when they encounter institutional barriers and lacking engagement from prosecutors. A recent report by the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault at UT Austin stated that a survivor’s negative experience with a governmental institution had profound effects on their ability to participate in the criminal justice system, access services, and heal from sexual violence.

SB 409 will create minimal rules of engagement for prosecutors’ offices in an effort to facilitate a better experience for the victim within the criminal justice system. The bill clarifies and strengthens the Constitutional rights of crime victims without hindering prosecutor discretion or creating unworkable penalties.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“Survivors of sexual assault must be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. If SB 409 is passed, Texas will reaffirm its commitment to support every sexual assault survivor and hold their perpetrators accountable. I look forward to working with State Representative Jeff Leach and getting this bill to Governor Abbott’s desk.

If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual violence, you are not alone and there are many resources available that can help and offer support for survivors. Call the 24/7 Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) to be routed to a service provider near you.”

If passed and signed by the Governor, this bill will take effect September 1, 2023.