Senator Hinojosa Files Legislation to Mitigate the Effects of a Disaster on Public Schools

AUSTIN, TX — Yesterday, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa filed Senate Bill 1011 to ensure students, teachers, and our schools are able to safely provide instruction for our children during this and future pandemics. This bill includes some measures that were implemented on a temporary basis by the Governor, Texas Education Agency, and Congress aimed at ensuring the safety of teachers and students while also not penalizing schools for the disruption that occurred during the pandemic.

Senate Bill 1011 first provides that a teacher or other district employee who tests positive for COVID-19, or a similar disease in the future, would be guaranteed 14 days of paid leave. This would guarantee that school staff are not penalized or otherwise motivated to stay at schools and expose students and other staff to the disease.

The bill also removes the high-stakes nature of tests like the STAAR test if school instruction was disrupted by a disaster like the pandemic or a hurricane. “It is important to measure student progress, but not penalize a student or school when a disaster occurs. A school’s number one priority is student achievement, and worrying about how its students are going to perform on the STAAR test should not be an added burden to schools dealing with a disaster like this pandemic,” stated Senator Hinojosa.

Additionally, SB 1011 places in statute the recent “hold harmless” decision announced by the Governor, which preserves school funding for the 2020-21 school year. Lastly, the bill would create a truancy task force to study this important issue and make recommendations about how to better keep our children in the classroom.

“These common-sense policies ensure schools are able to focus on educating students during disaster situations that are out of their control,” said Senator Hinojosa. “It is paramount that schools are a safe place to learn, and that they have the tools and resources to adapt during times like we are currently experiencing.”

TWDB APPROVES FUNDING FOR NUECES COUNTY DRAINAGE AND CONSERVATION DISTRICT NO. 2 FROM THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Today, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved three project applications from the Nueces County Drainage and Conservation District No. 2 (“District”) for financial assistance through the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for a portion of each project’s total cost. All three project were approved under Category 2 of the 2020 Flood Intended Use Plan, which is designed for planning, acquisition, design, and construction activities to implement flood mitigation projects.

The District needs to enhance the infrastructure and address frequent flooding within the District’s service area. The Casa Blanca Drainage Improvements Project was approved for $809,600 in financial assistance consisting of $437,000 in financing and a $372,600 grant to address poor drainage and dilapidated infrastructure in the Casa Blanca subdivision. This project is estimated to be finished by January 9, 2025. The Bosquez Road/Avenue J Drainage Improvements Project was approved for $2,453,716 in financial assistance consisting of $1,325,000 in financing and a $1,128,716 grant to address recurring flooding problems in the area. For the second project, the estimated completion date is on October 19, 2023. The Ditch “A” and Bluebonnet Drainage Improvements Project was approved for $1,311,320 in financial assistance consisting of $839,000 in financing and a $472,320 grant to address the repeated residential flooding at the Bluebonnet subdivision in the City of Robstown. The third project is estimated to be finished by June 20, 2024.

The 2019 Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 7, which created the FIF program to provide funding for flood mitigation projects. The FIF program provides financial assistance in the form of loans with an interest rate of 0% and grants for flood control, flood mitigation, and drainage projects. As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and a co-author of Senate Bill 500 during the 86th Legislative Session, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was instrumental in securing funding to start the FIF program through a one-time transfer of $793 million from the “Rainy Day” Fund.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

I appreciate the leadership of the Nueces County Drainage and Conservation District No. 2 for taking advantage of the Flood Infrastructure Fund program and for their work to submit multiple applications. It’s great news that today’s actions by the TWDB, will help address poor drainage, recurring flood problems, and improve these subdivisions in the City of Robstown. The City and its citizens will greatly benefit due to these investments. “

News and Updates from Senator Hinojosa

Today, legislative committees began their investigation into the energy regulators and providers that played a role in responding to the winter storm that nearly shut down our electric grid. This week, we have learned that the record-setting temperatures shut down 48.6% of electricity generation. Five members of the ERCOT board have also resigned. Additionally, we have learned that the Texas electricity grid was minutes away from a complete shutdown that would have required a “black start” which could have taken weeks to bring the grid back online. These are serious issues and many Texans are still recovering from the physical, mental, and financial pain this storm and the loss of power caused. We will work to ensure this never happens again.

Recently, I wrote an op-ed that I am sharing with you below, regarding this issue. Also, as Vice Chair of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee, I will be joining my Senate colleagues at a hearing next Thursday, March 4th at 9:00am where we will be reviewing the governance and oversight of ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission. We will also be examining price gouging and how the judicial system is managing its operations during the ongoing statewide emergency. A live video broadcast of this hearing will be available here: https://senate.Texas.gov/av-live.php

As we continue to examine extreme weather conditions and the circumstances that led to power outages across our state, I encourage you to submit your comments by clicking on this link. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have any questions or need additional information.

Texans Suffer the Consequences of a Decades-Long Push for Energy Deregulation

Column by State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, February 2021

Texas often prides itself on being a low-regulation state that puts the free market ahead of all else. While this approach does work in some situations, often on a short-term basis, it can also have dire consequences as demonstrated by millions of Texans left without power and/or water.

To understand how the human-side of this disaster happened, we have to take a look at how we got here. In 1999, Texas deregulated its energy market. This meant that instead of cities or other local entities completely controlling the supply of energy to customers, the provision of electricity would be broken up into three components – generation, transmission, and retail. Under this new regime, a customer would have the choice between various retail electric providers, with the hopes that such a move would lower prices. However, as we have experienced before and are learning yet again – you often get what you pay for.

As part of the change to a deregulated energy market, prices were no longer fixed by the government. Companies were instead encouraged to compete to attract customers. With that competition came fewer rules from the state by which each of these players in the energy market had to abide.

Unfortunately, this system created incentives for energy companies to cut corners and invest as little as possible in order to maximize their profits. It would be easy to just blame the energy companies for doing this, but it is the system that the state created that is truly to blame. When electric generators are told they should take certain actions, like winterizing their power plants, but that simply remains a suggestion, then most companies will not do so out of fear that their competitor will choose not to and ultimately make more money or attract more customers. Situations like these are why we have government regulation and we need to take a hard look at what is and is not working in the energy market in Texas.

One question you might be asking yourself is where does ERCOT fit into all this? Undoubtedly by now, you have heard or read something about ERCOT and the (not-so) rolling blackouts it implemented across the state. Sadly, this past week ERCOT did not live up to its name – the Electric RELIABILITY Council of Texas. Too many Texans were made victim of what proved to be a very un-reliable grid, and concrete steps have to be taken to ensure it never happens again.

Following deregulation, ERCOT took a larger role in the energy market in Texas. Now that retail electric providers could purchase their electricity from anywhere in the state, some entity needed to be in charge of managing the market of producing, buying, selling, and transmitting electricity all across Texas. In 2002, ERCOT was made into an independent organization with a board that consists of representatives from the energy companies, the state, and the public. However, ERCOT is still subject to regulations by the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and is thus still under the control of the state.

The state therefore needs to take a look, top to bottom, of how electricity is generated and provided to the public. While ERCOT played a role in this disaster, they are not the only ones responsible. What actions did state leaders take or not take that led to millions of Texans being left in the cold without power for days? Why did our power plants prove to be so inferior to those in other areas of the country that felt the same cold, but did not have the same devastating power outages? These questions and many more will be considered at an upcoming Senate Committee on Jurisprudence hearing, of which I serve as the Vice-Chair. I intend to ask these questions and not only get to the bottom of what happened, but more importantly shed light and what needs to change.

At the outset of this inquiry, we already know quite a bit. First we know that despite numerous elected officials claiming that the outages were the fault of wind turbines that froze, the truth is that the failure of renewable energy was dwarfed by the failure of fossil fuel plants. We know this because a senior official at ERCOT gave us the facts about what power generation was knocked offline by the cold, and those facts showed that thermal power production (that is nuclear, coal, and natural gas) accounted for around two-thirds of the lost generating capacity. Especially hard hit were natural gas plants who struggled to get supply because transmission lines froze and power to pump the gas out of the ground was unavailable.

But it didn’t have to be this way. Ten years ago much of the state experienced a freeze that knocked numerous power plants offline. A study was conducted by federal regulators to determine how to prevent this from happening again, and part of the recommendations made were to winterize power plants. However, given the lack of regulations in Texas around energy production, those solutions remained recommendations, not requirements. One area of the state, El Paso, that is not part of ERCOT and is instead part of a federally regulated grid implemented these solutions and the results this past week were striking – only a few thousand people lost power for mere minutes.

Moving forward, I am confident that we will learn the details of what went wrong and how we can fix it. We must resist the temptation to believe this is a once-in-a-lifetime event that we don’t need to plan for again. With climate change making our summers hotter and winters colder, the demand on our energy grid is only going to intensify and we have to be ready for it. The solutions exist – more stringent regulations that put people ahead of profits, the adoption of smart technology like robust energy storage, and treating electricity as a true utility that we all have a right to have and enjoy and that remains reliable when we need it most. We have a responsibility to ensure these solutions don’t remain ideas on the shelf, but rather are put into action.

Additional Updates and Information

Call Center To Assist Texans With Texas Individual Assistance Reporting Tool

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), with the assistance of the Texas Military Department, launched a call center to assist Texans, who have limited or no internet access, with completing the State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT). Texans can call 844-844-3089 between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM seven days a week to submit their disaster damage information. This call center is specifically for Texans who are unable to submit information through the online iSTAT tool. Those with internet can access the iSTAT by visiting http://damage.tdem.texas.gov.

Governor Abbott, TDHCA Extend Housing Tax Credit Application Deadline

Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) have extended the submission deadline for housing tax credit applications. The original deadline of March 1st has been pushed to Monday, March 8th at 5:00 PM CT to allow extra time for housing developers to secure documentation or other communications needed while people were out of service.

500 Additional Plumbers

The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSPBE) today announced that the board has identified an additional 500 licensees, as of Sunday, who are capable of performing plumbing under general supervision. These additional licensees have been identified through previously granted waivers to increase the availability of plumbers and Plumber’s Apprentices to repair burst pipes as the state recovers from the winter storm.

Federal Approval Allowing SNAP Clients To Purchase Hot Foods 

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received federal approval to allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to use their food benefits to purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals due to impacts from the severe winter storm. SNAP recipients can now use their benefits for hot foods and ready-to-eat foods, such as rotisserie chicken or grocery store deli foods, at retailers that accept SNAP anywhere in the state. Additionally, Texas received federal approval Feb. 19 to allow SNAP recipients to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed due to the severe weather.

Texas Comptroller’s Office Extends Franchise Tax Deadline

In response to the recent winter storm and power outages in the state, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced today that his agency is automatically extending the due date for 2021 franchise tax reports from May 15 to June 15. The extension aligns the agency with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which earlier this week extended the April 15 tax-filing and payment deadline to June 15 for all Texas residents and businesses. The due date extension applies to all franchise taxpayers. It is automatic, and taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms.

Senator Hinojosa Honors the Life of Sergeant Aubrey Harper with Texas Senate Resolution

Senator Hinojosa and Sgt. Aubrey Harper[1008]AUSTIN, TX — On Tuesday, February 9, 2021, the Senate of the State of Texas adopted Senate Resolution No. 58 by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa in memory of William Aubrey Harper, Jr., who passed away on November 11, 2020 at the age of 81. Sergeant Aubrey Harper worked for the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s office for 25 years before his passing.

“Sergeant Harper dedicated his life to serving and protecting the citizens and our community with more than 37 years of law enforcement service, of which 25 years was with the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Department,” said Senator Hinojosa. “Before the Covid-19 pandemic I had the opportunity to visit with Sgt. Harper to learn about the success of his work to increase partnerships and communication with ranchers and farmers in the County. He was very proud of the loose livestock and fence damage program that is now being used as a model in many other counties across Texas,” added Senator Hinojosa. “I am honored to pass this Resolution as an expression of our appreciation and admiration of his achievements and contributions to the people of South Texas. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Sgt. Aubrey Harper. May he Rest in Peace and be in Heaven.”

A formal parchment of Senate Resolution No. 58 will be prepared for the family of Sergeant Harper and will be presented by Senator Hinojosa at a later time.

City of Corpus Christi Awarded DEAAG Funds for Naval Air Station Corpus Christi

AUSTIN, TX — Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the City of Corpus Christi has been awarded a $901,952 grant to replace the natural gas system at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee during the 2019 legislative session, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa supported an appropriation of $30 million for the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) program to issue grants to military defense communities.

“These grants are critical for our military installations to allow them to build up their infrastructure to increase the military value of their base and help avoid a potential BRAC closure,” said Senator Hinojosa. “This grant will help replace 78-year old, steel, high pressure natural gas supply lines serving 40 tenants in approximately 75 buildings and make the system much safer and more reliable.”

The City of Corpus Christi applied for the grant in October 2020 which included a letter of support from Senator Hinojosa. After a gas leak detection study in June 2019, the City of Corpus Christi identified numerous above and below ground leaks in the natural gas system.

These projects are the continuation of the strong partnership between the City of Corpus Christi, the Navy, the Army, and the State of Texas to make security and safety improvements at the bases. The community is committed to sustaining and growing the missions of both NASCC and CCAD, and this grant funding will be an important investment for their continued growth and success.

“I am pleased the Texas Military Preparedness Commission recognized the importance of replacing the natural gas system at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi,” said Senator Hinojosa. He also added, “I appreciate the leadership of the City of Corpus Christi for working with the Navy, conducting the study, and submitting the application requesting DEAAG funds. I am committed to continue working to protect the mission of our Texas military installations.”

Texas Senate Redistricting Committee Holds First Public Hearing-Seeks Public Input About the Upcoming Redistricting Process

AUSTIN, TX — Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting (Committee) participated in the first regional hearing held by the Committee this legislative session. In a first for the Texas Senate, these regional hearings will allow members of the public to testify before the Committee via Zoom videoconference. This change was approved unanimously by the Texas Senate with the adoption of Senate Resolution 4, which allows the Committee to hold region-focused hearings in the Capitol, with public testimony provided via videoconference.

“The first virtual regional hearing of the Senate Redistricting Committee went very well. Allowing virtual testimony gives Texans from all across the State an opportunity to safely provide input regarding their communities and how it can be impacted with the redistricting process,” said Senator Hinojosa. “Participation in these hearings – is not optional. We must make the issues and concerns of each region known to the rest of Texas. The insights from the different regions of the State will provide the Committee with a much needed local perspective on district maps that will define the context in which we elect our leaders for the next decade.”

Senator Hinojosa encouraged the public to participate in the process by providing testimony during a virtual regional hearing, which have been organized by regions and population centers, however, the Committee will hear testimony about any part of the State at any hearing. The public in South Texas is invited to participate on the following dates:

  • January 26, 2021 at 9:00am – Regional Focus: South Texas
  • February 2, 2021 at 9:00am – Regional Focus: Brownsville / Harlingen / McAllen Area

Members of the public may view all upcoming Committee hearings and sign up to testify at https://bit.ly/3bWqH5b. Also, community members not available to participate in a virtual committee hearing, may submit written comments and attachments to the Committee at any time throughout the legislative redistricting process. To submit written comments and attachments via the public-input portal, please visit the Committee’s website at https://senate.texas.gov/cmte.php?c=625. All comments and attachments received via the public-input portal are shared with all Committee members and maintained in the official records.

“This is an opportunity for the public, for voters, to express their views on how congressional, legislative, and State Board of Education districts are drawn. Each one of us is affected by the decisions made by this Committee. We must speak to be heard,” Senator Hinojosa said.

SENATOR HINOJOSA ANNOUNCES VACCINES FOR JIM WELLS COUNTY CHRISTUS SPOHN HEALTH SYSTEM IN ALICE TO GET 975 VACCINES

AUSTIN, TX – Today, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa announced that Christus Spohn Health System in Alice has been selected by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) as a vaccine hub and will soon be receiving 975 vaccines. This is the largest vaccine allocation to date to be distributed to Jim Wells County. Senator Hinojosa has been monitoring the vaccine distribution in South Texas and has had conversations with DSHS leadership to advocate for hubs in rural areas of South Texas. Earlier this week, Senator Hinojosa was notified by DSHS that Christus Health System in Alice would be contacted to complete a survey necessary to determine eligibility and to ensure all hub requirements could be met.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I appreciate the leadership of DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt and his dedication and commitment to distributing the vaccine to all areas of Texas, including our rural areas. I’m pleased that Christus Spohn Health System in Alice has been selected as a vaccine hub and will soon be able to have access to larger allocations of the vaccine.

This vaccine hub would not have been possible without the effort and support from Christus Health System and their healthcare professionals who will work tirelessly to administer the vaccine to residents in our communities.”  

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa.

Lt. Gov. Patrick Releases Senate Committee Assignments for 87th Legislature Senator Hinojosa Named Vice Chair of Redistricting and Jurisprudence Committees

AUSTIN, TX – Today, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced Senate committee assignments for the 87th Legislative Session. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa will serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee and as Vice Chair of the Senate Jurisprudence Committee. He will continue serving on the Senate Transportation Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Ports, and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development. Senator Hinojosa has also been appointed to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.

Senator Hinojosa’s continued appointment as Vice Chair of Senate Redistricting and his new appointment to the Jurisprudence Committee secures his influential leadership position that will benefit the South Texas region.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I am honored that Lt. Governor Patrick has again entrusted me with the important responsibility of serving as Vice Chair of Senate Redistricting. I look forward to working with Chair Joan Huffman, the committee members, and House Redistricting and will seek to draw fair legislative and congressional districts that truly represent the interests of our communities and accurately reflect our growing population. This is a great responsibility that requires objectivity and bipartisan cooperation and we must ensure that the voices of all Texans are heard.

With my committee assignments this session, I am committed to working with my colleagues to bring forth practical solutions that will help our economy recover from the pandemic, ensure increased access to affordable health care for our most vulnerable, protect the commitment to public education funding for our students and teachers, and to support police reform that makes our communities safer. Above all, I will work to make Texas a better place to live and raise our families.”  

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa.

Senator Hinojosa Ready for 87th Legislative Session

AUSTIN – Today at noon, Texas lawmakers assembled in the State Capitol for the first day of the 87th Legislative Session. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa representing Brooks, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, and Nueces Counties, was sworn in for another term in the Texas Senate.

Senator Hinojosa released the following statement:

“I am honored and humbled to continue serving in the Texas Senate. This legislative session will be unlike any other but I remain committed to enacting policies that will make Texas a better place for our families and all of Texas.

I am motivated to get back to work in the Capitol. The next 140 days will certainly be challenging. Now more than ever we need to work together to help our state recover from the Coronavirus pandemic. There is much work that needs to get done to continue the commitment we made last session to public education, support our healthcare services, increase access to care by expanding Medicaid, invest in our youth and workforce through education and skills training, create more jobs, and invest in the infrastructure we need to pave the way for future success.

I can assure you that my staff and I will work tirelessly to resolve these difficult issues and bring forth viable solutions that will benefit our Texas workers, families, and schools.”

TWDB APPROVES FUNDING FOR THE LOWER RIO GRANDE VALLEY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FROM THE FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FUND

AUSTIN, TEXAS — Yesterday, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved selected project applications to receive grant funding through the Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF) for a portion of their total project cost. The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (“Council”) was among the 17 applicants selected to receive funds for watershed flood protection planning studies eligible under Category 1 of the 2020 Flood Intended Use Plan.

The Council is a voluntary association of local governments serving Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties. To improve the regions’ resilience from future flood events, community leaders in the lower Rio Grande River basin have determined a need for a collaborative regional approach to their flood planning strategies. The Council will receive a FIF grant of $7,983,000 to conduct a regional flood planning study, which represents 90 percent of the study’s total estimated cost. As part of the planning phase, the goal of the study is to improve drainage data to support science-driven policy and decision-making. In turn, this will help community leaders identify, assess, and prioritize local and regional flood management projects that would support the region. It is projected the study will be completed on March 31, 2024.

The 2019 Texas Legislature passed several bills related to flooding, including Senate Bill 7 which lead to the creation of the FIF program. The new FIF program provides financial assistance in the form of loans with an interest rate of 0% and grants for flood control, flood mitigation, and drainage projects. As Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee and a co-author of Senate Bill 500 during the 86th Legislative Session, Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa was instrumental in securing funding to start the FIF program through a one-time transfer of $793 million from the “Rainy Day” Fund.

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“I appreciate the leadership of the Board of Directors and the staff of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council for taking advantage of the Flood Infrastructure Fund program. The funds will prove to be a long-lasting investment that increases the resiliency of our community. The Council understands the impact flooding events have caused in recent years and the need for funding assistance to alleviate expenses that have transpired through these disasters. The Rio Grande Valley will benefit from the data obtained through the study that will be used to assess the feasibility of future projects. With today’s action by the TWDB, the Rio Grande Valley is taking the next step of planning for future flood events and mitigating the damaged caused.”

Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa proudly represents the counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo (part). Senator Hinojosa served as the Senate President Pro Tempore of the Texas Senate in the 84th Texas Legislature. Senator Hinojosa currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee, and serves on the Senate Committees on Natural Resources & Economic Development; Transportation; Agriculture, and Texas Ports.