LIV Alert! In it for the Long Game! • Call the Lege tomorrow! Land contamination, regenerative ag, minor parties, and kill this bill to protect aquifers.

Jimmy Jenkins, Reelected Smithville City Council Member

Cecilia Serna, an independent voice in local Bastrop politics.

We had a great discussion on Monday night (our weekly online meeting time) focused on two local elections -- Bastrop's and Smithville's. And, now we're calling for some major legislation action from y'all across Texas! We congratulated Jimmy Jenkins who was reelected to the Smithville City Council in a heated two-way race. We hope to report about this in more depth soon.

Despite the loss of all three Bastrop City Council races, we were very pleased with the effort and the many new friends we have made.

This included Cecilia Serna, a first-time candidate, for Bastrop City Council, who joined the discussion. What is notable in both cities, is the entry of hyper-partisan politics into municipal elections, together with the factions and splintering within both parties. The good news is Texans are witnessing the emergence of competitive elections -- the reason for LIV's existence. As well, we are hearing from many more ordinary citizens responding to our call for POLICY NOT POLITICS.

In short, independent politics has a future, people! >>>>A quick hat tip of gratitude to Bob and Margie Raborn, longtime LIV members from Colorado County whose Commissioner's Court passed THIS RESOLUTION supporting Rep. Helen Kerwin's legislation (HB 1674 the "forever chemicals" contamination containment bill. See the action request below on this VERY important legislation supported by 76 legislators from both parties!

Hang in there folks, with LIV. We're in this for the long game.

LIV Membership Button

Meanwhile, bills are flying in the TX Lege. Please take the following actions NOW! The TX Legislative Session Ends on June 2. YOUR TOOLS: Legislative Directory HERE. Find your Reps HERE and House Calendar's Committee HERE.

If you get this report in time, please call your Reps as requested by Judith McGeary's (FARFA -- Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance) on the Regenerative Ag Bill (HB 5339), which hits the House Floor tomorrow, May 7! (Apologies for our late notice.)

Rep. Helen Kerwin's urgently important "forever chemicals" contamination bill -- HB 1674 -- is scheduled for a hearing on Thursday at 10:30 am in the House Environmental Committee. If able, please attend the hearing OR submit testimony online anytime between now and the end of the hearing on Thursday. Read this excellent alert by FARFA HERE.

Urge Senator Lois Kolkhorst to file the committee substitute for HB 1633 (the urgently needed landowner well protection bill SAWDF has long advocated for) as soon as possible, so it can be passed out of committee and taken up by the full Senate. (The bill has already passed the House unanimously!)

Urge Representative Stan Gerdes and members of the House Calendars Committee to pass HB 1523 relating to Aquifer Storage and Recovery projects in Bastrop or Lee counties — on the House calendar for a floor vote. (Note this is a local bill, but an important one for open government in Austin's treatment of its neighbor, Bastrop. See City of Bastrop's letter supporting the bill HERE.) As you reach members of Calendars, please ask them to schedule HB 4309 for a full vote by the House. LIV, the TX Libertarian, and Green Parties support this bill for minor parties and their filing fees. It will solve the problem that's been in dispute for years so filing fees paid by minor party candidates (rather than the general fund) and go to their parties (just like they do in the major parties), to help pay for their conventions. See LPT's explanation HERE.)

KILL BILLS:

Urge Calendars Committee members to keep HB 279 in committee and off the floor -- in other words, to kill this bill. HB 279 removes the contested case hearing from a key step in uranium mining, a mining process that threatens our state aquifers.