On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was struck down in Memphis by an assassin’s bullet.
While the world lost Dr. King far too soon, his wisdom and dream of a country that fulfills the promise of our Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal, lives on. We must strive, every day, to seek out injustice wherever it presents itself and judge our fellow citizens not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
With that, here’s an update from your State Capitol.
With committee hearings in full swing and votes being cast on the House floor, it was yet another hectic week in Austin. I had the opportunity to lay out two more of my bills before the committees they have been assigned to. HB 1507 makes volunteer firefighters eligible for a tuition exemption for fire science courses at community colleges and universities.
Our rural volunteer fire departments are experiencing a massive shortfall in recruiting and retaining firefighters. We must provide incentives that our VFDs can use to address this shortage. I appreciate Chairman Terry Wilson passing this bill out of committee, and I look forward to bringing HB 1507 to the floor of the House for a vote soon.
HB 3370 adds inheritors of timberland to the list of folks eligible for an extension to apply for a timberland appraisal upon the death of the previous owner. This extension allowance already exists for other kinds of agricultural land and is vital to provide spouses, children, or other inheritors of timberland with the same relief after losing a loved one.
Finally, the House Committee on Natural Resources met to consider House Bill 16, the House’s comprehensive plan to expand Texas’s water supply and address deficient infrastructure. Some highlights of the bill include making reservoir projects and water reuse projects eligible for funds from the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.
Additionally, HB 16 makes the Flood Infrastructure Fund, the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund, and the Economically Distressed Areas Program eligible for assistance from the Texas Water Fund. It also creates the Water Access Assessment, which will identify failing water systems in Texas that need assistance.
Importantly, this bill protects the private property and water rights that are so important to us here in East Texas. While there is more work to be done, I do believe this legislation moves Texas in the right direction of addressing the near and long-term water shortage issues facing many areas of our state.
The mobile office is on the road again in April and looks forward to seeing you on the following dates, in the following locations: April 9 at the Polk County Commissioner’s Court Room in Livingston from 9:30-11:30 a.m., or at the Tyler County Courthouse in Woodville from 1:30-3:30 p.m.; April 16 at the Houston County Courthouse Annex in Crockett from 9:30-11:30 a.m., or at the Trinity County Courthouse in Groveton from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can help you in any way. My district office may be reached at (936) 634-2762. Additionally, I welcome you to follow along on my Official Facebook Page, where I will post regular updates on what’s happening in your State Capitol and share information that could be useful to you and your family: https://www.facebook.com/RepTrentAshby/.
Trent Ashby represents District 9, which includes Tyler County, in the Texas Legislature.
