House committees hear bills on federal funds, transgender students in UIL competitions

The House Appropriations Committee considered the House's proposal regarding how to distribute more than $16 billion in federal COVID-relief funds, contained in HB 145. While not identical to the Senate's SB 8, the House bill includes the same appropriation of $286 million to address the costs of COVID-related health insurance claims under the TRS-Care and TRS-ActiveCare plans. The bill was left pending.

Although other legislation governing how transgender children may participate in UIL athletic competitions has previously been referred to the House Public Education Committee, HB 25 was heard by the House Select Committee on Constitutional Rights on Thursday. The bill includes language not seen in other versions stating that its purpose is "to further the governmental interest of ensuring that sufficient interscholastic athletic opportunities remain available for girls to remedy past discrimination on the basis of sex." HB 25 would require that students compete in UIL athletic competitions based on their biological sex as stated on their official birth certificate. The bill was approved by the committee.