Metcalf Minute

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and is getting
settled back into their school year routine. As we head into the Labor Day
weekend, I hope you enjoy time with family and loved ones. After spending
nearly the entire year in Austin, first with the regular session that wrapped
up June 2 and followed immediately by ongoing special sessions since July, I am
looking forward to being in the district this weekend.

Last week was a busy and significant one in the House chamber.
Following passage of the “Big Beautiful Map” that advanced legislation to
provide President Trump with five new Republican congressional seats, we turned
our attention to disaster preparedness and relief. These bills were a direct
response to the tragic Kerrville floods and are designed to make Texas stronger
in the face of future emergencies.

House Bill 1, which I co-authored, focuses on protecting our
youngest Texans by improving safety for children and staff at youth camps. This
legislation strengthens emergency planning and preparedness so that parents can
send their children to camp with greater peace of mind. My heart continues to
ache for the families of Heaven’s 27 from Camp Mystic, and everyone that was
affected by this tragedy, and I pray this never occurs again.

Senate Bill 2, which I co-sponsored, builds on those efforts
by enhancing statewide disaster preparedness and emergency management. It
improves coordination, licensing, and training so that when disaster strikes,
every agency is ready to respond quickly and effectively. We also passed House
Bill 3, which I co-authored, to establish the Texas Interoperability Council.
This council will create a statewide strategic plan for communication systems
and infrastructure, ensuring that first responders can share information
without delay.

Senate Bill 5, another measure I co-sponsored, provides
funding for disaster relief, early warning systems, advanced weather
prediction, and upgrades to interoperability. These resources will help
communities stay ahead of potential emergencies. We also passed legislation to
protect Texans during recovery. House Bill 20, which I co-authored, safeguards
families from fraudulent actors who prey on charitable giving in times of
crisis. And House Bill 22, which I also co-authored, supports local governments
by providing resources for early warning systems and interoperability
improvements through the state’s Broadband Development Office. Taken together, this
package of measures represent a strong commitment to protecting our
communities. They will help save lives, give families greater confidence in
their safety, and ensure that Texas is better prepared for whatever challenges
lie ahead.

This week, we turned to another critical issue: property
taxes. The House passed House Bill 17, which I am a co-author of, that enhances
transparency by improving notice requirements so Texans can clearly see the
impact of the billions in property tax relief the state provides every
biennium. We also advanced Senate Bill 10, which lowers the voter approval rate
for taxing entities from 3.5 percent to 2.5 percent, giving taxpayers more
direct control over government spending. I am honored to have been appointed to
the conference committee to help finalize the House and Senate versions of this
important relief measure.

We also advanced two bills out of the State Affairs
committee that reinforce our conservative values and continue our fight against
policies being pushed by the radical left. Senate Bill 8, which I am a
joint-sponsor of, the Texas Women’s Privacy Act, ensures that restrooms, locker
rooms, and other private spaces are designated based on biological sex in order
to protect the privacy and safety of Texas women. House Bill 7, which I am a
joint sponsor of, the Woman and Child Protection Act, cracks down on the
trafficking of abortion-inducing drugs and strengthens safeguards for unborn
children and women’s health. I was proud to vote to advance both of these bills
out of the State Affairs Committee, and they are scheduled for debate on the
House floor this week. I will continue to fight for their passage.

Finally, the House passed House Bill 8, legislation that I
proudly joint authored, to bring long-awaited reform to the state’s
standardized testing system. While it does not completely eliminate the STAAR
exam as the original HB 4 did during the regular session that could not be
reconciled between the House and Senate, it creates a smarter and stronger
system that requires only what is federally mandated and nothing more. This
approach puts kids first and delivers a better education system for Texas
families.

HB 8 as it passed the Texas House codifies three points of
testing: the beginning of the year and middle of the year to measure growth,
and the end of the year to measure both growth and achievement. Importantly,
the bill prohibits any additional tests beyond those three, and it ensures that
the required exams will be shorter and less pressurized.

HB 8 will be a landmark reform that puts students, parents,
and teachers first by improving accuracy, transparency, and trust in our
accountability system. As a father with two children in our community schools,
and as someone who remains committed to scrapping STAAR entirely, I view this
not as the final destination, but as the most significant leap forward we have
made so far.

It has been an incredibly productive 2nd called special
session, and I look forward to bringing you the final report once this second
called session is complete. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you.

Wishing you and your families a safe and happy Labor Day
weekend. May God bless you, your family, and the great state of Texas.