Legislative Update from Rep. Charlene Ward Johnson
Bringing Your Priorities to the Capitol
Dear Neighbor,
As your State Representative, I’ve championed legislation that prioritizes safety, health equity, accessible democracy, and economic fairness for families across District 139. Here are highlights of bills I’ve authored or sponsored this session, and how they would directly impact our community.
HB 3337 – Elevator Safety in Senior Facilities
Authored
Status: Stalled In Committee (Licensing and Regulation)
This bill would require twice-yearly inspections of elevators and escalators in senior living and care facilities.
Why it matters: Seniors and residents with mobility challenges need safe, working elevators to live independently and with dignity. This bill ensures those safeguards are in place.
HB 3339 – Study on Black Maternal Health Disparities
Authored
Status: Passed House, stalled in Senate
This bill directs the state to conduct a focused study on maternal mortality among Black women in Texas.
Why it matters: Black women are more than four times as likely to face life-threatening pregnancy complications. This research is a critical step toward saving lives and advancing equity in maternal health.
HB 3691 – Online Vote-by-Mail Application Access
Authored
Status: Left Pending in Elections Committee
Would allow eligible voters—particularly seniors and those with mobility challenges—to request a vote-by-mail application through a secure online portal.
Why it matters: Simplifies the voting process for older adults and people with disabilities, reducing paperwork and barriers to civic participation while keeping the process secure and accessible.
HB 4361 – Campus Emergency Alert Standards
Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Requires statewide standards for how colleges and universities send emergency alerts to students, faculty, and staff.
Why it matters: Ensures timely, clear communication when emergencies occur on campus—keeping our college communities safe.
HB 5228 – Accurate Police Traffic Stop Reporting
Authored
Status: Passed House, Stalled in Senate
Improves how law enforcement reports data on traffic stops, including when force is used.
Why it matters: Current reporting systems allow errors without accountability. This bill would ensure that communities have reliable data to guide public safety reforms.
HB 1330/SB 365 – Academic Fresh Start Reform
Co-Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Allows public colleges to disregard outdated coursework after 5 years (instead of 10) for returning students.
Why it matters: Gives adults a clean slate when restarting their education—so they’re judged on who they are now, not who they were years ago.
SB 1401 – Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program
Co-Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Sept. 1
Creates a state-administered program to build career pathways into mental health professions.
Why it matters:
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Helps address the severe shortage of mental health providers
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Ensures credit transfers from community colleges to universities
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Streamlines students’ path to graduate school and meaningful mental health careers
SB 2196 – Extension of Emergency Protective Orders
Co-Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Sept. 1
Lengthens the duration of protective orders in domestic violence and other threat cases.
Why it matters: Gives survivors more time and legal protection as they navigate next steps toward safety and stability.
HB 1105 – Tuition Exemption for Paramedics
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Extends tuition exemptions for emergency preparedness courses to paramedics not affiliated with fire departments.
Why it matters: Makes sure all paramedics—no matter where they work—can access essential training at no cost, helping them keep our communities safe and prepared.
HB 1965 – Study on Mental Health Services for Veterans
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Initiates a statewide study on the effectiveness of current mental health services offered to veterans.
Why it matters: Helps Texas identify service gaps and improve support for those who’ve served our country, especially through peer-to-peer mental health care.
HB 2110/SB 1786 – Higher Education Credentials of Value
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Reforms community college funding to focus on student outcomes and workforce readiness.
Why it matters:
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Shifts funding toward programs that lead to jobs and certifications
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Expands access to free dual credit for disadvantaged high school students
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Creates no-cost pathways to high-paying careers
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Ensures college credits transfer smoothly—even for students in the Windham School District (Texas’s prison school system)
HB 2559 – Moratorium Reform for Property Development
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Sept. 1
Establishes stricter public notice and voting requirements for cities placing moratoriums on new housing developments.
Why it matters: Encourages transparency and accountability in city planning while still allowing emergency protections when needed. Helps improve access to affordable housing in growing neighborhoods.
HB 2756 – The Jovian Motley Act
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Sept. 1
Requires new de-escalation and behavioral health training for correctional officers in Texas prisons.
Why it matters: A tribute to fallen officer Jovian Motley, this law improves safety for officers and inmates by ensuring proper training in crisis response.
SB 31 – Clarifying Medical Exceptions in Abortion Law
Co-Sponsored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Immediately
Clarifies that doctors can perform medically necessary abortions to save the life of the mother without fear of prosecution.
Why it matters: Responds to urgent concerns from the medical community and protects women in life-threatening situations.
SB 1283 – Safety Standards in Senior Retirement Communities
Co-Sponsored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective Sept. 1, 2025
Requires background checks for all staff, including contractors, and mandates prompt resident notification about nearby criminal activity.
Why it matters: Improves peace of mind and safety for one of our most vulnerable populations.
SB 23 – Homestead Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled Texans
Co-Sponsored
Status: Signed into Law, Effective if SJR 85 passes in November
Raises the total exemption from $110,000 to $200,000 for residents over 65 or with disabilities.
Why it matters: Offers real tax savings that help vulnerable homeowners stay in their communities.
SB 4 – Homestead Tax Exemption Increase
Joint Sponsored
Status: Signed by Governor; takes effect if SJR 2 passes in November
Raises the school tax exemption for homeowners from $100,000 to $140,000.
Why it matters: Could save the average homeowner $363 a year in school property taxes—pending voter approval this fall.
SB 5 – Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Joint Sponsored
Status: Signed by Governor; contingent on voter approval of SJR 3
Creates a new state agency with a $3 billion budget to research and address dementia-related diseases.
Why it matters: Supports research, treatment, and prevention strategies to respond to the growing number of Texans living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related conditions.
SB 23 – Tax Relief for Seniors and Disabled Texans
Joint Sponsored
Status: Signed by Governor; depends on SJR 85 passing in November
Increases the school tax exemption for homeowners over 65 and those with disabilities to $200,000.
Why it matters: Makes it easier for vulnerable residents to stay in their homes and manage rising property costs.
Career Training Investment
$2.4 million in funding awarded for workforce training to 10 Gulf Coast schools—including Harmony Public School-North in partnership with HCC, Lone Star College, and San Jacinto College.
Why it matters: Expands skills-based education in our community and prepares students for good-paying careers.
SB 25, Amendment 9 – Protecting Students from Unfunded Mandates
Authored
Status: Amendment adopted
The original bill would have forced all college students—regardless of major—to take mandatory nutrition courses.
Why it matters: My amendment made these courses optional, preventing new costs for students and schools that didn’t align with academic goals.
SB 646 – Loan Forgiveness for Mental Health Professionals
Joint Authored
Status: Signed into Law
Creates a tuition loan forgiveness program for licensed mental health professionals, including social workers.
Why it matters: Helps recruit and retain the professionals we need to address the growing mental health crisis across Texas.
HB 2 – Largest Funding in Public Schools
Co sponsored, Status: Passed
Injects $8.5 billion into public education—including $4 billion for teacher pay, with added funding for school safety, special education, and CTE programs.
Why it matters: This bill strengthens the foundation of public education. It supports the teachers who shape our students’ futures and improves school conditions across Texas.
SB 7 / HJR 7 – Water Infrastructure Investment
Status: Pending Voter Approval (HJR 7)
Dedicates $1 billion per year from sales tax revenue for conservation, flood control, and new water projects like desalination—on top of a one-time $2.5 billion supplemental investment.
Why it matters: With Harris County’s population on the rise, this ensures we have a reliable, affordable water supply while also preparing for extreme weather and future growth.
Workforce Investment
$2.4 million in state funds awarded to 10 Gulf Coast schools—including Harmony Public School-North, Lone Star College, and San Jacinto College—in partnership with Houston Community College.
Why it matters: Expands career training opportunities that lead to real jobs and stronger economic futures for local students.
Charlene also fought against harmful Bills
SB 2 – School Voucher Expansion
Status: Passed
Allocates over $1 billion in its first cycle—and more than $7 billion long-term—to subsidize private school tuition.
Why it’s concerning: This bill doesn’t improve public school performance. Instead, it drains taxpayer dollars from neighborhood schools and reroutes them to private institutions already serving wealthier families. Framed as “school choice,” it’s essentially a tax-funded handout for families who never needed the help.
SB 12 – Labeled by the Republicans as the “Parental Bill of Rights”
Status: Passed
Framed as empowering parents, this bill instead targets LGBTQ+ students, eliminates diversity and inclusion initiatives, and increases school liability.
Why it’s problematic: Parents already have a strong voice in education. This bill manufactures a culture war narrative while putting vulnerable students and educators at risk.
SB 13 – Classroom Book Ban
Status: Passed
Reboots a previously blocked law with a broader definition of “sexually explicit material” to ban more books from Texas schools.
Why it’s troubling: Under the guise of protecting kids, this law allows political interests to strip classrooms of important literature—especially works by diverse authors—without regard for educational or literary value.