Friends,
Happy New Year! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to spend the holidays with my friends and family and hope you were able to find time to do the same. We had a great December attending festive events in the community, visiting local businesses, and getting ready for an exciting year ahead. This edition of the monthly Bucy Bulletin will cover that as well as showcase community events, discuss legislative activity over the Interim, and highlight our Artist of the Month.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve you, HD 136, and the people of Texas. Please do not ever hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or comments or if there is anything my office can do for you.
All the best,
John Bucy III State Representative Texas House District 136
NEW YEARS MESSAGE FROM REP. BUCY
I hope you had a restful and rejuvenating holiday season spent with friends, family, and loved ones. Molly and I were so excited to host our family at our new home together for the first time. I am so grateful for the time to relax and reflect on what we were able to accomplish in 2019 as well as begin to plan for an exciting year ahead. I’ve learned so much this first year in office and appreciate all of your continued support and encouragement. As we move into 2020, I look forward to working with each of you for the betterment of our local communities, House District 136, and the people of Texas.
Our office will continue holding town halls throughout the district, convening round tables on various legislative matters, meeting with stakeholders and constituents to hear their ideas, attending events out in the community, and participating in conferences and summits to prepare for the next legislative session. As we ramp up the preparation of our legislative agenda, we want to hear from you. If you have any ideas or if you have a concern or problem you’d like to see addressed, please always feel free to contact us by phone at 512-463-0696, by email to john.bucy@house.texas.gov, or by setting up an appointment. We welcome your involvement in this process!
COMMUNITY EVENTS & HAPPENING
Vista Ridge Holiday Concert: I had a wonderful time at Vista Ridge High School’s Holiday Concert. I also was happy to present the band directors with resolutions honoring their pursuit of excellence in music education and commemorating the band’s 2018 6A UIL Texas State Marching Band Championship!
Breakfast with Santa: We had a wonderful time at the Breakfast with Santa! It was great to see other members and their families as we kick off the holiday season. Molly hung the House District 136 ornament on the House Tree as part of a time-honored tradition.
Leander Christmas Parade: We so enjoyed the Old Town Christmas Parade in Leander! We had a great time getting in the holiday spirit with all the families that attended. I’m grateful to our helpful reindeer and elves who passed out candy to other kids in the crowd.
CAB Holiday Party: We had a wonderful holiday party with members of our Community Advisory Boards. I want to thank our chairs, Gloria Gonzales Dholakia, Mitch Fuller, Maria Talamo, Mike Mendoza, Sharol Lovett, and Mike Thompson, as well as everyone who volunteered to serve.
State of Cedar Park: Our team enjoyed MayorCorbin Van Arsdale’s State of the City Address. There’s no doubt Cedar Park is an attractive place to live! Thanks to the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce for putting on a wonderful event.
Hyliion Tour: We had a great time touring Hyliion in Cedar Park! This transportation startup uses battery hybrid technology to extend gas mileage on hauling trucks. Thank you for your contributions to House District 136!
Penfold Theatre Cameo: I made a cameo in the production of It’s a Wonderful Life Classic Radiocast. I’m proud to support the arts in our community and grateful to my wife, Molly, and the other members of the board of directors, as well as the actors, crew, and staff, for the wonderful work they do.
Stiles Middle School Choir: Thanks to Leander ISD’s ownStiles Middle School Choir and Golden Sparks for performing in the Capitol Rotunda. Everyone did a wonderful job and delighted family, friends, and passersby alike!
Visiting Samsung Austin Semiconductor: My Chief of Staff and I had a great time touring Samsung Austin Semiconductor. Thanks for having us out to learn more about what you do!
Best Moments of 2019: We’re proud to have been part of two of Progress Texas’ top moments of 2019: killing S.B. 9, a draconian anti-voting measure, and forcing a record vote on Medicaid expansion on budget night.
HD 136 ARTIST OF THE MONTH
Each month at our Capitol Office we are so proud to display and feature work from local artists. Our December Artist of the Month was Pamela Tajmajer, who loaned us her excellent work of acrylic on canvas Division of Power.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Interim Hearings Continue The Texas House Committee on Elections is holding its second Interim Hearing on Tue., Jan. 21st at 1:00 pm at the Texas Capitol in Room E2.010. While our first hearing focused on county wide polling places, and especially their implementation in Harris County, this meeting will begin to cover the Interim Charges released by Speaker Dennis Bonnen late last year. You can review the full list of charges here.
Specifically, the Elections Committee meeting will cover the first charge, which centers on rule-making authority and similar agency action to ensure the desired outcome of various election-related legislation passed last session. Our H.B. 933, which requires important election information such as contact information for county elections offices, polling locations, Voter ID information, and a variety of required election notices to be posted on the Secretary of State or the Counties Elections websites as appropriate, has been chosen to be included in the hearing.
Elections Committee Agenda Conduct active oversight of rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure intended legislative outcome of the following legislation:
• H.B. 933, which requires election information to be posted on the Secretary of State’s (SOS) and each county’s internet website. Monitor the costs associated with implementing the legislation. Work with the SOS to determine which office elections should be included in the website.
• H.B. 1421, which strengthens the cybersecurity of the state’s election infrastructure. Review the program required under the bill to train county election officers in the best practices for identifying and reducing cybersecurity threats.
• H.B. 2504, which modifies ballot access requirements for non-major party nominees. Review the provision requiring the SOS to establish rules implementing the fees and petitions.
• H.B. 4130, which requires the SOS to develop procedures for adequately certifying electronic poll books. Review the provision requiring the secretary of state to adopt rules mandating real-time updates for electronic poll book use during the early voting period or under the countywide polling place program. Monitor and report on countywide polling. Examine the number and location of polling places, polling booths, and wait times for voting.
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