Official Documents

WHEREAS, the Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) is currently under review for the first time in 12 years by the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, creating a critical opportunity to address longstanding concerns about the TEC’s overreach and abuse of authority; and

WHEREAS, when the TEC last underwent sunset review in 2013, TEC Chairman Paul Hobby confessed the agency had been weaponized against citizens:

“You ought to see these people who leave our meetings in tears, these sweet, simple people who missed a box, missed a deadline. They get a letter and they can’t sleep at night, they hire a lawyer they can’t afford. There’s no moral sanction here, they’re not convicted felons. But these people swear, they promise, ‘I’ll never participate in the process again.’”; and

WHEREAS, TEC enforcement practices have been widely criticized for punishing those who attempt to comply with its complex speech regulations, as TEC Chairman Jim Clancy confessed, “Those people who try to comply are punished for doing so”; and

WHEREAS, in the last 12 years, the TEC has gotten even worse: it has expanded its focus from ensuring transparency among public officials to penalizing private citizens and grassroots organizations, imposing disproportionate fines, such as $17,500 against an elderly woman for minor campaign finance paperwork errors in 2023; and

WHEREAS, the TEC’s blended civil/criminal sworn complaint process violates the right to due process; investigations are initiated by hostile political rivals, take place behind closed doors in the Capitol in Austin; Texans are compelled to testify and give evidence against themselves, and face fines of up to $5,000 if the TEC deems their cooperation lacking, all at the risk of either civil penalties or a referral by the TEC for criminal prosecution; and

WHEREAS, the 2024-25 Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report on the TEC identified significant issues with the agency’s enforcement practices, including its punitive approach and lack of transparency, but nonetheless recommended eliminating de novo judicial review of TEC decisions, which would strip Texans entirely of their right to a fair trial; and

WHEREAS, the TEC is now calling for expanded powers and less accountability, such as the power to hire outside legal counsel without the approval of the Attorney General and the power to deny driver and occupational licenses to individuals unable to pay TEC-imposed fines; and

WHEREAS, the TEC has taken aim at the Republican Party itself, ruling in September that the Republican Party’s voter registration, transportation, and information efforts must be “provided equally to people who support and oppose the party’s candidates,” infringing on the Republican Party’s Constitutional right to support our Republican candidates; and

WHEREAS, at its December meeting, the TEC recently determined that Texas nonprofit organizations can be morphed into Political Committees, thus compelling them to disclose the privacy of their donors; and

WHEREAS, the TEC is a bipartisan commission of legislative appointees, half composed of Democrats, despite no Democrat being elected statewide in Texas for over 30 years, and wields enforcement powers despite being totally unaccountable to voters or elected officials; and

WHEREAS, the TEC violates the separation of powers by acting as a legislative agency with executive enforcement powers, with the recent In re Charette decision by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals making the encroachment on rights even worse by granting the TEC the judicial authority of a criminal court, consolidating its unchecked power spanning all three branches of government; and

WHEREAS, Plank 181 of the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Platform affirms our commitment to First Amendment rights to free speech and association, opposing government interference in these unalienable rights; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Texas Legislature to reject the TEC’s requests for expanded power, including the authority to hire outside counsel without review, the power to deny driver and occupational licenses, and instead, to rein in the TEC’s overreach and punitive practices; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas specifically opposes any efforts to eliminate de novo judicial review of TEC decisions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution shall be delivered to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Texas Legislature, and members of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission.

WHEREAS, Plank 213 of the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Platform states in part:

Texas Speaker of the House, House Committees, and Legislative Quorum:

In the Texas Legislature:
a) We oppose the use of pledge cards and call for Republican members to caucus after each November General Election to determine, by secure secret ballot, their candidate for Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore. We also call for Republican members to vote as a unified body for their selected Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore candidate when the Legislature convenes in regular session, provided that the individual selected in caucus for speaker publicly pledges to comply with the entirety of this plank; and

WHEREAS, the Texas House Republican Caucus met on December 7, 2024, to nominate a candidate for Speaker in compliance with the Platform; and

WHEREAS, in the third vote, 26 Republican Representatives walked out of the Texas House Republican Caucus vote in an attempt to deny quorum to the Caucus so that a candidate could be elected with Democratic votes; and

WHEREAS, the Texas House Republican Caucus voted on the third ballot to support Representative David Cook of Tarrant County as their official nominee; and

WHEREAS, after extensive meetings with, and concessions offered by, Representative Dustin Burrows, the Texas House Democratic Caucus has “released” its members to vote for a Republican Speaker candidate other than Representative Cook in an effort to stop Republican agenda items such as school choice, ending taxpayer-funded lobbying, and ending the practice of appointing Democratic committee chairs; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges all members of the Texas House Republican Caucus to unite behind Representative David Cook and to immediately and publicly commit to vote for him in the floor vote for Speaker of the House; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on Representative Dustin Burrows, and any other Republican Representatives besides Representative Cook who have active campaigns for Speaker of the House, to immediately suspend any campaign activities for Speaker of the House and to commit to support Representative Cook; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas condemns any effort by Republican Representatives to ally with Democrats to elect a Speaker who was not supported by the majority vote of the Texas House Republican Caucus; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas praises the Representatives who did not originally support the caucus election winner, but attended the final vote anyway in a spirit of unity, and encourages them to unify behind Representative Cook in any floor vote; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a vote for any attempt to change the Rules of the Texas House of Representatives to allow a secret ballot vote in a floor vote for Speaker of the House will be interpreted by the SREC and by Republican voters as an attempt to hide a vote with Democrats, and as such, will be considered equivalent to a vote for a Speaker supported by Democrats, which the SREC will consider a censurable act.

WHEREAS, the Texas House Republican Caucus will meet on December 7, 2024, to select a candidate for Speaker of the Texas House, and

WHEREAS, Plank 213 of the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Platform states:

Texas Speaker of the House, House Committees, and Legislative Quorum:

In the Texas Legislature:

1. a) We oppose the use of pledge cards and call for Republican members to caucus after each November General Election to determine, by secure secret ballot, their candidate for Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore. We also call for Republican members to vote as a unified body for their selected Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore candidate when the Legislature convenes in regular session, provided that the individual selected in caucus for speaker publicly pledges to comply with the entirety of this plank.

1. b) Texas House standing committees shall advance the conservative grassroots agenda, not those of special interests and lobbyists. The chairman and a majority of members of key committees shall support the conservative agenda. All committees shall be chaired by Republicans when in the majority.

1. c) Any legislator who purposely refuses to attend a legally scheduled session for the purpose of denying a quorum shall lose any chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and committee membership to which he/she may have been appointed. The individual shall lose any salary for that absence period. Additionally, the individual shall pay back any earnings and cost of living allowances earned during that period; and

WHEREAS, the “No Democrat Chairs” priority adopted at the 2024 Republican Party of Texas Convention states, “The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature shall end the practice of awarding committee chairmanships to Democrats and require all committees to be majority Republican,” and

WHEREAS, Republicans from President Donald J. Trump, to statewide officials, to legislators and local officials, were elected and reelected across the state of Texas by large margins, even in historically Democratic counties, due to new voters brought to the Republican Party on the strength of our shared commitment to our Platform and Legislative Priorities, including border security, election security, America First economic and foreign policy, and educational reform including school choice, and

WHEREAS, our Texas Republican legislators have the opportunity to build unity and confidence in the Texas House for their constituents, for the Party, and for their own legacies by uniting behind a leader who will act on the voters’ mandate to bring about the strongest and most conservative legislative session Texas has ever seen, now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the members of the Texas House Republican Caucus to comply with the Platform by selecting a strong, conservative Republican who is committed to these reforms and is also committed to the Legislative Priorities adopted by the Republican Party of Texas delegates, and for whom they will vote as a unified body when the Legislature convenes, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes that some members may attempt to short-circuit this process through various means, including by denying a quorum to the Caucus, by voting with Democrats for a Speaker who was not selected by the Caucus, or through rule changes to allow for secret ballots in the leadership election – the voters of Texas who demand conservative reform will not be fooled by these subversive tactics, and efforts to elect a Speaker who will appoint Democratic committee chairmen, or to initiate or obscure an effort to elect a Speaker with Democratic votes will be considered, and seen and addressed by voters and by the Republican Party of Texas, as violations of the Platform and of the Legislative Priorities.

WHEREAS, Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas states that “a County or Senatorial District Convention or a County or District Executive Committee may, after notice and invitation to the officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before a County or Senatorial Convention or a County or District Executive Committee, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting, but in no case by less than a majority of the County Executive Committee (CEC) in full, adopt a resolution censuring a Republican public officeholder representing all or a portion of that County or District for three (3) or more actions taken during the current biennium in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas as defined in the Preamble of the Party Platform as described in Rule No. 43A or to the Legislative Priorities adopted at the most recent State Convention as described in Rule 34(c)”; and

WHEREAS, the Medina County Republican Party, at its September 14, 2023 Executive Committee meeting, passed a “Resolution of Censure of Texas House Representative Andrew Murr, District 53” which identified, among other grievances, the following three actions taken during the current biennium (which began on June 18, 2022, when the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Convention adjourned sine die, having adopted its rules) in violation of the Principles or Legislative Priorities of the Republican Party of Texas:   

• Texas House Representative Andrew Murr (April 6, 2023, House Record Vote: 111) voted in favor of HB 1 Amendment 45 by Herrero (D-Robstown) to prohibit use of appropriated money for school vouchers or other similar programs. Such act prohibited money appropriated from being used to pay for or support a school voucher, including an education savings account, tax credit scholarship program, or a grant or other similar program to which a child may use state money for non-public primary or secondary education. This action was in opposition to the seventh core principle and the eighth Legislative Priority of Parental Rights and Educational Freedom; and
  
• Texas House Representative Andrew Murr, acting as Chair of the Committee on General Investigating (CGI), engaged in a pattern of action demonstrably opposed to the first, third, fourth, fifth, and eighth core principles by:
  1. Moving to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and thereby overturning the will of the November 2022 voters in opposition to the third principle as more particularly described in:
     1. the Republican Party of Texas “Resolution Condemning the Impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton” dated June 20, 2023 (being entirety adopted by this body); and
     2. dishonoring fundamental constitutional rights and protections of due process in opposition to core principle one and the Preamble of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform; and
     3. admitting to knowingly failing to present any sworn testimony for consideration by House members as required by Texas Government Code §301.022 in opposition to the first, third, fourth, and fifth core principles; and
     4. failing to provide Attorney General Paxton notice and provide the opportunity to prepare, to be heard, to present evidence in his defense, or to cross-examine witnesses, contrary to the U.S. Constitution Amendments IV, V, VI, and XIV, and to the precedent established by the Texas House of Representatives in the 1975-76 Carrillo impeachment proceeding, and in opposition to the Preamble of the Republican Party of Texas Platform and core principles one, three, five, and eight; and
  2. Distributing a Memorandum on May 26, 2023 (“Memorandum”) to the members of the House of Representatives hours before a vote on the floor for an impeachment that compromised the Attorney General’s right to a fair trial, his right to be heard and the presumption of innocence by misstating mere opinions as facts never found or adjudicated, which stated: “Because of Paxton’s long-standing pattern of abuse of office and public trust, disregard and dereliction of duty, and obstruction of justice and abuse of judicial process, it is imperative the House proceed with impeachment…”; such action was in opposition to the Preamble of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform and core Principles one, three, four, five and, eight; and
  3. Falsely stating in the Memorandum that the Texas Supreme Court opined In re Carrillo (1976): “The Court explained that Section 665.081 only applies…” when §665.081 of the Texas Government Code did not become effective until September 1, 1993, seventeen (17) years later; this false predicate was an effort to further lead House members to an impeachment vote in opposition to the Preamble of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform and Principles one, three, four, five, and eight; and
• Texas House Representative Andrew Murr was absent for an important vote for SJR 35, (excused to attend a meeting on the General Investigating Committee) that would have amended the Texas Constitution to require United States citizenship to vote; such measure failed by 88 voting “yes,” 54 voting “present, not voting,” and no House member voting “no”; the bill died, failing to receive 100 votes; not wanting to be left out from the record, Representative Murr entered in the House Journal (88R) on page 5197 regarding record vote #2041 that, had he been present, he would have noted “no,” making him the only lawmaker to vote against SJR 35; such action by Representative Murr was in direct opposition to the Preamble of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform, core Principle three, and the first Legislative Priority, “Protect Our Elections”; and

WHEREAS, the Medina County Republican Party provided notice to Representative Andrew Murr’s office and an opportunity for him to speak prior to the vote taking place, and despite this invitation, Representative Murr did not respond to any communication or appear at the meeting to explain his actions; and

WHEREAS, the Medina County Republican Party Executive Committee passed the resolution of censure of Representative Andrew Murr by both a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and voting and a 50% majority of all precinct chairs, even those not in attendance; and 

WHEREAS, the term of office for Representative Andrew Murr expires after the 2024 Primary and General Elections, and he would be eligible to run for re-election to his House seat in the 2024 elections and also eligible to run for any other partisan office in the 2024 elections; and

WHEREAS, in discussing resolutions of censure passed by a County Executive Committee, Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas states that “such a resolution may include a request, to the SREC [State Republican Executive Committee] or any State Convention held prior to start of the filing period of a Republican Primary Election while these rules are in effect, that the named officeholder be penalized. If such a request is included, after not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice and opportunity to the officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before the SREC or the State Convention in conformity with the request, the delegates of the State Convention by majority vote in the case of (1) below, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote in the case of (2) below, or the State Republican Executive Committee by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the full membership, may vote to concur with the resolution of censure and impose one or both of the following penalties:

1. Declare that no Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to the named officeholder, and no financial or other support shall be provided to their campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. If the officeholder files an application to run for any public office in the Republican Party primary following the censure resolution’s passage, the SREC shall be authorized to spend up to twelve percent (12%) of the Party’s general fund on voter education in the officeholder’s district, by republishing the original censure resolution verbatim, using a media format determined by the SREC.
2. Declare that the named officeholder is discouraged from participating in the Republican

Any above penalty imposed shall expire on the day following the date of the Primary runoff in which the officeholder would be up for re-election”; and

WHEREAS, in its resolution of censure, the Medina County Republican Party requested that the SREC “concur in this resolution of censure” and that the SREC “impose upon Texas House Representative Andrew Murr, the full set of penalties as provided in Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas instanter”; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Parties of Upton County, Bandera County, Real County, and Llano County, all of which are within District 53, have also passed resolutions censuring Representative Andrew Murr and requesting the concurrence of the SREC; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee concurs with the violations of Republican Party of Texas Principles and Legislative Priorities stated in the resolution of censure passed by the Medina County Republican Party and restated in this resolution; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas imposes both penalties identified in Rule 44 on Representative Andrew Murr as follows:

1. No Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to Representative Andrew Murr, and no financial or other support shall be provided to his campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. If Representative Murr files an application to run for any public office in the 2024 Republican Party Primary, the SREC shall be authorized to spend up to twelve percent (12%) of the Party’s general fund on voter education in the state of Texas, by republishing this censure resolution verbatim, using a media format determined by the SREC.
2. Representative Andrew Murr is discouraged from participating in the 2024 Republican Party Primary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing in this Resolution shall be construed to prohibit the use of Party resources to encourage voting for Republican Party nominees or officeholders collectively, so long as Representative Andrew Murr is not identified by name.

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas lost our beloved colleague and dear friend Elizabeth Grace Petersen on September 26, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Grace was a daughter of God with a deep faith for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, served in leadership in her church’s women’s Bible study and training, youth department, and technology team, and was always willing to pray with anyone in need; and 

WHEREAS, Grace was the mother to four beautiful children and a son-in-law who were the light of her life – Faith and her husband Wesley, Elijah, Hope, and Noah – whom she proudly homeschooled and educated in Christian, Conservative, American principles and whom she included in campaign activities and the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, Grace was a tireless conservative activist in the Republican Party, dedicated to her conservative values of life, family, and freedom; and

WHEREAS, Grace honorably served as the elected member of the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) from Senate District 20 from 2020 until her passing; and

WHEREAS, while on the SREC, Grace shared her talents with the Convention Planning Committee as its Vice Chair, with the Rules Committee, and with the Election Integrity Committee; and

WHEREAS, Grace was a delegate to the Republican Party of Texas Conventions in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, served on the State Convention Rules Committee in 2022, and was the Chair of the Senate District 20 Caucus in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Grace managed and volunteered on multiple campaigns at the local, state, and national levels, served as outreach coordinator for Dinesh D’Souza’s documentary film in 2016, and worked in numerous roles in the Mighty American Strike Force and Mighty Texas Strike Force in trips to New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Georgia, and throughout the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, Grace served as a valuable and respected member of three clubs in the Texas Federation of Republican Women: as the membership chair of the Midland County Republican Women, as a founding member of Alice King Republican Women, and as an active member of Nueces County Republican Women; and  

WHEREAS, Grace ran for County Commissioner in Midland County in 2016, was a member of the Midland Young Republicans, and then upon moving to South Texas, became active in the Jim Wells County Republican Party, lending her skills as its Treasurer, and served as Vice President of the South Texas Young Republicans; and

WHEREAS, Grace possessed a remarkable ability to inspire and lead by example, and lived her life by the principles of abundant kindness, sincere compassion, and selfless service; and 

WHEREAS, Grace was a fierce friend with a deep faith, and her devotion to be a godly woman was displayed in everything she did; and 

WHEREAS, Grace was soft and kind, yet fierce as a lion when standing up for her beliefs, with a pioneering spirit and loving personality that will continue to inspire and encourage her children and those who were close to her for many years to come; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee recognizes the significant contributions of Elizabeth Grace Petersen to the Republican Party of Texas and to our country as a whole; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas expresses our deepest condolences to Elizabeth Grace Petersen’s children and entire family, to her dear friends throughout Texas, and to the countless people who were privileged to know, learn from, and be motivated by Grace in this life: may the Lord bless her children and keep them in the strong faith of their mother; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Grace’s absence will be felt acutely at our upcoming meetings and conventions: we would be proud to welcome her children if they ever choose to follow in their mother’s footsteps and participate in any aspect of the Republican Party of Texas.

WHEREAS, the United States and Israel have maintained a strong relationship since 1948, when the United States was the first to recognize Israel as a sovereign country; and

WHEREAS, acts of anti-Semitism are on the rise across the United States since the attack by Hamas on Israel; and

WHEREAS, American soldiers have been deployed to assist Israel and allies in other ongoing conflicts around the world; and

WHEREAS, Texans have always answered the call to protect, serve, and defend the United States in all branches of the military, with more than 1.5 million Texans having answered the call; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas hereby:

• affirms our commitment to unwavering support for the sovereign nation of Israel;
• supports the right of Israel to defend herself and protect her citizens from Hamas and other parties engaged in a global jihad to exterminate Israel and her people;
• reaffirms our commitment by denouncing all forms of anti-Semitism and violence against Israel, Israeli Americans, Jewish Americans, and supporters of Israel;
• affirms our commitment to and support for all Texans who bravely answer the call to serve in any of the American Armed Services;
• affirms our commitment to remember Texas military heroes, from the Sons and Daughters of Texas who held their ground at the Alamo, Gonzales, and Goliad, to Texas heroes like Audie Murphy in World War II and the 21st Century Texas hero, the legendary American Sniper Christopher Kyle, as well as all the Texas heroes to come;
• fully supports and gives thanks to the Texas Legislators and Congressmen who have passed bipartisan resolutions supporting Israel; and
• fully supports and gives thanks to the Honorable Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Honorable Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who publicly continue to solidify the relationship between Texas and Israel, reaffirm our state’s commitment to combatting anti-Semitism, and protect Texas communities from the ongoing threat of terrorism.

WHEREAS, both chambers of the Texas Legislature – the House of Representatives and the Senate – overwhelmingly passed resolutions to condemn the terrorist organization Hamas and its brutal, highly organized, and unprecedented attack upon the state of Israel and on her citizens in the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, and to request others to join them in denouncing hatred toward the Jewish people; and

WHEREAS, the foundational belief of Hamas is in the destruction of the State of Israel and the murder of Jews, and in its endeavor to fulfill that mission, Hamas has, for decades, waged war against Israel, which manifested on October 7 in a coordinated land, sea, and air invasion, which resulted in the deaths of at least one thousand innocent civilians, including several United States citizens, the highest number of Jews to ever be killed in a single day since the Shoah, the Holocaust; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the mass murder of Jews, Hamas terrorists kidnapped children, women, elderly, and infirm civilians as hostages, and by timing the operation to coincide with the observance of the final High Holy Days of the Jewish faith, targeted family gatherings, celebrations, and ceremonies of remembrance to maximize civilian casualties and terror; and

WHEREAS, the level of logistical sophistication of the attack and the boastful admission of guilt by the Iranian regime in supporting Hamas indicate the involvement of state sponsors of terror, including Iran, in these atrocities; and 

WHEREAS, Israel has begun her justified response to these attacks, striking military targets within Gaza and preparing for a ground invasion, and by granting ample time and warning for civilians to evacuate, has already demonstrated the commitment to civility and respect for human life that is continually violated by attackers such as Hamas; and 

WHEREAS, an appalling number of politicians, media figures, and activists in the United States have issued statements calling for “ceasefire” or, even worse, have praised the attacks as a demonstration of “decolonization” in action; and

WHEREAS, referring to Israel, Genesis 12:3 states, “I will bless those who bless you, and will curse those who curse you”; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas, drawing inspiration from Psalm 122, prays for peace in Israel and in the Middle East and condemns all enemies of Israel and those dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the West; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas acknowledges that true peace within Israel in the face of the threat posed by Hamas, which will accept nothing less than submission to Islam and is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and the West, can only come from Hamas’s unconditional surrender or total elimination; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas rejects one-sided calls for ceasefire or de-escalation, such as those issued by many Democratic members of Congress, the Biden Administration’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Administration’s Palestinian Affairs Office, and the Texas Democratic Party, and, recognizing the fact that the Jewish people were once subjected to the mass slaughter of half of their population in gas chambers and have in recent days seen over one thousand civilians systematically hunted down and butchered, supports Israel’s right to act decisively and unilaterally, without interference, to protect her citizens from Hamas and any other threats faced by her Jewish population; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls upon Texas law enforcement to remain vigilant in protecting Israeli Americans, Jews, and all supporters of Israel from acts of crime and violent jihad, in our neighborhoods, streets, public squares, and college campuses in these dangerous times, especially on October 13, 2023, which Hamas announced as “Al-Aqsa Flood Friday”; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes the threat to the United States posed by our own lack of border security and the presence of tens of millions of illegal aliens in the country, some of whom may be agents for Hamas, Hezbollah, or other Iran-funded terrorist groups – as evidenced by the number of verified members of terrorist watch lists detained at the border – and encourages Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, and all members of the Texas Legislature to close and secure our border and deport illegal aliens; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes the resettlement in the United States of any refugees from the Gaza Strip due to these security concerns; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes that the leftist ideology of “decolonization” is a thin pretext for genocide against Americans, Israelis, and our other Western allies, and calls upon the Boards of Regents of all public university systems in Texas to immediately eliminate extremist and racist “anti-colonial” courses, course content, and programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas condemns organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, and other entities, officials, and activists who refuse to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist or Israel’s right to defend her people. 

Israeli Jews are being murdered, not for land, or for geopolitical reasons, but simply for being Jews – and this hatred is forcefully condemned by the Republican Party of Texas.

WHEREAS, Texans will vote on fourteen proposals to amend the Texas Constitution in the November 7, 2023 election; and

WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of these proposals totals at least $24.3 billion; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas (RPT) supports the ultimate elimination of property taxes through Plank #90, the “Axe the Property Tax” plank, of the 2022 RPT Platform; and

WHEREAS, Proposition 4, which would dedicate a portion of the state surplus to increase the ad valorem homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, advances the property tax relief promoted in Plank #91 of the 2022 RPT Platform, which supports dedicating surpluses to buy down school district maintenance and operation property tax; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports the passage of Proposition 4 on the November 7, 2023 ballot; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that supporting Proposition 4 shall be a priority for the Republican Party of Texas for the November 7, 2023 election; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges Texans to carefully examine all fourteen Propositions and their consequences; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas shall devote appropriate resources to the development and execution of a campaign to inform Texas Republican voters of the importance of this proposition.

WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee (RNC) adopted a “Resolution Urging a ‘Return to Excellence’ in Voting and Elections” during the RNC Summer 2023 Meeting; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas declares our opposition to voting manipulation schemes and seeks to return to the functional and historic balloting and polling experience that Texans understand, appreciate, and accept; and

WHEREAS, ensuring the integrity of our voting and election administration is critical and foundational to maintaining a civil and decent society decentralized from a federal government, as the Founders intended; and

WHEREAS, Texans expect transparent, accurate, and timely determinations pertaining to elections and the administration of elections; and

WHEREAS, elections have been under assault from those on the Left as they attempt to implement schemes and intentionally inject chaotic administrative decisions that have drastically changed how elections are conducted in our most populous counties in Texas; and

WHEREAS, election officials are obliged to ensure equal polling place access and should not eliminate polling places in order to move to countywide voting, which has reduced the number of polling places in more conservative areas; and

WHEREAS, Democrats are attempting to pass non-citizen voting, ranked choice voting, and increased mail-in balloting in Texas, which the Republican Party of Texas has previously resolved to oppose in order to ensure that only United States citizens decide our elections; and

WHEREAS, the grassroots activists of the Republican Party of Texas have discovered and made it abundantly clear that there are recognized problems with electronic voting procedures and that our instituted systems and election processes have been intentionally complicated; and

WHEREAS, credible election experts agree that the most resilient voting systems are those that use paper ballots, either marked by hand or with an assistive device, and allow voters to verify their votes before any means of tabulation; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes any means of voting that do not have proper safeguards in place or that are exclusively electronic, and calls on every county in the state to use ballot procedures that are fully auditable with hand-marked, voter-verifiable paper ballots to ensure that every vote is memorialized by a paper record; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Secretary of State to implement anti-counterfeit ballot printing, tracing, and verification procedures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports the rights of counties that are willing and able to competently and efficiently implement voting procedures that do not require the use of machines and also supports those that implement hand counting procedures that are fully auditable to do so; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Texas Legislature to pass laws that allow for full and transparent hand-counting procedures that are planned, timely, and fully observable by the public and the registered parties for precinct-level audits and recounts; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on all Republican officeholders to defend the historic practice of geographically localized precinct polling places; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas stands firmly behind voter identification laws and calls on the Texas Legislature to keep and pass laws to ensure that the identity of every voter is verified, regardless of the method by which the citizen votes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas opposes all efforts to unreasonably expand time periods for early or mail-in voting that make ballot counting procedures intentionally unmanageable or incapable of being completed expeditiously on election day; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for the elimination of funding by non-governmental organizations, whether directly or indirectly, for all activities related to our elections; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for the creation and maintenance of precinct polling places so that voting occurs in each legal precinct or geographic unit in order to provide impartial access for all voters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for a necessary “return to excellence” – a return to the simple and proven methods of precinct voting with auditable voting procedures using paper ballots, in fair, reasonable, and limited time periods, using proper voter identification to strengthen voter confidence and ensure that election procedures can be a fair and open process for all to participate.

WHEREAS, due process and the rule of law are the very foundation of our republic and necessary to the proper functioning of a free society, without which we become nothing more than a banana republic; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Senate voted to acquit Attorney General Ken Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment that were heard at the Senate trial and voted to dismiss the other four articles of impeachment sent by the House of Representatives; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas is grateful to the Texas Senate for rejecting the politically motivated impeachment of Attorney General Paxton by the Texas House of Representatives that failed to satisfy due process, to comply with applicable Texas law and the Texas and United States Constitutions, and to adhere to precedent; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas agrees with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s call for reform to the impeachment process, especially to require sworn testimony in House impeachment hearings and to end the practice of removal of the impeached officeholder from office until a trial has taken place, and encourages Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session for that purpose, or to add this reform as a charge to an existing special session.

WHEREAS, since 2020, the Republican Party of Texas Rule 32(a) has allowed the SREC to specify a standard format and method of submission for the lists, resolutions, and other records from the 2024 County and Senatorial District conventions; and

WHEREAS, accurately processing the large volume of data collected from all the Texas conventions – 266 County and Senatorial Conventions in 2022 – is a monumental task which must be completed by volunteers before State Convention Committees convene; and

WHEREAS, the entry of documents that are not entirely in digital format with selectable text is needlessly time-consuming for staff and volunteers, creates great potential for errors and omissions, and delays both convention planning and the work of the State Convention Committees; and

WHEREAS, implementing a uniform digital format would greatly facilitate and expedite the many days of work required of the limited number of qualified and willing volunteers of the Republican Party of Texas and the State Convention Committees; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that pursuant to RPT Rule No. 32(a), the SREC authorizes the SREC Special Committee on Convention Planning and RPT staff to specify a standard format and method of submission for all reports and exhibits originating from the 2024 County and Senatorial District conventions; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SREC requests that RPT staff work with the County and Senatorial District Temporary and Permanent Convention Chairs to require them to submit their reports using the specified format within the required deadlines; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the SREC commits to work with RPT staff to help educate County and Senatorial District Convention Chairs about the specified formats, and offer to assist the Convention Chairs with compliance, if necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that documents explaining the resulting approved formats and methods be distributed to all Republican County Chairs and SREC members in Texas.

WHEREAS, the development of Colony Ridge near Plum Grove in Liberty County, Texas has grown to an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 inhabitants and spans over 60 square miles; and

WHEREAS, plots of land in this neighborhood are advertised in Spanish through international communication channels, and the developer allows for illegal aliens to obtain loans to purchase land using Individual Tax ID Numbers (ITINs) instead of Social Security Numbers; and

WHEREAS, according to an investigation by the Daily Wire, law enforcement presence is thin in this area, attracting not only illegal aliens who wish to evade immigration authorities, but also significant cartel and drug activity, including the Gulf and Sinaloa cartels which are reported to have purchased land in the early stages of the development in order to set up safe houses in the area; and

WHEREAS, despite the challenges posed to the community by illegal alien settlements and the cartel activity that follows them, the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office does not check immigration status in routine stops because, according to the office, it “would take forever”; and

WHEREAS, Cleveland ISD is required to educate illegal alien students who arrive in the district, and this has resulted in an unmanageable amount of growth for the district, causing enrollment to increase from 6,584 students to 12,400 over the course of four years; and

WHEREAS, Cleveland ISD has had to build several new schools and is reported to be hiring H-1B visa holders due to the number of foreign language teachers needed to keep pace with enrollment; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas asks for legislation to be added to the upcoming special session call, or to a subsequent special session, to prevent further settlement of illegal aliens in Colony Ridge and any other areas of Texas; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas recognizes and supports the efforts of Congressman Brian Babin, who represents Liberty County, for his role in drawing attention to this crisis; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on Attorney General Ken Paxton to initiate a full investigation into the development activities of Colony Ridge Land, LLC, and its possible connections to elected officials in the region.

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas has for generations proudly stood for economic opportunity, personal responsibility, individual property rights, self-defense rights, and traditional values and principles; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Mayor Eric Lynn Johnson has notably advocated for property tax cuts so that Texas families can keep more of their hard-earned income; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson, in order to protect Texans, has pushed back on foolishly dangerous efforts to defund the police; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson has announced his affiliation with the Republican Party and with its values and principles; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas commends Dallas Mayor Eric Lynn Johnson for his wisdom and courage in publicly declaring his new home in the Republican Party, and extends a welcome to him; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas welcomes and encourages ALL people of any background who share our values and principles to come home to the Republican Party.

WHEREAS, Texas House Speaker Matthew McDade “Dade” Phelan voted for the impeachment of Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton, Jr., and through his leadership team pressured other House members to vote for the impeachment as well, and Speaker Phelan continues to defend this action despite the weaknesses of the case, which were demonstrated in the Senate trial that resulted in Attorney General Paxton’s acquittal; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Dade Phelan appointed nine Democrats to chair important legislative committees, in direct defiance of the wishes of Republican voters and the Legislative Priorities of the Republican Party of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Dade Phelan ignored or actively undermined several GOP priorities during the regular session and failed to advance salient legislation to secure our borders and our elections; and

WHEREAS, new leadership is needed in the Texas House of Representatives for the upcoming special session, and potential subsequent special sessions, to ensure that conservative priorities are achieved and that members are no longer pressured to act and vote contrary to the Platform, Principles, and Priorities of the Party they represent and of its voters; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on Speaker Dade Phelan to step down from his leadership role as Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and to allow a new Speaker to be elected after a caucus vote held in accordance with the Republican Party of Texas Platform; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should Speaker Dade Phelan fail to step down from the Speaker chair for this upcoming special session, the Republican Representatives should vote to vacate the chair and allow for a new Speaker – one who has pledged to honor and support the Priorities and Principles of the Republican Party – to be elected.

WHEREAS, Texas Attorney General Warren Kenneth Paxton, Jr. was impeached by the Texas House of Representatives on May 27, 2023, after a report was issued by the House Committee on General Investigating (GIC), which contained 20 articles of impeachment.  The GIC submission, which consisted solely of a transcript of the GIC hearing, was considered by the House for approximately 48 hours before the impeachment vote was called and taken; and

WHEREAS, no testimony was taken in the House, and Attorney General Paxton was not allowed to speak to the House or to offer any rebuttal evidence or testimony despite his offer to do so, which was refused; and

WHEREAS, the impeachment occurred under illegal circumstances, for example:

1. The GIC admitted that none of the witnesses who provided information to that committee were placed under oath before giving their statements as required by Texas Government Code §301.022;
2. The GIC included in its consideration and in the Articles of Impeachment at least six articles based on events alleged to have taken place before January 1, 2023, the first day of Attorney General Paxton’s current term.  Such events may not serve to support impeachment per Texas Government Code §665.081 and nearly one hundred years of  Supreme Court precedent beginning with Reeves v. State, 267 S.W. 666 (Tex. 1924);
3. Neither the GIC nor the House of Representatives allowed Attorney General Paxton the opportunity to present evidence in his defense or to cross-examine witnesses, which is contrary to the spirit of the U.S. Constitution Amendments V and VI and to the precedent established by the Texas House of Representatives in the 1975-76 Carrillo impeachment proceeding; and

WHEREAS, due process and the rule of law are the very foundation of our republic and necessary to the proper functioning of a free society, without which we become nothing more than a banana republic; and

WHEREAS, it is the sincere desire of the Republican Party of Texas that the State of Texas not become a banana republic; and

WHEREAS, the articles of impeachment are unsupported by competent and admissible evidence and are an affront to the presumption of innocence; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas CONDEMNS the politically motivated impeachment of Attorney General Paxton by the Texas House of Representatives and hereby IMPLORES Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and members of the Texas Senate to uphold Constitutionally guaranteed due process, fairness, precedent, and the rule of law by rendering judgment as a matter of law in the Texas Senate on the grounds that the House of Representatives failed to satisfy due process, to comply with applicable Texas law, and to adhere to precedent; that the articles of impeachment be dismissed with prejudice; and that Ken Paxton be allowed to promptly resume his duties as the duly elected Attorney General.

WHEREAS, America has operated on a well understood and relatively uniform election system that has been implemented over two hundred years to support our Constitutional Republic; and

WHEREAS, the political parties in America have created the world’s largest representative forums for debate among thousands of factions of American citizens all across the nation; and

WHEREAS, traditional American primary and general elections ensure that voters who support one candidate, not a plurality of candidates, are heard clearly, while ranked choice voting schemes open elections to “ballot exhaustion” or the disenfranchisement of voters who choose not to support multiple candidates who do not clearly represent their values; and

WHEREAS, the grassroots activists of the Republican Party of Texas have made it abundantly clear that we need to keep voting simple and secure; and

WHEREAS, educating voters on the confusing processes that vary by state has cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars for educational efforts that have provided ineffective results; and

WHEREAS, states and communities where ranked choice voting has been tested have seen decreased voter participation, and in many cases, elections have resulted in more discarded votes than counted votes; and

WHEREAS, ranked choice voting often results in additional tabulation delays leading to days or weeks of additional counting while depending exclusively on technology without traceable ballots to support determined winners; and

WHEREAS, supporters of ranked choice voting seek to eliminate or disempower party primaries; and

WHEREAS, the Republican National Committee (RNC) unanimously adopted a similar resolution calling for opposition to ranked choice voting at the RNC 2023 Winter Meeting; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas rejects ranked choice voting and similar schemes that increase election distrust, voter suppression, and disenfranchisement, that eliminate the historical political party system, and that depend on costly and confusing technology implemented by unelected bureaucrats; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the State Legislature and voters to oppose ranked choice or preferential voting in every locality and level of government and to return elections to easier systems that have worked for centuries for fair and transparent elections; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Republican Party of Texas supports efforts to ban such voting methods through support of SB 921 authored by Senator Bryan Hughes.

WHEREAS, the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a 501(c)(3) organization which has 30 states and the District of Columbia as member states, has stated that its “sole mission [is] assisting states to improve the accuracy of America’s voter rolls and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens,” and yet reports only three employees and has no physical location; and

WHEREAS, ERIC receives Personally Identifiable Information of citizens and minors regardless of voting status from those states’ departments of motor vehicles; and

WHEREAS, the ERIC membership agreement requires that every sixty (60) days, each member state shall transmit all inactive and active voter files and all licensing or identification records contained in the motor vehicles database, including:

• all name fields
• all address fields
• driver’s license or state ID number
• last four digits of Social Security number
• date of birth
• activity dates as defined by the Board of Directors
• current record status
• affirmative documentation of citizenship
• the title/type of affirmative documentation of citizenship presented
• phone number
• e-mail address or other electronic contact method; and

WHEREAS, ERIC states in its membership agreement that “under no circumstances shall the member transmit an individual’s record where the record contains documentation or other information indicating that the individual is a non-citizen of the United States” yet, without that information ERIC is unable to perform a portion of the services for which it is contracted; and

WHEREAS, ERIC has violated the security of Texas registrants’ data by transmitting state data to third parties, such as the Center for Election Innovation and Research, whose data practices and usage are unknown to Texas and its citizens, and ERIC prohibits states from auditing its own work or that of any third-party vendor; and

WHEREAS, ERIC provides data regarding eligible or possibly eligible citizens who are not registered to vote, stating that, “the Member shall, at a minimum, initiate contact with each and every eligible or possibly eligible citizen and inform them how to register to vote. Each Member shall have until October 1 or fifteen (15) days before the close of registration, whichever is earlier, of the next Federal General Election year to initiate contact with at least 95% of the eligible or potentially eligible citizens on whom data was provided and address validation was performed”; and

WHEREAS, ERIC gives little focus to removing or identifying ineligible voters as required by Texas Election Code Section 18.062 Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program; and

WHEREAS, during the 2019 session, the 86th Texas Legislature appropriated $1.5 million taxpayer dollars, most of which is used to contact potential voters for Texas to join ERIC; and

WHEREAS, Under Texas law, county registrars must get interstate and intrastate move address changes from the USPS at least monthly (Texas Election Code Section 15.002), and intrastate moves are automatically updated whenever driver’s license data is updated (Texas Election Code Section 20.062); and

WHEREAS, the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform Plank 242(p) states “We support withdrawing from Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)”; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas supports the stated intent and both legal and legislative efforts, including, but not limited to, SB 399 submitted by Sen. Bob Hall, SB 1070 submitted by Senator Bryan Hughes, and HB 2809 by Representative Jacey Jetton to remove Texas from the ERIC program; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls for the Texas Legislators to pass legislation that would allow for the prompt removal of Texas from the ERIC program and implement an auditable service reconcilable to Texas counties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on the Texas Legislators to protect Texans personally identifiable information from being disseminated to organizations outside of the state government including public or private companies, NGOs, and non-profit organizations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports the Texas Secretary of State, the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Legislators in all efforts to remove Texas from the ERIC program.

WHEREAS, the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) provided guidance to Texas school boards encouraging harmful gender ideology in schools¹ ; and

WHEREAS, Plank 106 of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform reads:

106. Inappropriate and/or Harmful Content: We support passage of a law more comprehensive than the Florida law that prohibits instruction in sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. We advocate for those who violate any of the above to have their educator’s certification revoked and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law where appropriate; and

WHEREAS, TASB guidance would allow educators to withhold information about children from their parents, a recommendation which is specifically opposed by the Republican Party of Texas Platform in Plank 109:

109. Education Transparency: We support requiring Texas public schools to be fully transparent with parents regarding everything to which their child is or will be exposed, without exception; and

WHEREAS, TASB guidance encourages districts to adopt policies that would allow males to enter female spaces, such as restrooms and locker rooms; and

WHEREAS, TASB guidance encourages districts to adopt policies that would allow males to join female sports teams, a recommendation which is specifically opposed by the Republican Party of Texas Platform in Plank 125:

125. Gender Identity in Schools: We hold that biological men shall compete only against other biological men and biological women shall compete only against other biological women in athletics in the public school system of Texas and at the collegiate level; and

WHEREAS, TASB receives taxpayer funds from school districts and lobbies in Austin against the wishes of taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, Plank 123 of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform states:

123. Withdraw from Taxpayer-Funded Lobby Groups Like TASB: Local independent school districts should sever all ties with taxpayer funded lobby groups including the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), and the Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS). Required training now provided by groups like the above-named organizations would instead be under the auspices of the State Board of Education, with funds appropriated for that purpose; and

WHEREAS, the following bills are representative of the intent of the SREC:

• HB 2501 authored by Representative Richard Hayes, which prohibits associations that adopt critical race theory principles as part of their mission statements or organizing principles from offering training or contracts for insurance to school districts
• SB 175, authored by Senator Mayes Middleton, which prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for lobbying activities
• SB 425, authored by Senator Angela Paxton, which prohibits the payment of dues to organizations that lobby for school boards; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges all Local Independent School Districts to sever all ties from Texas Association of School Boards (TASB); and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges the Texas Legislature to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas urges the Texas Legislature to assist school districts in obtaining liability insurance from entities other than TASB.

1. https://www.tasb.org/services/legal-services/tasb-school-law-esource/students/documents/legal_issues_related_to_transgender_students.pdf

WHEREAS, our Federal government has declared a war on fossil fuels, which is a war on the citizens and economy of Texas; and

WHEREAS, our Federal government chooses winners and losers in electrical generation and favors the production of electric vehicles (EVs) by subsidizing these industries and by creating an economic disadvantage for natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear power plants, as well as for gasoline and natural gas powered vehicles; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, Texas’ oil and natural gas industry paid a record $24.7 billion in taxes and state royalties, shattering a previous high in 2019 by 54%¹; and

WHEREAS, these taxes and royalties go to Texas’ public schools, universities, roads, first responders and other essential services¹; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022, the industry employed more than 442,000 Texans, and every direct job in the Texas oil and natural gas industry indirectly creates an additional 2.2 jobs in the Texas economy²; and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas is heavily invested in the petrochemical industry, which is fully dependent on crude oil refining; and

WHEREAS, solar and wind energy are not always reliable and can cause disruptions in the electrical grid, as seen in the historical freeze of 2021; and

WHEREAS, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and electric storage batteries for EVs and electric power generation cannot be recycled and must be disposed of in landfills or hazardous material sites; and

WHEREAS, an agency of the federal government is considering banning natural gas stoves and installation of natural gas piping in new construction; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls upon the Texas Legislature, Governor Greg Abbott, and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick:

1. To eliminate subsidies or rebates for solar, wind, EVs, grid electric storage batteries, and EV charging stations or to require equal subsidies or rebates from the Federal government to be paid to natural gas, clean coal, and nuclear plants and to crude oil refineries; and
2. To require manufacturers of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and batteries for EV and electric grid storage to recycle these components by 2030, or to legally dispose of these components outside the State of Texas; and
3. To require manufacturers of wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, and EVs that receive Federal subsidies or rebates to invest an equal amount in return to the electrical grid and to natural gas peak-power generation plants in Texas; and
4. To require manufacturers of wind turbines to implement an effective system to prevent collisions with migratory birds by 2030; and
5. To give a sales tax exemption for the purchase of natural gas stoves and all natural gas appliances.

1. Data from Texas Oil and Gas Association (https://www.txoga.org/2022eeir)
2. Data from Texas Oil and Gas Association (https://www.txoga.org/our-industry/economic-benefits)

WHEREAS, Texas Republican legislators have introduced legislation that seeks to change our Texas Constitution to allow for casino gambling in Texas; and

WHEREAS, the gambling bills now mask the negative connotations of casino gambling by referring to casinos euphemistically as “destination resorts”¹ with “fabulous hotels, restaurants, showrooms, and retail” to attract families²; and

WHEREAS, the usual arguments for opening the state to gambling continue to be, “this will create jobs” and “create revenue” to fund schools and provide tax relief; and

WHEREAS, these reasons fail to overcome the substantial economic and social costs to individuals, families, and communities, including mental health costs, crime costs, business and employment costs, family breakdown, bankruptcy, suicide, and direct regulatory costs; and

WHEREAS, the State of Texas has a $33 billion budget surplus; and

WHEREAS, the proposed legislation to establish the gambling industry in Texas would violate the free market principles of the Republican Party of Texas by awarding a limited number of licenses to resort casinos who have lobbied and generously contributed to the campaigns of Texas legislators while instituting a politically protected industry; and

WHEREAS, once the gambling industry is allowed to operate legally in the state, its lobbying power will grow and its influence over legislators and local community officials will increase; and

WHEREAS, Plank 79 of the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform states that “We oppose any expansion of gambling, including legalized casino gambling. We oppose and call for a veto of any budget that relies on expansion of legalized gambling as a method of finance”; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas calls on all Republican Texas Legislators to cease and desist with any efforts to open the State of Texas to casino gambling; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be distributed to each Republican member of the Texas Legislature, to the Governor, and to the Lieutenant Governor.

1. https://txdra.com/
2. https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/new-legislation-legalize-gambling-betting/

WHEREAS, voters in cities across Texas will elect mayors, city councilmembers, and city commissioners on uniform election dates; and

WHEREAS, though elections are nonpartisan, many candidates running for these positions identify themselves as Republicans; and

WHEREAS, the offices these candidates are running for control the budgets and legislative agendas for their municipal governmental entities; and

WHEREAS, county Republican parties across Texas and the Republican Party of Texas have taken a more proactive role in recent years in getting conservative Republicans elected to local offices; and

WHEREAS, ending taxpayer-funded lobbying was one of the 15 Legislative Priorities put forward to delegates at the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Convention in Houston; and

WHEREAS, the Republican Party of Texas Platform calls for an end to taxpayer-funded lobbying in Plank 232:

232. Tax-Funded Lobbying: We oppose using tax dollars to hire lobbyists or paying tax
dollars to associations that lobby the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, last year, taxpayer-funded entities in Texas spent upwards of $145 million on lobbying fees and services, according to Transparency USA; and

WHEREAS, Republican Senator Mayes Middleton has introduced legislation to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying; and

WHEREAS, fiscal conservatism is a core pillar of the Republican Party, and banning taxpayer-funded lobbying is undoubtedly the fiscally conservative position on this issue; and

WHEREAS, while some candidates might prefer to avoid discussing this issue, local taxpayers deserve to know whether their candidates support spending their money on the salaries of lobbyists, in contradiction to the state party platform; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee calls on all candidates running for municipal offices to take a strong public stance in support of banning taxpayer-funded lobbying, and to pledge to vote against using tax dollars to fund lobbying fees and services in their own cities if elected.

WHEREAS, COVID-19 era injustice must be remedied; and

WHEREAS, Texas should reassert her state’s rights against the Federal government; and

WHEREAS, the Texas Constitution should be amended to protect Texans against vaccine tyranny; and

WHEREAS, the following bills are representative of the intent of the SREC:

• HB 81 (Brian Harrison) / SB 177 (Mayes Middleton)

• SB 1024 (Lois Kolkhorst), SB 1025 (Lois Kolkhorst), and SB 1026 (Lois Kolkhorst)

• HJR 114 (Steve Toth); now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports legislation with the intent to achieve these goals in the 88th session of the Texas Legislature.

WHEREAS, the seventh Principle of the Republican Party of Texas, as adopted at the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Convention, is “having an educated population, with parents having the freedom of choice for the education of their children”; and

WHEREAS, in the 2022 Republican Party Primary, 88% of Republican voters agreed that “Texas parents and guardians should have the right to select schools, whether public or private, for their children, and the funding should follow the student”; and

WHEREAS, 32 states and Washington D.C. have already adopted some form of school choice¹; and,

WHEREAS, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee have long-standing Educational Savings Account (ESA) programs, which allow some families to apply a designated amount of each student’s school funding to private school tuition or homeschooling expenses; and

WHEREAS, since 2021, Indiana, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and West Virginia have adopted ESA programs under the leadership of their Republican Governors and Legislatures; and

WHEREAS, at an event hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition at Annapolis Christian Academy, Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated his unequivocal support for universal ESAs in Texas. In his remarks, Governor Abbott said:

“Parents should not be helpless; they should be able to choose the education option that is best for their child. The way to do that is with ESAs – Education Savings Accounts. We’ve seen them work in other states and we’ve seen them work in the State of Texas also”; and

WHEREAS, in his 2023 inaugural remarks, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick stated that “the Governor and I are all in on school choice,” and that “we are going to pass school choice and I hope, finally, that this is the session that we join over 30 other states in giving parental rights to parents to choose the school of their choice”; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Patrick designated SB 8 priority legislation pertaining to “Empowering Parental Rights – Including School Choice”; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Dade Phelan has implied, through his appointments of a chairman and committee members to the House Public Education Committee who support or are open to school choice, that school choice proposals will receive good faith consideration in that Committee and in the Texas House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, the Parents’ Rights planks of the Republican Party of Texas Platform state:

101. School Choice: Texas families shall be empowered to choose from public, private, charter, or homeschool options for their children’s education, and the funding shall follow the student without strings attached. We also support tax credits and exemptions for education and choice within the public school system.

102. No Regulation of Homeschooling or Private School Curriculum: We oppose any attempt to regulate homeschooling or the curriculum of private or religious schools.

103. Parents’ Rights in Education: Parents are the primary educators and disciplinarians of their children, to which all other entities are inferior. The fundamental rights of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children in all aspects, but especially in all aspects of the Texas education system, shall be recognized, affirmed, and protected by changes to the Texas Constitution and Texas Law, including codifying the protections currently existing in the Texas Family and Education Codes. No public service entity nor its agents, district personnel, community partners, or District Board of Trustees shall infringe upon these rights; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee supports Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick designating school choice a priority and urges the Texas House and Texas Senate to pass legislation that provides for universal school choice without carve-outs and contains strong protections from government regulation for private schools and homeschools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee is encouraged to see unprecedented support for school choice coming from our leaders, and applauds the courage shown by Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and the Senators and Representatives who have declared their support for the cause of educational freedom; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, by working together, the leaders, activists, and voters of the Republican Party of Texas are committed to accomplishing the monumental task of joining the other states who have passed school choice and bringing true educational freedom to over six million Texas children.

1. https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/school-choice-in-america/

WHEREAS, Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas states that “a County or Senatorial District Convention or a County or District Executive Committee may, after notice and invitation to the officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before a County or Senatorial Convention or a County or District Executive Committee, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting, but in no case by less than a majority of the County Executive Committee (CEC) in full, adopt a resolution censuring a Republican public officeholder representing all or a portion of that County or District for three (3) or more actions taken during the current biennium in opposition to the core principles of the Republican Party of Texas as defined in the Preamble of the Party Platform as described in Rule No. 43A or to the Legislative Priorities adopted at the most recent State Convention as described in Rule 34(c)”; and

WHEREAS, within Texas Congressional District 23, the Brewster, Crane, Dimmit, Kinney, Jeff Davis, Maverick, Pecos, Reagan, Schleicher, Terrell, Upton, Uvalde, and Val Verde County Republican Parties – and outside Texas Congressional District 23, the Irion, Real and Wichita County Republican Parties – have all passed resolutions supporting the censure of Congressman Tony Gonzales, and Bexar County precinct chairs supported censure by a 58-42% vote; and

WHEREAS, The Medina County Republican Party, at its February 2023 Executive Committee meeting, passed a “Resolution of Censure of United States Congressman Tony Gonzales” which identified, among other grievances, the following five actions taken during the current biennium (which began on June 18, 2022, when the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Convention adjourned sine die having adopted its rules) in violation of the Principles of the Republican Party of Texas:

1. Congressman Tony Gonzales voted (House Roll Call #373 at 7-19-2022 5:53 pm) with the Democratic Majority in favor of the “Respect for Marriage” Act (H.R. 8404, co-sponsored by 189 Democrats and no Republicans).  The measure called for the repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a bill that recognized marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.  The Respect for Marriage Act would establish federal protections for gay marriage and require that same-sex marriage be viewed as valid and legal in all governmental proceedings.  Congressman Tony Gonzales was the only Texas Republican to vote in favor of supporting gay marriage. This action violated the RPT’s sixth core principle, namely, preserving “self-sufficient families, founded on the traditional marriage of a natural man and a natural woman.”
2. Congressman Tony Gonzales voted a second time (House Roll Call #513 at 12-8-23 11:11 am) with the Democratic Majority in favor of the “Respect for Marriage” Act (H.R. 8404, co-sponsored by 189 Democrats and no Republicans). Congressman Tony Gonzales was once again the only Texas Republican to vote in favor of supporting gay marriage. This action violated the RPT’s sixth core principle, namely, preserving “self-sufficient families, founded on the traditional marriage of a natural man and a natural woman.”
3. Congressman Tony Gonzales voted Nay on H.R. 5 (House Roll Call #23 at 1-9-2023 7:05 pm):  “Adopting the Rules of the House of Representative for the one hundred eighteenth Congress and for other purposes.” Congress Tony Gonzales was the only Republican in the United States to vote with the Democrats against the rules package presented by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his leadership team, thereby endangering the hard-won Republican majority control of Congress and the victories earned by conservative Congressmen, including his colleagues from Texas, through both cooperation and negotiation with the incoming leadership team. The vote cast against the new Rules violated the RPT’s third, fourth, fifth and ninth core principles:

(Principle 3) “Preserving individual, Texan, and American sovereignty and freedom.” The Rules provide for a vote on a resolution to establish a “Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government,” an urgent priority in the wake of efforts by the federal agencies to undermine and conduct baseless investigations against the Trump administration;

(Principle 4) “Limiting government power to those items enumerated in the United States and Texas Constitutions.” The Rules require all bills to include a statement citing the Constitutional authority given to Congress to enact such a bill, ensuring that all laws passed by the House of Representatives are limited to the specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution. Additionally, a new inclusion to the Rules requires single-subject statements to prevent riders that are unrelated to the overall purpose of each bill;

(Principle 5) “Personal accountability and responsibility.” The Rules restore the ability for Members to hold leadership accountable by allowing for a single member to make a motion to vacate the chair. This motion was in place prior to Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership in 2019, when she eliminated it. Additionally, the Rules repeal a resolution passed by the previous Democratic majority that granted staffers in the House of Representatives the ability to unionize, which would endanger the accountability of Congressional staff to the elected Representatives for whom they serve;

(Principle 9) “A free enterprise society unencumbered by government interference or subsidies.” The Rules established a “cut-as-you-go” budgetary process that required budgetary offsets to increases in mandatory spending, replacing a “pay-as-you-go” rule that allowed for spending increases to be offset by tax increases. The Rules also require the Congressional Budget Office to incorporate known macroeconomic effects of major legislation, such as changes in employment and inflation, to official cost estimates. The Rules eliminated the provision allowing for automatic increases to the debt ceiling, leaving in place that important tool for accountability and control of ever-increasing government debt; and

4. Congressman Tony Gonzales has failed to support H.R. 29 (filed 1-9-2023) Border Safety and Security Act of 2023: “To authorize the Secretary of homeland Security to suspend the entry of aliens, and for other purposes,” sponsored by Texas Representative Chip Roy and co-sponsored by 49 other Republicans.  Congressman Tony Gonzales’s district encompasses 843 miles of Texas border, the largest of any other district, yet he is the only Texas Republican not supporting this bill. Congressman Tony Gonzales has gone on the record opposing this legislation, in opposition to the Republican Party of Texas #2 Legislative Priority, which is to “secure the border and protect Texans.” While opposing this legislation, Congressman Gonzales has falsely stated that the legislation would ban “all asylum, to include legitimate asylum,” and has repeated the Democratic canard that supporters of border security are “anti-immigrant.”
5. On June 24, 2022, Congressman Gonzales voted in favor of S. 2938, the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,” which subsidizes red flag laws, imposes additional restrictions on otherwise legal owners of firearms, and expands background checks. This bill, which violates our Second Amendment rights, was signed into law by President Biden on June 25, 2022. Congressman Gonzales’s votes in favor of this law violate Principle 1, “…and we support the strict adherence to the original language and intent of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutions of the United States and of Texas,” and Principle 8, “the inalienable right of all people to defend themselves and their property”; and

WHEREAS, The Medina County Republican Party described its efforts to contact Congressman Gonzales to offer the opportunity to speak to these issues as follows:

“Contact with Congressman Tony Gonzales to meet with our CEC to answer questions on votes against the Republican Party of Texas Principles, Legislative Priorities and House Republican majority has gone unanswered. We contacted his San Antonio office on 12-15-22, 1-6-23 and 1-24-23, his Del Rio office on 1-6-23 who directed us to send an email to Jalen Falcon at Jalen.falcon.mail.house.gov. and contacted his Washington office on 1-6-2023, 1-18-2023 and 1-24-2023 with no return email or phone call. On January 13, 2023 Medina County Republican Party sent 3 certified letters with one delivered to Washington Office, Del Rio Office and San Antonio Office which have been signed and delivery receipt returned requesting him to schedule a meeting at his convenience to answer questions from our Executive Board. All communications have gone unanswered”; and

WHEREAS, The Medina County Republican Party Executive Committee passed the resolution of censure of Congressman Tony Gonzales by both a 2/3 majority of those present and voting and a 50% majority of all precinct chairs, even those not in attendance; and

WHEREAS, the term of office for Congressman Tony Gonzales expires after the 2024 Primary and General Elections, and he would be eligible to run for re-election to his Congressional seat in the 2024 elections and also eligible to run for any other partisan office in the 2024 elections; and

WHEREAS, in discussing resolutions of censure passed by a County Executive Committee, Rule 44 of the Republican Party of Texas states that “such a resolution may include a request, to the SREC or any State Convention held prior to start of the filing period of a Republican Primary Election while these rules are in effect, that the named officeholder be penalized. If such a request is included, after not less than fourteen (14) days’ notice and opportunity to the officeholder to appear and be provided time to speak before the SREC or the State Convention in conformity with the request, the delegates of the State Convention by majority vote in the case of (1) below, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote in the case of (2) below, or the State Republican Executive Committee by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the full membership, may vote to concur with the resolution of censure and impose one or both of the following penalties:

1. Declare that no Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to the named officeholder, and no financial or other support shall be provided to their campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. If the officeholder files an application to run for any public office in the Republican Party primary following the censure resolution’s passage, the SREC shall be authorized to spend up to twelve percent (12%) of the Party’s general fund on voter education in the officeholder’s district, by republishing the original censure resolution verbatim, using a media format determined by the SREC.
2. Declare that the named officeholder is discouraged from participating in the Republican Party Primary following the censure passage.

Any above penalty imposed shall expire on the day following the date of the Primary runoff in which the officeholder would be up for re-election”; and

WHEREAS, in its resolution of censure, the Medina County Republican Party requested that the SREC “concur in this resolution of censure” and that the SREC “impose on Congressman Tony Gonzales, the full set of penalties provided in Rule 44 of the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas”; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Republican Executive Committee concurs with the violations of Republican Party of Texas Principles and Legislative Priorities stated in the resolutions of censure passed by the Medina County Republican Party; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas imposes both penalties identified in Rule 44 on Congressman Tony Gonzales as follows:

1. No Rule or Bylaw enacted by any division of the Party at any level that demands the Party be neutral in intraparty contests shall be observed with respect to Congressman Tony Gonzales, and no financial or other support shall be provided to his campaign by the Party except that which is required by law. If Congressman Gonzales files an application to run for any public office in the 2024 Republican Party Primary, the SREC shall be authorized to spend up to twelve percent (12%) of the Party’s general fund on voter education in the state of Texas, by republishing this censure resolution verbatim, using a media format determined by the SREC.
2. Congressman Tony Gonzales is discouraged from participating in the 2024 Republican Party Primary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that nothing in this Resolution shall be construed to prohibit the use of Party resources to encourage voting for Republican Party nominees or officeholders collectively, so long as Congressman Tony Gonzales is not identified by name.

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution provides no specific instructions for the number of justices that constitutes the Supreme Court of the United States; and

WHEREAS, for over 150 years the Supreme Court has consisted of nine justices; and

WHEREAS, during the nation’s history, Congress has changed the number of justices, both increasing and decreasing it seven times prior to 1869 for the purpose of gaining political advantage for a then-current political position; and

WHEREAS, the practice of “packing the court” for political advantage greatly decreases public confidence that the Supreme Court exists as an essential element of America’s system of checks and balances that guarantees and protects a citizen’s Constitutional rights; and

WHEREAS, in order to prevent all attempts by the Legislative and Executive branches of the federal government to change the number of Supreme Court justices, the “Keep Nine Amendment” to the United States Constitution has been proposed which simply states “the Supreme Court of the United States shall be composed of nine justices”; and

WHEREAS, the “Keep Nine Amendment” was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 76 in the United States Senate on October 19, 2020 by Senator Ted Cruz (TX) and is now sponsored or supported by numerous United States Senators including Senators John Boozman (AR), Bill Cassidy (LA), Tom Cotton (AR), Steve Daines (MT), Joni Ernst (IA), Chuck Grassley (IA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS), Mike Lee (UT), David Perdue (GA), Rob Portman (OH), Thom Tillis (NC), and Roger Wicker (MS); and

WHEREAS, the “Keep Nine Amendment” was introduced as House Joint Resolution 95 in the House of Representatives on September 24, 2020 with bipartisan sponsorship by then-representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Denver Riggleman (R-VA), with co-sponsors Mo Brooks (R-AL), Michael San Nicolas (D-GU), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), and Ken Buck (R-CO); and

WHEREAS, a recent poll showed that voters support a “Keep Nine Amendment” by more than a three-to-one margin; and

WHEREAS, Democrats have refused to remove packing of the Supreme Court from consideration, and the Biden White House formed the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, with “court expansionists” serving as its leaders; and

WHEREAS, since in 2020, Democrats were successful in gaining control of the Senate, House of Representatives, and the White House, the introduction of the “Keep Nine Amendment” and its popularity among Americans should serve as a check to this self-serving chicanery; and

WHEREAS, the above information previously has been vetted by the Legal Department of the Republican National Committee (“RNC”), approved by the Trump White House, and unanimously adopted as a resolution by the RNC General Assembly (168 members) for an official position; and

WHEREAS, subsequent to the adoption of the resolution by the RNC, the “Keep Nine Amendment” was reintroduced as Senate Joint Resolution 9 in the United States Senate on February 25, 2021 by Senator Ted Cruz (TX) and now has 20 Republican co-sponsors and re-introduced as House Joint Resolution 11 in the United States House of Representatives on January 4, 2021 by Representative Rusty Johnson (R-SD) and now has 178 Republican co-sponsors; and

WHEREAS, the 2022 Republican Party of Texas Platform in Plank 19(b) states that we “oppose ‘packing’ (or enlarging) the United States Supreme Court and support the pending ‘Keep Nine Amendment’ as filed in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives with bipartisan support”; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Republican Party of Texas supports the pending “Keep Nine Amendment” as filed in the United States Senate and House of Representatives with wide and increasing Republican support.