2023 Texas Legislative Report Cards

Download a PDF of all report cards and methodology.

Mothers Against Greg Abbott, Mothers Report Card is a comprehensive overview of Texas State Legislature Votes. In our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the voices of everyday Texans, we present a powerful tool that empowers citizens to become informed advocates for their communities. The legislative process can often seem complex and opaque, leaving constituents searching for ways to hold their elected officials accountable.

Our scorecard is designed to bridge this gap, offering a clear and concise assessment of how legislators have voted during this session. By distilling the intricacies of legislative decisions into an accessible format, we aim to provide a straightforward resource that allows every Texan to see if their representatives have aligned actions with promises, ensuring that democracy remains strong, vibrant, and responsive to the needs of those it serves.

Our Methodology

– Grades in the A range: legislators who proactively led in the designated area by authoring or co-authoring multiple good legislative proposals with positive votes on at least of the 90% tracked legislation in the designated area. Identifies as a champion in the designated area.

– Grades in the B range: legislators who had positive votes on at least 80% of the tracked legislation in the designated area; and authored/co-authored 0-1 good bill in the designated area.

– Grades in the C range: legislators who had a mixed record (at least 70%). They voted positive on some legislation and negative on others in the designated area.

– Grades in the D range: legislators who voted negatively on MOST tracked bills in the designated area but did not author/co-author any negative legislation in the designated area.

– Grades in the F range: legislators who authored one or more negative bills in the designated area.

Scale for grading

3.7 – 4.0	A
3.5-3.7	A-
3.25-3.5	B+
2.8-3.2	B
2.5-2.7	B-
2.25-2.5	C+
1.8-2.2	C
1.5-1.7	C-
1.25-1.5	D+
0.6-1.2	D
0.0-0.5=F	F

Votes We Tracked

Women Rights

HB12 – Extends Medicaid 12 months post-pregnancy
SB379 – Tampon tax (plus diapers, maternity clothes, etc)
HB17 – Official misconduct by and removal of prosecuting attorneys
SB412 – Support for pregnant moms in college

LGBTQ Rights

SB12 – Criminalizing drag shows
SB14 – Banning gender affirming care for trans youth
SB15 – Banning trans athletes from playing college sports

Gun Safety

HB165 – Closes gun loopholes
HB2454 – Closes gun loopholes
HB3137 – Prohibits localities from adopting or enforcing gun safety laws
SB435 – Supports Santa Fe families

Voting Rights

HB1243 – makes illegal voting a felony
HB3159 – Makes it easier for disabled Texans to vote by mail
SB477 – Accommodating voters with disabilities
SB975 – Allows Texans to register to vote when surrendering their license
SB1070 – Pulls the state out of ERIC
SB1750 – Eliminates the Election Administrator in Harris County
SB1933 – Allows state officials to take over election systems in Harris County

Border

HB7 – Border unit (makes Operation Lone Star permanent)
SB2424 – Creates new trespass offense for migrants (asylum seekers)
SB1403 – Creates an interstate compact, including funds for a border wall
SB602 – Gives the border patrol ability to arrest, search, seize for state offenses

Public Education

HB3 – providing for armed guards in public schools
HB5 – Incentivizing businesses to come to Texas at the expense of funding our public schools
HB100 – funding allotment for public schools and pay increase for teachers and staff
HB621 – Allows military personnel to become teachers just because they’re military personnel
HB890 – Includes the Don’t Say Gay language
HB900 – Book banning bill
HB1883 – Rep Bhojani bill that exempts students from testing on their religious holidays
HJR2 – amendment to provide COLAs to retired teachers
SB10 – bill to provide COLAs to retired teachers
SB17 – eliminates DEI offices in public universities
SB763 – allowing chaplains to replace school counselors
SB1515 – displaying the 10 Commandments in public schools

Environment/Energy

SB7 – Funnels more money to gas energy production; increases renewable costs
SB784 – Exclusive jurisdiction of the state to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
SB1287 – creates a new transmission fee
SB2012 – more gas buildout, and more levies on electricity providers instead of gas producers
SB2014 – eliminates Renewable Energy Credits, making renewable energy more expensive
SB2627 – establishes a fund to encourage the construction of gas-fueled power plants
Texas Tribune on Environment/Energy bills (SB7):
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-electricity-power-plants-performance-credits-bill/
Texas Tribune on Environment/Energy bills (SB2627): https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/05/texas-bills-energy-natural-gas-fossil-fuel-renewables/
Environment America on anti-renewable energy bills (SB1287)
https://environmentamerica.org/texas/updates/texas-senate-approves-anti-renewable-energy-bills/