Austin –State Representative Dianne White Delisi announced that two important pieces of legislation to assist military families and their communities were given a warm reception on the House Floor today.

"Today the Texas House sent on to Governor Rick Perry a bill (SB 252) designed to assist our military communities through the next round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)," Delisi stated. "The same day my colleagues also passed to engrossment my legislation (HB 25) to assist the children of military families enrolled in our Texas schools." 

SB 252 by Sen. Craig Estes was sponsored by Delisi in the House and restores the ability of local communities to use 4A/4B economic development funds to enhance the value of their military bases. The bill also permits the use of 4A/4B for military communities by allowing these local-option sales taxes to be used to attract new missions to an existing base or assist in converting a closed base.

Delisi had identical legislation (HB 548) that was also moving forward, but took up Estes' bill in its place on the House floor to get these changes in place even faster.

"We all agreed at the beginning that the most important thing here was to get this bill done as quickly as possible," Delisi stated. "There was clearly strong bipartisan support for this bill – which passed in both chambers on unanimous votes."

Delisi's HB 25 also passed on second reading today. This legislation seeks to make things easier on the children of military families. One of HB 25's major provisions reduces to 10 days (down from 30) the number of days a school district has to transfer student records to a new school once a request was received. Another reform provides an option for an alternate exit exam for students who either moved into their new school after January 1 of their final year or who had been out of Texas public schools for more than four years.

"HB 25 will clearly benefit these military children," Delisi said. "The provisions in this bill will also assist any other group of mobile students, from migrant workers to foster care kids."

"Between SB 252 and HB 25, today was a very good day on the House floor for those who serve our country, " Delisi concluded. "I thank my colleagues for their support."