Joshua Star (Joshua, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 21, 2011 Page: 5 of 12
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www.joshuastar.net
Thursday, July 21, 2011 ★ Joshua Star ★ Page 5A
Orr: Sanctuary
cities bill shou d
have been passed
More should be done with
eminent domain, school
finance, state Rep. says
By BRIAN PORTER
josh uastar@thestargroup. com
Republicans used a super-majority in the Texas House to
their advantage in the 82nd state legislature.
Combined with a majority in the Senate and a Republican
governor, it led to a legislative session where bills of importance
to the state party were passed without much resistance. Some
of the longest-awaited conservative pieces of legislation are now
law.
With a special session now complete, the state legislature ef-
fectively closed until 2013 and the governor perhaps turning his
attention toward a bid for the White House, there are but just a
few items state Rep. Rob Orr, R-Burleson, would have changed.
Thirteen of the 14 bills pursued by Orr have either been
signed into law, sent to the governor’s desk for signature or will
result in an election proposition. Bills intended to ease public
school financing, give a roadway coming to Johnson County an
identity and provide assistance for non-profits and contractors
were among some of the key pieces of legislation Orr passed in
the regular session.
He laments the legislature’s inability to pass a sanctuary cit-
ies bill, effectively requiring all cities to enforce federal immigra-
tion law and make no policies preventing law enforcement from
legally verifying residency of subjects in custody.
“It was the major bill I felt we should have gotten done that
we didn’t,” Orr said. ‘The constituents in my district wanted
something to be done on illegal immigration.”
A sanctuary cities bill was a late addition to the special called
session by the governor. A bill passed in the House, but failed in
the Senate.
“It has been a topic for the last two or three sessions,” Orr
said, and now it appears as if it will have to wait for 2013. But, the
legislature has made a minor tweak by requiring proof of citizen-
ship for driver’s license renewals, Orr said.
A Burleson Realtor, Orr was pleased with the efforts taken
by the legislature to strengthen private property rights through
eminent domain legislation.
“I’m proud of the steps we took,” Orr said. “I still feel private
property owners need more protections.”
The Texas Conservative Coalition, of which Orr is a member,
passed its priority items of balancing the state budget without a
tax increase, improving election integrity and further securing
the border. It also pledged to cut taxes and pass legislation that
would limit federal intrusion into the lives of Texans.
But, Orr is alarmed with the growing problem of pensions.
In Austin, 41 percent of firefighters’ salaries go toward pensions,
Orr said.
“I think that’s something we have to work on,” Orr said.
He’s also concerned with the future of health care in the state.
“We don’t have enough health care providers,” Orr said. “It is
going to truly be a crisis at some point.”
But, he authored House Resolution 109 that helped to ad-
dress public school funding, another growing concern around
the state. HJR 109, by Orr, would provide as much as $500 mil-
lion in funding for public schools if approved as a constitutional
amendment by voters this fall.
“It will create transparency between the General Land Office
and the State Board of Education,” Orr said.
The legislature has further work to complete in public school
education in terms of equity, Orr said. He wants to see per-stu-
dent allocation addressed.
“Equity in school systems is a big thing that needs to be ad-
dressed,” Orr said. As an example, Joshua ISD Trustees Presi-
dent Ronnie Galbreath questioned Monday how it is possible
that his district can be considered “property-rich.”
Also, Orr intends to renew his red-light camera bill in the
next session. It would have provided voters the opportunity to
decide whether the cameras are their preference through indi-
vidual municipal elections. In essence, the bill would allow resi-
dents in Burleson to opt for red-light cameras, while residents in
Joshua and Cleburne could choose against them.
The session began in January with much ado made about the
pledge card system. A pledge card is signed at the end of each
session to indicate how a state representative intends to vote in
the next session’s House Speaker’s election. Orr has not signed a
pledge card for the 83rd legislative session, honoring desires of
the county’s GOP leadership.
Key pieces of legislation authored by Orr and passed by the
legislature included:
■ HB 367, designating State Highway 121 as the Chisholm
Trail Parkway from downtown Fort Worth to Cleburne. The
roadway will provide an alternative, more direct route from Cle-
burne to Fort Worth. The bill becomes law Sept. 1
■ HB 479, allowing economic development corporations
in neighboring towns to have joint meetings in counties of less
than 50,000 population. The bill was filed on behalf of Bosque
County. The bill is currently law.
■ HB 645, allowing chief executives of charitable organiza-
tions to file ad valorem taxation based upon the entity, instead of
the current practice of the chief executive having to file under their
personal identification numbers. The bill becomes law Sept. 1.
■ HB 1456, facilitating quicker release of liens and payments
to subcontractors. The bill becomes law Jan. 1.
■ HB 2872, easing some restrictions on the sale of certain
motor vehicles at shows or exhibitions. The bill is currently law.
■ Orr had seven other bills that were amended and rolled
into other legislation that went to the governor’s desk.
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Porter, Brian. Joshua Star (Joshua, Tex.), Vol. 41, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 21, 2011, newspaper, July 21, 2011; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth823178/m1/5/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Burleson Public Library.