This week, the Texas House of Representatives approved House Joint Resolution (HJR) 12 and House Bill (HB) 39 both by Rep. John Zerwas. HJR 12, which authorizes a second $3 billion in General Obligation Bonds for cancer research and prevention to be submitted to voters at the general election on November 5, 2019, passed on Second Reading with 130 Yeas, 15 Nays and 2 Present, not voting. As a House Joint Resolution, HJR 12 requires two-thirds, or 100 votes, threshold of the Texas House in order to be sent to the Texas Senate, and an additional vote on Third Reading is not required. HB 39, which removes the restriction against new grant awards in FY 2023 in the event additional General Obligation Bonds are authorized by voters or another funding source is used for FY 2023 and beyond, passed by a similar margin on Second and Third Readings. Both bills will now be sent to the Texas Senate. To watch the KXAN report on Tuesday’s events, please visit here.