March 8 was the deadline for Texas legislators to file bills for consideration during the 2019 session, resulting in three key proposals from Rep. Eric Johnson, who is also a candidate for mayor in Dallas. The proposed laws focus on leveling the playing field for publications serving minority communities, fighting corruption in the awarding of government contracts and provide affordable housing.
Provide a level playing field for publications serving minority communities
The legislation filed would help to ensure government notices are published in newspapers that largely serve minority audiences.
House Bill 4210 removes a requirement government notices can only be published in newspapers designated as second-class postal matter. This requirement in current law often prevents governments from publishing their notices in smaller, minority-owned newspapers that do not have the resources to maintain the second-class postal designation.
“Minority-owned newspapers often reach communities and residents who are not engaged with larger media outlets,” said Rep. Johnson, D-Dallas. “The readers of these publications should be able to see the notices that connect the public with important government information. In addition, these smaller newspapers should be able to benefit from publishing notices, just as larger publications do.”
The minority population in Texas is growing rapidly. Hispanic Texans are expected to outnumber white Texans by about 2022, and Texas has one of the largest African-American populations in the country.
“All communities in Texas should have access to public notices,” Rep. Johnson said. “As our minority population continues to grow, our laws should recognize that a diverse population consumes news and information from a variety of sources.”
Rep. Johnson filed similar legislation in 2017.
Bill aims to end corruption in the awarding of affordable housing tax credits
House Bil 4370 says recommendations from elected officials will no longer be part of the formal scoring process in awarding affordable housing tax credits. The legislation comes after Carolyn Davis, a former member of the Dallas City Council, entered a guilty plea for accepting bribes from a real estate developer in exchange for her support of an affordable housing project. Several elected officials in Dallas have been prosecuted for similar crimes.
“This bill takes direct aim at the corruption that has infected this process,” said Rep. Johnson, D-Dallas. “Too many elected officials have abused the public’s trust in order to enrich themselves, and we can’t tolerate that any longer. We absolutely need affordable housing in Dallas and across the state, but the current process needs reform.”
Stem the tide of homelessness caused by gentrification
Proposed bill will allow state funds to flow to residents who lose their homes due to gentrification.
Rep. Johnson filed House Bill 4394 in order to clarify that Texans who lose their homes due to economic development in their neighborhoods are eligible for state funds intended to assist with homelessness prevention. Currently, the state distributes those dollars to cities, which then use them to help residents avoid becoming homeless. But there is ambiguity in the current law over whether someone qualifies for that assistance if their home loss is due to gentrification.
“Homelessness is a serious concern in Dallas and other cities, and it can be caused by a lot of factors,” said Rep. Johnson, D-Dallas. “If someone replaces your home with a high-end apartment that you can’t afford to rent, you should be eligible for the same type of help as someone who is homeless for a different reason. We should not ignore the ways that new construction can upend the lives of people who have lived in their communities for many years.”
House Bill 4394 would address two state programs: the Homeless Housing and Services Program and the Ending Homelessness Fund.
“Housing is becoming more and more expensive in Dallas and other Texas cities, and the Legislature needs to deal with this issue while we are in session this year. This bill can be an important part of our larger effort to combat the causes and real-life effects of homelessness in Texas,” Rep. Johnson said.
