HB 101

"🔴 HB 101 — Why Texans Should Care

Let me lay this out in plain English.

Texas just passed a bill called HB 101. On the surface, it looks like no big deal. It sets up a task force to figure out how to ""professionalize"" the Texas State Guard. That means improving how the Guard trains, what equipment it uses, and how ready it is to help during emergencies like floods or wildfires.

That sounds like something we should all support, right? A stronger, more capable Guard that can step in when disaster strikes. No problem.

But here’s where it gets concerning.

This task force isn’t just a group of experts sharing ideas. It’s completely controlled by one person — the Adjutant General of Texas. That’s a politically appointed official, not someone elected by the people. That person gets to pick who else is on the task force. They set the agenda. And they’re the one deciding what ""professionalization"" even means.

No one from the public is involved. No local emergency responders. No community leaders. No requirement to hold public meetings or publish the report they write. When they’re done, they hand the recommendations to the Governor. That’s it. No legislative review. No public debate. No accountability.

Now let’s talk about what those recommendations could lead to.

Even though this bill doesn’t spend money directly, the task force is expected to suggest new spending. Things like permanent Guard positions, new facilities, more gear, and more centralized operations. That means big taxpayer dollars could be committed in future budgets, based entirely on this private report that regular Texans never got to see or weigh in on.

So who stands to gain from this?

Groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation supported this bill. They’ve been pushing for more state-controlled military forces, especially on the border. They now get to influence state military policy without ever having to run it through a legislative process. Contractors who sell military equipment, build facilities, or provide training could also benefit. They’ll be in the loop early, ahead of any public bidding process, if one even happens.

And who’s left out?

Local emergency response teams who may see their funding and roles reduced. Everyday Texans who might one day be asked to pay for a plan they never knew existed. Voters who expect their elected representatives to have a say in how public money is spent.

This bill also sets a troubling precedent.

It shows how easy it is to set up a small, temporary committee that makes big, long-term policy decisions with no public input. If this approach works here, it could show up in future laws involving education, healthcare, infrastructure — you name it. Quiet decisions, made by appointees, behind closed doors.

And I’m not a lawyer, but this raises real questions about accountability. Should any public money be shaped by a process the public can’t see? Should one person have this much unchecked control over a task force that could affect emergency planning across the state?

HB 101 might not have made headlines, but it matters. Because it tells us how the game is being played. Power is being centralized. Oversight is being skipped. And the public is being left out of decisions that affect their safety and their money.

If we don’t speak up, this becomes the new normal.

So let’s not sleep on it. Let’s ask our lawmakers why this bill was written the way it was. Let’s demand transparency before the next report gets handed off behind closed doors. And let’s remind them that Texans deserve a seat at the table when it comes to our own future."