Appointments for March 28, 2024
Appointed to the Texas County and District Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term to expire December 31, 2029, Susan H. Fletcher of Frisco, Texas (Commissioner Fletcher is being reappointed).
Appointed to the Texas County and District Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term to expire December 31, 2029, Ronald "Ronnie" Keister, Jr. of Lubbock, Texas (replacing Kara Sands of Corpus Christi, whose term expired).
Appointed to the Texas County and District Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term to expire December 31, 2029, Mary Louise Nicholson of Mansfield, Texas (Ms. Nicholson is being reappointed).
Appointed to the Texas Veterans Commission for a term to expire December 31, 2029, Laura G. Koerner of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas (Ms. Koerner is being reappointed).
Appointed to the Texas Veterans Commission for a term to expire December 31, 2029, Charles W. "Chuck" Wright of Frisco, Texas (replacing Kimberlee P. "Kim" Shaneyfelt of Argyle, whose term expired).
Appointments for April 1, 2024
Appointed to the Statewide Health Coordinating Council for a term to expire August 31, 2029, David V. Lewis of Austin, Texas (replacing Chelsea L. Elliott of Austin, whose term expired).
Appointed to the Texas Public Finance Authority for a term to expire February 1, 2029, Jay A. Riskind of Austin, Texas (Mr. Riskind is being reappointed).
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202401387
Relating to addressing acts of antisemitism in institutions of higher education.
WHEREAS, on October 7th of last year, the terrorist group Hamas committed unspeakable and heinous acts when they launched a surprise attack on Israel; and
WHEREAS, this attack killed over 1,200 innocent civilians including women, children, and approximately 30 American citizens, and Hamas took over 250 individuals hostage, including at least 10 Americans; and
WHEREAS, immediately after the October 7th attack, Governor Abbott reiterated his longstanding support for Israel and the Texas Jewish community and took initial steps to address acts of antisemitism in Texas, including authorizing $4 million in additional grant funds to protect synagogues and Jewish schools, prohibiting state agencies from purchasing goods from the Gaza Strip or entities that support Hamas, and directing the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission to educate Texans about the Israel-Hamas War and antisemitism; and
WHEREAS, Texas will continue to stand with Israel and support our Jewish neighbors in Texas; and
WHEREAS, incidents of antisemitism have increased since Hamas' attack, and the proliferation of antisemitism at public universities is particularly concerning; and
WHEREAS, while many Texas universities have acted quickly to condemn antisemitism and foster appropriate discourse on the terrorist attacks against Israel and the ensuing Israel-Hamas War, some radical organizations have engaged in unacceptable actions on university campuses; and
WHEREAS, protected free speech areas on Texas university campuses, as well as the buildings and parking lots of Jewish student organizations, have been covered in antisemitic graffiti; and
WHEREAS, multiple protests and walkouts have been staged by universities' student organizations, with students chanting antisemitic phrases such as "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which has long been used by Hamas supporters to call for the violent dismantling of the State of Israel and the destruction of the Jewish people who live there; and
WHEREAS, Texas supports free speech, especially on university campuses, but that freedom comes with responsibilities for both students and the institutions themselves; and
WHEREAS, such speech can never incite violence, encourage people to violate the law, harass other students or other Texans, or disrupt the core educational purpose of a university; and
WHEREAS, Section 51.9315(f) of the Texas Education Code requires all higher education institutions to adopt policies detailing students' responsibilities regarding free expression on campus; and
WHEREAS, Section 51.9315(c)(2) of the Texas Education Code provides that students should not participate in, and higher education institutions should not allow, expression that is unlawful or disrupts the operations of the institution; and
WHEREAS, antisemitism and the harassment of Jewish students have no place on Texas university campuses and will not be tolerated by my administration;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, hereby direct all Texas higher education institutions to do the following:
1. Review and update free speech policies to address the sharp rise in antisemitic speech and acts on university campuses and establish appropriate punishments, including expulsion from the institution.
2. Ensure that these policies are being enforced on campuses and that groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine are disciplined for violating these policies.
3. Include the definition of antisemitism, adopted by the State of Texas in Section 448.001 of the Texas Government Code, in university free speech policies to guide university personnel and students on what constitutes antisemitic speech.
Within 90 days of this executive order, the chair of the board of regents for each Texas public university system shall report to the Office of the Governor, Budget and Policy Division, that the above actions were taken by each institution of higher education overseen by that board of regents. The report shall include documentation verifying revisions made to free speech policies and evidence that those polices are being enforced.
This executive order shall remain in effect and in full force unless it is modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor. This executive order may also be amended by proclamation of the governor.
Given under my hand this the 27th day of March, 2024.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202401318
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:
WHEREAS, I, GREG ABBOTT, Governor of the State of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on February 27, 2024, certifying that wildfires posed an imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property in several counties; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Division of Emergency Management has confirmed that the same wildfire conditions continue to exist in those counties in Texas;
NOW, THEREFORE, in accordance with the authority vested in me by Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code, I do hereby renew the aforementioned proclamation and declare a disaster in Archer, Armstrong, Bailey, Baylor, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Fannin, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Gregg, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Knox, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Nacogdoches, Newton, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Stonewall, Swisher, Terry, Throckmorton, Upshur, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Yoakum, and Young Counties.
Pursuant to Section 418.017 of the Texas Government Code, I authorize the use of all available resources of state government and of political subdivisions that are reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.
Pursuant to Section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business or any order or rule of a state agency that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended upon written approval of the Office of the Governor. However, to the extent that the enforcement of any state statute or administrative rule regarding contracting or procurement would impede any state agency's emergency response that is necessary to protect life or property threatened by this declared disaster, I hereby authorize the suspension of such statutes and rules for the duration of this declared disaster.
In accordance with the statutory requirements, copies of this proclamation shall be filed with the applicable authorities.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 28th day of March, 2024.
Greg Abbott, Governor
TRD-202401324