The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas thanks Senator Bob Hall for his stalwart leadership for individual liberty and government accountability by voting NO on HB 15 (89S2) in its various forms throughout 2025. The Republican Liberty Caucus also thanks Representative Harrison for standing up for Texans and voting no on HB 15.
“Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is dedicated to promoting individual rights, limited government and free enterprise.
“HB 15, in its various forms, sought to seal “any document relating to” police, jailers and 911 call operators and any law enforcement personnel, potentially doing great harm to government transparency and accountability. The bill made no exception for the hundreds of tiny and even single-officer agencies in Texas, where officers would be charged with examining their own behavior for misconduct and incentivized to make it secret. The bill made no exception for elected officials, who owe a duty of transparency to the voter.
“Finally, the bill made no exception to allow for community transparency and accountability which is necessary for good policymaking after tragedies like what took place at Robb Elementary in Uvalde three years ago, where families and the public are still left in the dark.
Stephen F. Austin, often called the “Father of Texas,” played a critical role in its early history. Initially, he opposed secession and instead supported federalism, seeking to preserve Texas’ allegiance to the Mexican government while gaining more autonomy. However, after being imprisoned in Mexico City in 1834 under charges of treason and held without a fair trial, Austin returned to Texas convinced that independence was increasingly necessary, eventually becoming a strong advocate for breaking away from Mexico.
“CJ Grisham, well known Texas civil rights attorney and 2nd Amendment advocate, called this bill “among the worst” he had ever seen come from the legislature. Defenders of the second amendment and the constitution saw the danger in this bill.
“The Republican Liberty Caucus thanks Senator Bob Hall and Representative Harrison for voting No at the urging of grieving families, 2nd Amendment advocates, and many conservative activists, even as most Republicans fell in line behind the bill.
“Courage matters in the legislature, and courage is a value that Texans assume their elected officials will display. The Republican Liberty Caucus thanks both Senator Hall and Representative Harrison for their courage on this issue.”
El Paso, TX — November 24, 2024 — The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas (RLCTX) have announced two legislative priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature: passage of Defend the Guard legislation and a Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying. These priorities reflect the organization’s ongoing commitment to defending Texas’ sovereignty, restoring Constitutional governance, and ensuring fiscal accountability.
Defend the Guard Legislation: Putting Texas First
The Defend the Guard Act seeks to ensure that the Texas National Guard is prioritized for domestic missions, rather than being abused by way of sending them into foreign conflicts without the explicit authorization of Congress. With growing concerns over the misuse of the National Guard in overseas operations, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is calling for a clear policy that limits their deployment to only those missions that directly protect the interests of the state and the nation. Within the Constitution, specifically Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 it states that Congress is given the power to call out the militia in the following situations: “To execute the laws of the Union, To suppress insurrections, and To repel invasions.” Nowhere is it authorized to deploy them abroad into combat without first seeking a formal declaration of war.
Diego Rivera, spokesperson for the Defend the Guard initiative and RLCTX member, stated:
“From natural disasters to the migrant invasion on our southern border, the United States is in desperate need of a National Guard whose priority is here at home. They should not be deployed across the world fighting unconstitutional wars that have never been declared by Congress. By passing the Defend the Guard Act, the Texas legislature can put America First, enforce the U.S. Constitution, and ensure the integrity of its National Guard.”
The Defend the Guard legislation will give Texans a voice in where their National Guard is deployed, ensuring that their first duty is to the people of Texas and the defense of the United States’ borders and sovereignty.
Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying: Ending Government Subsidized Advocacy
The Republican Liberty Caucus is also pushing for a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying—a practice where taxpayer dollars collected by various municipalities and school ISDs are used to fund lobbying efforts for political agendas and special interest groups often counter to the interests of Texans own defense of life, liberty and property. This policy aims to restore fairness and transparency to the political process by preventing taxpayer money from being used to influence lawmakers on behalf of organizations that may not represent the interests of the average Texan.
James Peinado, State Chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas, expressed the organization’s eagerness to pursue these priorities, saying:
“Our members have spoken, and we are ready to take action. The abuse of taxpayer-funded lobbying must come to an end. It’s time to stop allowing our hard-earned money to be used to fund the very forces that seek to control us. When we ban this practice, we will level the playing field. Tyrants and special interests will have to raise their own funds, just like any other Texan who wishes to influence our legislature. The time for change on this issue is now.”
A Call for Action
With these two key legislative priorities, the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is calling on lawmakers in both the House and Senate to take immediate action. The organization is committed to working closely with Texas legislators to ensure that these critical reforms are passed, putting the needs of Texans first and restoring integrity to the legislative process.
For more information about the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas and its legislative priorities, please visit www.TexasRLC.org.
Contact: James R Peinado State Chair Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas Phone: 915-703-0492 Email: RLCTexasBoard@gmail.com
About the Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas
The Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas is a political organization committed to defending individual liberty, promoting limited government, and supporting free market enterprise. The Caucus advocates for policies that uphold these core principles at the state and national levels
