Information About the 85th Texas Legislature
In last week’s article, I provided some information regarding the 85th Texas Legislative Session. As a reminder, session begins at noon on January 10, 2017. I would like to continue that discussion this week by sharing additional details about the overall legislative process as well as the type of issues that are expected to be major themes during this year’s session.
According to the Texas constitution, the legislature is required to meet in regular session every two years for 140 days. The legislative session convenes on the second Tuesday in January of every odd-numbered year. Each legislative session begins with a swearing-in ceremony for the members in both the Texas House and Senate.
While every legislative session is unique, there are certain activities that take place in the weeks and months ahead of each session that help to signal the type of issues that will be addressed. One such activity is the pre-filing of bills by members of both the Texas House and Senate beginning mid November before each session. Meanwhile, the leadership of the Texas House and Senate as well as the Governor of Texas will start to outline their respective legislative priorities. Finally, the Texas Comptroller releases the state’s Biennial Revenue Estimate, which lets the Legislature know how much is available to be spent in the next two-year budget period.
I would like to share with you a few of the bills that have been pre-filed to give you a sense of what can be expected ahead of this year’s legislative session. In the House, some of the bills filed thus far include the following:
• HB 83 is relating to a fee waiver for a combination resident hunting and fishing license for certain military personnel.
• HB 306 is relating to student harassment, bullying, and cyberbulling.
• HB 491 is relating to requiring registration as a sex offender of certain defendants convicted of the offense of continuous trafficking of persons.
• HB 513 is relating to the reappraisal of ad valorem tax purposes of property damaged in a disaster.
• HB 519 is relating to the creation of an offense for failing to secure certain children in a rear-facing child passenger safety seat system.
• HB 524 is relating to the punishment for certain offenses involving family violence; changing the eligibility for parole and mandatory supervision for those offenses.
• HB 562 is relating to a committee formed to adopt a plan to deal with mental illness in the criminal justice system.
• HB 570 is relating to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a first responder who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills that have been filed to date:
• SB 133 is relating to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting supplies for a limited period.
• SB 231 is relating to automatic voter registration on issuance or change of a driver’s license or identification card by the Department of Public Safety.
• SB 256 is relating to the confidentiality of home address information of certain victims of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, stalking, or trafficking of persons.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, visit Texas House of Representatives. The site features live streaming from the House floor, committee hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can also follow the Texas Senate. The Texas Governor’s official website Office of the Governor Greg Abbott.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces County (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.
