• January 15, 2018

New Year Brings New Laws Part III

New Year Brings New Laws Part III

150 150 Elect Todd Hunter

New Year Brings New Laws Part III

With the start of the new year, it is important to know about the laws that went into effect. Certain laws that were passed during the 85th Regular Legislative Session came into effect on January 1, 2018. Over the past two weeks, we have reviewed some new laws and I’d like to continue to review others this week. These new laws range from bills addressing ad valorem taxes to the transfer of intermodal shipping containers. Each of the bills that took effect on January 1 went through a 140-day legislative session. During that 140-day period, these bills went before House and Senate Committees before going before the Texas House and Senate as a whole and then going to the Governor’s office.

The laws mentioned below represent some more of those pieces of legislation that passed and went into effect on January 1:

• House Bill (HB) 1101 relates to the requirement of a person to file a new application to confirm the person’s current qualification for the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homestead of a 100 percent disabled veteran. Currently, the chief appraiser of an appraisal district may require a person who is allowed an exemption from property taxation on a residence homestead to annually file a new application to confirm qualification for the exemption unless the person is 65 years of age or older. U.S. military veterans classified as having a non-recoverable and permanent disability consider the annual submission for requalification laborious, cumbersome, and even disrespectful, as the qualifying disability is defined as one that will not improve. HB 1101 seeks to remove any such requirement as it pertains to a veteran who is 100 percent disabled.

• Senate Bill (SB) 1381 relates to photo identification for certain debit or credit card transactions. The proliferation of highly publicized data security breaches at some of the nation’s largest retailers over the past several years is an ongoing concern not only for consumers but also for community financial institutions. Data compromised in these breaches can be used to create fraudulent debit and credit cards which can then be utilized in person as well as through Internet and telephone transactions. In order to combat this, some merchants choose to request a government-issued photo identification to prove that the card in question is, in fact, theirs. However, due to restrictive terms of the agreements with major credit card companies, merchants are unable to deny a transaction if the customer is unwilling or unable to produce acceptable identification. SB 1381 allows a merchant to request government-issued photo identification at point of sale and will provide the ability for that merchant to decline a transaction if they so choose.

• SB 1524 relates to the movement of certain vehicles, including vehicles transporting an intermodal shipping container. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, in conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation, is responsible for regulating the movement of oversized and overweight vehicles in order to ensure the safety of the traveling public and to protect the integrity of highways and bridges. This responsibility is accomplished through the issuance of permits for the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles and loads, and the execution of special contracts for the movement of oversize and overweight vehicles and loads to travel across the width of a state highway. There are currently over 27 permit types in Texas, ranging from 30/60/90 day permits, house moves to super-heavy hauls. In 1989, the Texas Legislature passed legislation creating the 2060 permit. This permit is an annual permit for vehicles to operate above the general 80,000 pound weight limit. Controlled and administered by the state, the 2060 permit has satisfied many industries over the years by allowing trucks traveling with up to 84,000 pounds under the permit. Texas already provides truck weight exceptions to exporters over limited corridors near some ports. SB 1524 allows intermodal shipping containers traveling within 30 miles of a port of entry or an international bridge with TxDOT approval to purchase an annual permit to carry cargo so long as it is sealed with a United States customs seal. The annual permit would allow the state to compete with surrounding states in the import and export of intermodal commodities.

It is important to learn and know about the new laws that were passed by the 85th Texas Legislature. If you would like to view any of the other legislation that was passed during the 85th Session, these websites are great resources:

The Texas Legislature
The Texas House of Representatives.
The Texas Senate.

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. 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.