FILED BILLS FOR THE 83RD TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
In previous articles, I began outlining several of the bills which were filed within the pre-filing period. In this week’s article I am going to continue outlining some of the pre-filed bills and also include bills which have been filed following the opening of the 83rd Texas Legislature. The 83rd legislative session’s pre-filing period officially began on November 12th. It is important to remember that unlike our counterparts in Washington D.C., the Texas Legislature meets for only 140 days in every odd-numbered year. The established pre-filing period allows the legislature the opportunity to hit the ground running at the beginning of the session, which officially started on January 8th of this year.
During the pre-filing period, approximately 535 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolution were filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Since the opening day of session an additional 117 bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions have been filed. Below is a selection of House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 132 is relating to the establishment of a pilot program in designated public high schools in certain municipalities for placement of students in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps programs as an alternative to placement in disciplinary or juvenile justice alternative education programs.
• HB 136 is concerning an annual state budget and legislative budget sessions in even-numbered years and to political contributions made during a legislative session.
• HB 142 seeks to create a prohibition against human cloning and regulating other uses of human tissue by institutions of higher education; providing penalties.
• HB 163 is relating requiring a copy of a named insured’s driver’s license for issuance of an automobile insurance policy.
• HB 178 relates to exemption from the sales tax for certain water efficient products for a limited period.
• HB 184 is relating to the penalties for possession of one ounce or less of marihuana or a synthetic cannabinoid.
• HB 219 is relating to the provision of certain public benefits and services to persons not lawfully present in the United States and reimbursement from the federal government for those benefits and services.
• HB 241 addresses a notice provided by the chief appraiser of an appraisal district of the availability of agreement forms authorizing certain electronic communications.
• HB 243 relates to the authority of a community center that provides mental health or mental retardation services to sell certain real property of the center.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 160 is relating the identification of a person as an election poll watcher.
• SB 161 addresses the computation of the franchise tax by certain taxable entities that rent or lease equipment.
• SB 164 seeks to establish the issuance to veterans of specially marked licenses to carry a concealed handgun and specially marked personal identification certificates.
• SB 165 is relating to the issuance of specialty license plates to officers of the United States armed forces who graduated from certain United States military academies.
• SB 166 relates to the use by certain health care providers of electronically readable information from a driver’s license or personal identification certificate.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
If you have questions or comments regarding any of the filed bills 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 currently represents Part of Nueces County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
