Summertime Brings New Laws
Earlier this year, I outlined some of the state laws that went into effect on January 1st. This week I’d like to highlight some of the new laws that have gone into effect this summer. These new laws range from bills addressing the functions of the State Board of Dental Examiners to notarial acts. Each of these bills 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 and then going to the Governor’s office.
The laws mentioned below represent some of those pieces of legislation that passed and went into effect recently:
• House Bill (HB) 51 relates to the regulation of the commercial oyster industry in this state. Interested parties note that oyster fisheries are an important part of Texas commercial fishing, but they are concerned about overfishing of these fisheries. HB 51 addresses this issue by providing for a license buyback program. HB 51 also amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to include an oyster size limit violation among the violations for which each person on a vessel licensed as a commercial oyster boat is responsible. The bill authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Commission to establish by proclamation a vessel monitoring system for commercial oyster boats and requires the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to consult with commercial oyster boat license holders concerning establishment of the system before the commission issues such a proclamation.
• Senate Bill (SB) 313 relates to the continuation and functions of the State Board of Dental Examiners. The bill reduces the board’s membership from 15 members to 11 members and revises the board’s composition. SB 313 expands the scope of the board’s rulemaking authority with regarding the administration of anesthesia by a dentist and revises provisions relating to those rules. The bill expands the boards authority to regulate the administration of all forms of anesthesia by removing references to enteral anesthesia from applicable statutory provisions.
• HB 1217 relates to the appointment of and performance of notarial acts by an online notary public and online acknowledgment and proof of written instruments. This bill establishes qualifications for appointment as an online notary public, including the electronic submission of an application to the secretary of state, sets out the requirements for that application, and authorizes the secretary of state to charge an application fee in an amount necessary to administer the bill’s provisions governing online notaries public. Those bill provisions apply only to an online notarization, defined by the bill as a notarial act performed by means of two-way video and audio conference technology that meets the standards for online notarization adopted under the bill’s provisions.
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.
