Legislative Update: General Investigating And Ethics Committee
In this week’s article, I want to follow up and give an update on this important legislative session that is well underway. Last month, March 13th marked the legislative filing deadline to file bills for the 84th Legislative Session. As your elected representative, I want to take this opportunity to feature some of the pieces of legislation that have been introduced and have come before committees that I serve on for this current legislative session. It is important to note, however, that while the bill filing deadline has passed, this does not mean that the dialogue has been finalized. House and Senate committees are hearing many bills and the next stage of the legislative session is in progress. Below, I have listed some of the bills that were recently before the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics.
• HB 1059: Relating to the contents of and public access to personal financial statements filed by public officials and candidates.
• HB 1354: Relating to the creation of a select interim committee to undertake a comprehensive review of personal financial disclosures made to the Texas Ethics Commission and certain other authorities.
• HB 1355: Relating to the consequences for an elected officer who threatens, punishes, or intimidates a person based on the person’s religious beliefs; creating a criminal offense.
• HB 1531: Relating to the making and receiving of referrals for legal services by certain legislators and executive officers; providing a criminal penalty.
• HB 1690: Relating to the prosecution of offenses against public administration, including ethics offenses.
• HB 2222: Relating to the creation of a public integrity unit to prosecute offenses against public administration, including ethics offenses, offenses involving insurance fraud, and offenses involving motor fuels tax.
• HB 3279: Relating to the authority and duties of the office of inspector general of the Health and Human Services Commission.
• HB 3517: Relating to requirements governing registration and authorized activities of certain lobbyists; expanding the applicability of an occupational registration.
I will plan to do updates on bills being considered. This will give some information on what potential laws are being reviewed.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, you can access its website at 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 the Texas Senate. The Texas Governor’s official website can be found at Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. For important information regarding transportation in the state, feel free to visit Texas Department of Transportation. Also you can visit The Texas General Land Office, and the Texas Railroad Commission.
As a reminder, the 84th Texas Legislative Session is currently underway. As always, I want to hear your ideas and suggestion. Your ideas and information are important forms of feedback and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact my office.
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 (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
