The 84th Texas Legislative Session Is Underway
The 84th Texas Legislative Session began earlier this month and I wanted to take this opportunity to mention some of the bills that have been filed this session so far. The Governor and Lt. Governor have now been sworn in. Please visit us in Austin. Our office is located on the Ground Floor of the Texas Capitol building in room number GW.18.
The following are bills that have been filed. I hope this helps give everyone an idea of what legislators are thinking.
• HB 721 is relating to the hunting or fishing license fee waiver for certain disabled veterans.
• HB 789 is relating to license plates issued to retired members of the military.
• HB 910 is relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties.
• HB 917 is relating to school marshals for private schools, notifying a parent or guardian whether an employee of a public or private school is appointed school marshal, and the confidentiality of information submitted to or collected by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in connection with a certification for appointment as school marshal.
• HB 921 is relating to limitations on increases in fees and designated tuition charged by public institutions of higher education
• HB 970 is relating to prohibiting the sale of nicotine products to minors; creating an offense.
• HB 976 is relating to higher education for veterans and their families.
• HB 979 is relating to a grant program to reduce wait times for agricultural inspections of vehicles at ports of entry along the Texas-Mexico border.
• HB 992 is relating to the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the total appraised value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 277 is relating to the abolition of certain health-related task forces, work groups, advisory councils, and advisory committees.
• SB 308 is relating to the application of public information laws to campus police departments at private institutions of higher education.
• SB 311 is relating to certain offenses involving the carrying of concealed handguns by license holders and to defenses and exceptions to the prosecution of those offenses.
I want everyone to have access to various websites so you can follow the legislature during this session.
To learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, you can access the Texas House. The site features live streaming from the House floor, committee hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can also visit the Texas Senate . Or visit the official website for The Texas Governor’s office. For important information regarding transportation in the state, feel free to visit the Texas Department of Transportation. Other resources include The Texas General Land Office, and the Texas Railroad Commission.
As a reminder, the 84th Texas Legislative session began on January 13th and 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 currently represents part of Nueces County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
