UPDATE ON LEGISLATIVE STUDY BILLS: DESALINATION, FIREARM AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WORKFORCE
There are just two weeks left in the 83rd Legislative Session, as bills try to make it across the finish line before the official May 27th deadline. This deadline looms as House Bills work their way through the Senate and Senate Bills work their way through the House. Over the past week or two I have passed several House Concurrent Resolutions and sent them to the Senate. These are House Concurrent Resolution 57, House Concurrent Resolution 59, House Concurrent Resolution 82 and House Concurrent Resolution 89.
House Concurrent Resolution 57 requests the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives to create a joint interim committee to study human trafficking in Texas. This resolution will provide the Texas Legislature with the ability to continue to look in to the practice of Human Trafficking in the State of Texas, as well as what we as a state can do to stop and prevent this practice.
House Concurrent Resolution 59 requests that the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives create a joint interim committee to study seawater desalination in the State of Texas. As many of you know, water is a huge issue in the State of Texas right now, which has been exacerbated by the record droughts we have experienced over the last several years. This resolution will provide the Texas Legislature with the necessary means to continue to look at and review desalination as a possible solution to this ever pressing issue in the State of Texas.
House Concurrent Resolution 82 request that the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives create a joint interim committee to study education policy as it relates to developing a skilled workforce. As Texas’ economy continues to grow and diversify, the need for an evolving workforce also continues to increase. Recently, Texas and specifically South Texas have seen a spur in economic growth in connection to the Eagle Ford Shale discovery. This however has also highlighted the states need to continue to improve the diversification of our state’s workforce in order to meet workforce needs in the 21st century. This resolution will provide the Texas Legislature with the means to look at what the state can do or may need to do in order to meet these needs.
House Concurrent Resolution 89 request that the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives create a joint interim committee to study recruiting firearms and ammunition manufacturers to Texas. Many states around the country have begun to pass legislation which is not favorable to the manufacturing of firearms or ammunition, which has resulted in the elimination of good paying manufacturing jobs. This resolution will provide the state of Texas with the means to show that our state is a business friendly state and would be happy to have these manufacturing jobs available in Texas for Texans.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at Texas Legislature Online.
If you have questions or comments regarding any of these bills or any of the other legislation being consider by the Texas Legislature, 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 (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
