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WATER : A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE 83RD LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Over the past one hundred and thirty-three legislative days, the Texas Legislature has looked at a number of very important issues facing the State of Texas. Many of these issues continue to be discussed as the 83rd Texas Legislature moves closer to its official “Sine Die” on May 27th.
In 2010 the United States Census calculated Texas’ population to be at approximately twenty five million. This was an increase of nearly four and a half million people since the census was done in 2000. It is clear that Texas is very fortunate to be in a position in which people from all over the country are wanting to move in to the state due to the job opportunities and others benefits that our wonderful state can provide for them. This increase in population while speaking well of Texas and the opportunities our state can offer also creates an increased burden on a vital resource in the state, water. Water became even more of an issue for the State of Texas in 2011, when the state experienced one of the worst one-year droughts on record. These factors have made water unarguably one of the most important and difficult issues which have been discussed this session.
It is important to remember that not only is the population of Texas directly impacted by the need for water, but the accessibility of water is also extremely important to industries located throughout the State of Texas. During the legislative session, a number of ideas were proposed and examined as possible directions the state could review in order to solve the state’s water needs. One of the ideas reviewed this session was the creation of the state water implementation fund for Texas and the state water implementation revenue fund for Texas. These funds would be used to assist the Texas Water Development Board in providing low-cost financial assistance to local and regional providers for projects identified in the 2012 State Water Plan. Some of those suggested ideas include:
• Water conservation – Water conservation can be achieved through the alteration of everyday activities. These include the use of low flow toilets and low flow shower heads. Other degrees of conservation can be done through water used by municipalities or businesses.
• Surface water strategies – Strategies relating to surface waters include the diversion of streams, the creation of new reservoirs.
• Water reuse strategies – Water reuse often relates to water used for landscapes, parks, and other irrigation needs in many Texas communities.
• Groundwater strategies – These strategies include the use of desalination to address brackish groundwater.
Other strategies include:
• Drought management – This is a temporary demand reduction technique based on groundwater or surface water supply levels of a particular utility.
• Desalination – This is the process of removing salt from seawater or brackish water. This is a process which could be implemented anywhere along the Texas coast when utilizing seawater.
• Brush control – This is relating to the management of brush which consume large amounts of water.
If you would like to learn more about the ideas that have been discussed to resolve the state’s water needs, these websites can serve as a great resource:
• Texas Legislature Online
• The Texas House of Representatives
• The Texas Senate
If you have questions or comments regarding water related issues 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.
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.
THE END OF 83RD REGULAR SESSION DRAWS NEAR: DEADLINES TO WATCH
The start of May marks the final month of the 83rd Regular Legislative session. Every odd-numbered year the Texas Legislature meets for 140 days to hear and potentially pass any necessary legislation. This year, the 83rd Legislative Session began on January 8th, which puts the final day of session this year on May 27th. For those involved in the legislature, the final day of session is commonly referred to as “Sine Die”, which is a Latin phrase meaning “without day” or without any future date being designated.
Entering the final thirty days of the legislative session means that a number of deadlines will soon come to pass for the legislative members and their staff. The first such deadline is Monday the 6th of May which represents the 119th day of session. This day marks the last day for House committees to report out any House Bills that the committee heard throughout the session. The following day, on May 7th the last House Daily Calendar with House Bills and House Joint Resolutions, must be distributed for a 36 hour layout by 10 p.m. that evening. The 36 hour layout is necessary because May 9th marks the last day that the House can consider all House Bills or House Joint Resolutions on 2nd reading which were placed on the Supplemental or House Daily Calendar.
On May 10th, the House will consider House Bills that were placed on the Consent Calendar by the Local and Consent Committee. The bills that are placed on the Consent Calendar will go before the House on their 2nd and 3rd reading for the last time during the 83rd session. Bills that are sent to the Consent Calendar are those in which no opposition is anticipated and which received no nay votes in order to get out of the committee.
As these deadlines go by for House Bills, the House members will then begin to turn their focus to Senate Bills. May 18th represents the 131st day of the session and it is the last day for committees to report out any of the Senate Bills or Senate Joint Resolutions. With just seven days left, the House will consider on 2nd reading the Senate Bills and the Senate Joint Resolutions which were placed on the Supplemental or House Daily Calendar.
On the 137th day of session, or May 24th of this year, the House will have to concur or go to conference on any Senate amendments. May 26th will then be the last day for the House to adopt Conference Committee Reports. If the House and Senate do not adopt the report, then the measure will fail and the bill dies. The following day or the 140th day of session, the House and Senate are limited to only making corrections to legislation. Upon the final adjournment on May 27th, the House and Senate will officially end the 83rd Regular Session.
If you would like to follow any of the bills as these deadlines approach, these websites serve as a great resource:
• Texas Legislature Online
• The Texas House of Representatives
• The Texas Senate
If you have questions or comments regarding any of the agencies up for sunset, 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). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
AN UPDATE ON THE CRUISE INDUSTRY STUDY BILL AND OTHER BILLS TO WATCH
Over the past several months or so of articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to the March 8th deadline. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
On April 18, 2013 the Texas House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 56, which calls on the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the development and potential economic impact of a cruise industry on the Texas coast between Calhoun and Cameron Counties. HCR 56 will now need to go through the Senate. We will keep you posted as HCR 56 continues to move through the process.
As of March 8th, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 2197 is relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Lottery Commission; providing penalties; imposing and changing fees.
• HB 2204 addresses the authority of the Texas Transportation Commission to establish variable speed limits.
• HB 2206 is relating to the authority of a county to adopt a fire code.
• HB 2230 is concerning the orders of nondisclosure issued for records of certain fine-only misdemeanors; authorizing a fee.
• HB 2234 relates to authorizing home-taught driver education course providers to administer certain examinations required to obtain a driver’s license.
• HB 2244 addresses requiring municipalities to reimburse the Texas Department of Transportation for compensation paid for certain signs required to be relocated due to road construction.
• HB 2252 is relating to the eligibility of charitable organizations to participate in a state employee charitable campaign.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 1237 is relating to referral of disputes for alternative dispute resolution, including victim-directed referrals; authorizing a fee.
• SB 1243 relates to the issuance of interest-bearing time warrants and certain notes by school districts.
• SB 1247 is related to credit services organizations and extensions of consumer credit facilitated by credit services organizations; providing civil and administrative penalties.
• SB 1253 is relating to the relationship between Texas Department of Transportation toll projects and adjoining nontolled roads.
• SB 1267 addresses the liability of individuals providing labor or assistance to the Texas Forest Service in the performance of certain fire suppression duties
• SB 1289 deals with certain business entities engaged in the publication of mug shots and other information regarding the involvement of an individual in the criminal justice system; providing a civil penalty.
• SB 1298 is relating to the provision of electronic courses in public schools, the state virtual school network, and school district digital capabilities.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at Texas Legislature Online.
AN UPDATE ON THE FIREARM AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRY STUDY BILL AND OTHER BILLS TO WATCH
Over the past several months or so of articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to the March 8th deadline. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
On April 15, 2013 the Committee on Economic and Small Business Development heard House Concurrent Resolution 89, which calls on the lieutenant governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim regarding the recruiting of firearms and ammunition manufacturers to Texas. We will keep you posted as HCR 89 continues to move through the process.
As of March 8th, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 2108 is relating to a three-year high school diploma plan and cost-neutral expansion of full-day prekindergarten programs.
• HB 2131 addresses the creation of a specialty court for certain first-time DWI offenders; imposing fees for participation and alcohol monitoring.
• HB 2133 is relating to the public policy for the use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies for water development purposes.
• HB 2143 is concerning the evaluation by the Water Conservation Advisory Council of water conservation technologies for possible inclusion in the best management practices guide developed by the water conservation implementation task force.
• HB 2166 relates to the continuation, functions, and name of the Railroad Commission of Texas; providing for the imposition of fees, the repeal of provisions for the suspension of the collection of fees, and the elimination of a fee.
• HB 2180 addresses a lender notice to contractors regarding a construction loan or financing agreement for the improvement of real property and related procedures for suspending contractors’ and subcontractors’ performance.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 1161 is relating to the creation of a new category of law enforcement officer who shall be designated a school marshal, the training and appointment of certain employees of a school district or open-enrollment charter school as school marshals, and the rights, restrictions, limitations, and responsibilities of school marshals; authorizing the imposition of a fee.
• SB 1168 relates to interstate cooperation to address regional water issues.
• SB 1199 is related development of a pilot program of the Texas Veterans Commission to designate municipalities as Veteran and Military Friendly Cities.
• SB 1204 is relating to the qualifications of certain electric generation projects for programs designed to encourage the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide for use in enhanced oil recovery.
• SB 1212 addresses the applicability of certain provisions concerning the transfer of exotic species to certain transfers of water that supply populous areas.
• SB 1224 deals with the use by a property owner of a common or contract carrier to send a payment, report, application, statement, or other document or paper to a taxing unit or taxing official.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at Texas Legislature Online>
AN UPDATE ON THE DESALINATION STUDY BILL AND OTHER BILLS TO WATCH
Over the past month or so of articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to the March 8th deadline. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
I have filed House Concurrent Resolution 59, which calls on the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House of Representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding seawater desalination on the Texas coast. HCR 59 is being expanded to include the whole State of Texas. We will be studying this important issue. We will keep you posted on its development.
As of March 8th, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 2010 is relating a career path initiative for public school students that includes career path guidance for students in certain grade levels, additional high school graduation programs, and a requirement for a minimum number of school counselors at certain schools.
• HB 2029 addresses the eligibility requirements for electrician licenses issued to applicants with military service.
• HB 2036 is relating to the creation of a commission to prepare for the celebration of the state’s bicentennial.
• HB 2048 is concerning the establishment of the Texas Rural Development Fund and to the establishment, operation, and funding of certain programs for rural economic development.
• HB 2054 relates to certain rights of a motor vehicle manufacturer or distributor concerning a proposed transfer of ownership of a dealership.
• HB 2103 addresses education research centers and the sharing of educational data between state agencies; redesignating certain fees as charges.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 1021 is relating access to certain stored communications of a provider of an electronic communications service or remote computing service in this state pursuant to a warrant issued in another state.
• SB 1052 relates to search warrants issued in this state and other states for certain customer data, communications, and other information held in electronic storage in this state and other states by providers of electronic communications services and remote computing services.
• SB 1054 is related the vaccination against bacterial meningitis of public school students and of certain entering students at public and private or independent institutions of higher education.
• SB 1057 is relating to information about private health care insurance coverage and the health insurance exchange for individuals applying for certain Department of State Health Services health or mental health benefits, services, and assistance.
• SB 1061 addresses the parking privileges of disabled veterans on the property of institutions of higher education.
• SB 1088 deals with warrants issued to obtain location information from wireless communications devices.
• SB 1102 is relating to the appointment of a state cybersecurity coordinator.
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 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.
AN UPDATE ON THE CRUISE SHIP STUDY BILL AND OTHER BILLS TO WATCH
Over the past month or so of articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to the March 8th deadline. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
On April 3, 2013 the Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism heard House Concurrent Resolution 56, which calls on the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the development and potential economic impact of the cruise industry on the Texas coast between Calhoun and Cameron Counties, in a public hearing. Following public comments HCR 56 was voted out of the committee unanimously and was sent to the Local and Consent calendar. We will keep you posted as this bill and others continue to move.
As of March 8th, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Of the 5,944 total bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions which have been filed, 4,046 of those bills were filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and 1,898 were filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 1759 is relating to a correction, clarification, or retraction of incorrect information published.
• HB 1776 addresses the definition of “drought” for the purposes of emergency orders concerning water rights issued by the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
• HB 1784 is relating to the provision of career and technology education courses in certain partnership programs to provide high school dropout recovery.
• HB 1849 is concerning criminal asset forfeiture, the disposition of proceeds and property from criminal asset forfeiture, and accountability for that disposition.
• HB 1931 relates to the compensation of property owners whose property is damaged as a result of a suspect fleeing apprehension by a peace officer.
• HB 1966 addresses a project that may be undertaken by certain development corporations in connection with infrastructure improvements necessary for municipal area development and revitalization.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 857 is relating to the authority of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board regarding the initiation, consolidation, or elimination of a degree or certificate program offered by a public institution of higher education.
• SB 858 relates to the number of classroom hours required in a handgun proficiency course that is taken to obtain a concealed handgun license.
• SB 868 is related to the exclusion of certain flow-through payments related to petroleum and mineral interests in determining total revenue for purposes of the franchise tax.
• SB 892 is relating to the application of certain concealed handgun license laws to the attorney general and to assistant attorneys general, United States attorneys, assistant United States attorneys, and special assistant United States attorneys, and to the authority of those attorneys to carry certain weapons.
• SB 897 addresses the offenses of interference with public duties, required obedience to the order or direction of a police officer, and assault, certain unsuccessful prosecutions therefor, and related civil liability of a governmental unit.
• SB 924 deals with the strategic plans to address hunger, food, nutrition, and obesity in this state.
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 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.
MORE BILLS TO WATCH: INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON WATER RELATED LEGISLATION
Over the past few weeks’ articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to March 8th. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
As of March 8th of this month, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Of the 5,944 total bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions which have been filed, 4,046 of those bills were filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and 1,898 were filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 1632 is relating to certain identifying information of peace officers, county jailers, security officers, and employees of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or a prosecutor’s office excepted from disclosure under the Public Information Act.
• HB 1647 addresses the establishing of statewide comprehensive standards for provider credentialing and prior authorization processing under the Medicaid program.
• HB 1658 is relating to requiring the arrest and collection of a breath or blood specimen of persons operating a motor vehicle or watercraft while intoxicated under certain circumstances.
• HB 1668 is concerning a franchise tax credit for certain taxable entities that recruit new taxable entities to this state or that relocate to this state.
• HB 1685 relates to the continuation of the self-directed and semi-independent status of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, and the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners.
• HB 1699 addresses a requirement that any information regarding state-administered assessment instruments provided by a school district or public school to a student’s parent be printed in both English and Spanish.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 787 is relating to the amount of a surcharge assessed on conviction of certain offenses relating to the operating of a motor vehicle while intoxicated against the driver’s license of certain persons who complete a drug court program or an alcohol or drug treatment program.
• SB 796 relates to a study on the use of technology and other methods to report, track, and prevent traffic violations and accidents.
• SB 800 is related to the disclosure of the calculation of out-of-network payments by the issuers of preferred provider benefit plans and by health maintenance organizations.
• SB 828 is relating to the marketing of certain alcoholic beverages by manufacturers and their agents; providing for a permitting fee.
• SB 837 addresses the authority of a municipality to require owners of real property to keep the property free of certain conditions.
• SB 854 deals with the regulation of motor vehicle dealers, manufacturers, distributors, and representatives.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at www.capitol.state.tx.us.
On March 27, 2013 the Texas House of Representatives heard and debated on the House floor of one of the first major pieces of water related legislation this session, House Bill 4. After hours of debate, the House passed House Bill 4 on both second and third readings. Now the bill is on its way to the Texas Senate where the discussion will continue. We will keep you posted as this bill and others continue to move. Again if you would like to review the bill, you can go to Texas Legislature Online.
If you have questions or comments regarding any of the filed bills or any of the water legislation 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.
MORE BILLS TO WATCH: INCLUDING AN UPDATE ON FIREARM RELATED LEGISLATION
Over the past few weeks’ articles, I have been outlining bills which have been filed during the 83rd Texas Legislative Session. Members and their staff have been working on drafting and filing bills in the House and the Senate for the past several months leading up to March 8th. March 8th represented the 60th day of the Legislative Session and the final day to file bills in both the Texas House and the Texas Senate.
As of March 8th of this month, 5,944 bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions have been filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate’s respective offices. Of the 5,944 total bills, joint resolutions, and concurrent resolutions which have been filed, 4,046 of those bills were filed with the Chief Clerk of the House and 1,898 were filed with the Secretary of the Senate’s offices. Below is a selection of those House bills which have been filed to-date:
• HB 1340 is relating to consent to the immunization of certain children.
• HB 1346 addresses the collection and recycling of computer and television equipment by certain retailers; providing for the imposition of administrative penalties.
• HB 1443 is relating to the dedication of certain unclaimed lottery prize money to fund the repair, restoration, and permanent dry berth of the Battleship “Texas.”
• HB 1608 is concerning warrants issued to obtain location information from wireless communications devices and to public access to law enforcement or prosecutor requests for certain related location or communication information.
• HB 1627 relates to the allocation of revenue derived from state gasoline and special fuels taxes.
Below is a selection of the Senate bills which have been filed to-date:
• SB 593 is relating the authority of a property owners’ association to regulate the use of certain lots for residential purposes.
• SB 614 relates to an electric utility surcharge to assist owners of certain historic structures with electric bill payments and to promote energy conservation and efficiency.
• SB 639 is related to the sale of beer, ale, and malt liquor by a brewer or beer manufacturer to a wholesaler or distributor and contractual agreements between those entities.
• SB 657 is relating to procedural requirements for adopting and filing a school district budget and voting requirements for setting a property tax rate by the governing body of a taxing unit, including a school district.
• SB 730 addresses the temporary exemption of certain tangible personal property related to data centers from the sales and use tax.
• SB 765 deals with the establishment and duties of an event oversight committee for an event eligible to receive funding through a major events trust fund; limiting payments from the fund to reimbursement for attracting unique events to Texas.
The filed bills for the 83rd (R) legislative session are available for the public to view at Texas Legislature Online.
On March 14, 2013 the Homeland Security and Public Safety held a public hearing to allow for public input relating to several pieces of firearm legislation. Among those pieces of legislation were HB 700 (relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry the handgun; providing penalties) and HB 972 (relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education). We will keep everyone up-to-date on the progress of these bills.
If you have questions or comments regarding any of the filed bills or any of the firearm legislation 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 odd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
Texas Press Association honors Todd Hunter with First Amendment Award
Texas Press Association proclaimed Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, a “Friend of the First Amendment” at the TPA Legislative Conference on Feb. 25 in honor of his years of hard work and determination to protect and preserve free speech and government transparency.
In presenting the award, the association released the following statement:
“Rep. Hunter is serving his seventh term in the Texas House of Representatives. He is senior partner at the law firm of Hunter and Handel in Corpus Christi, and he also carries senior-level clout in the Texas House, where he serves as chairman of the powerful Calendars Committee, which determines when and how legislation will be considered. Rep. Hunter also serves as a member of the House committees for Redistricting, for General Investigating and Ethics, for County Affairs, and for the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence.
“Rep. Hunter is a strong advocate for published public notice and for government transparency in all forms. He was instrumental in the passage of the landmark bill protecting reporter’s privilege in the 81st legislative session. At the time, Rep. Hunter was chair of the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee. Without his requiring the district attorneys to sit down with Texas newspapers to have a discussion about the issues, and without his extraordinary mediation capabilities, neither the meeting nor the bill would have come to pass. He oversaw four different sessions with the district attorneys — one of which lasted for more than 10 hours. This was the third time the bill had been brought before the Legislature in recent history, and without Rep. Hunter, it would not have made it out of the House.
“In the next session, he took on an even bigger issue — one that impacts all citizens in the state of Texas who are sued out of retaliation for speaking out. Rep. Hunter championed the anti-SLAPP statute (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), which was passed unanimously in both chambers and went into immediate effect. As a result, retaliatory lawsuits are coming to an early end and cases that are dismissed through the anti-SLAPP statute include an award of attorney’s fees. The hope is that the anti-SLAPP law will serve as a deterrent to retaliatory lawsuits even being filed in the future.
“This session, Rep. Hunter has agreed to sponsor a bill that will give newspapers an opportunity to correct mistakes that may have been made and not be liable for exemplary damages once we make those corrections. The bill should greatly reduce the frequency and the cost of First Amendment litigation, giving newspapers a chance to address concerns on the front end and avoid costly lawsuits later.
“Rep. Hunter is also carrying the bill on government officials’ texting about public business during public meetings and the bill to expand the Public Information Act to cover electronic communications and third-party contracts.
“Texas newspapers are fortunate to have a First Amendment and open government champion with the standing, reputation and effectiveness of Rep. Hunter. The Texas Press Association is grateful for his steadfast support of open government and his service to Texas.”
Jim Moser (left), chairman of the Texas Press Association Legislative Advisory Committee; Chairman Hunter; and Russel Skiles, president of the Texas Press Association.
D5 Creation