Both HB1949 & HB1956 seek to amend Section 2056 of Texas Government Code in order to require the Texas state climatologist to provide to the Legislative Budget Board (for use in the strategic planning of a state agency) a report on projected changes in weather (including adverse impacts), water availability, and climate variability across the state. Governor Abbott has already signaled his backing, and the bills are expected to receive bipartisan support when they comes up for vote. HB929 (known as the Botham Jean Act or Bos Law) seeks to clean up ambiguous guidelines in Texas castle doctrine law, to clean up language regarding mistake of fact when used as a legal defense, as well as to standardize police body cam policy and increase police accountability and transparency with regard to body worn cameras. Each of the three bills listed above seek to amend several sections of Texas Government Code (as well as the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Family Code, Estates Code, Health and Safety Code, and Code of Criminal Procedure) in order to permit or require the attendance of a court hearing or proceeding remotely through the use of technology and the Internet.. Insurance companies claim that this information is irrelevant and immaterial to a pre-suit claim, while plaintiffs lawyers argue that it can help facilitate settlement and avoid needless litigation. The force used is proportionate to the threat posed and to the seriousness of the alleged offense; The force used does not present a serious risk of injury to any person other than the actor or the person against whom the force is used; and. HB2067 also states that Confederate Heroes Day, which currently falls on the same date, would be removed from the list of official state holidays. There is a substantial risk that the person to be arrested or attempting to escape after arrest will cause death or serious bodily injury to the actor or another if the arrest or apprehension is delayed. Now passed, this law will take effect on 01/01/2022. Beginning January 1, 2022, new laws will take effect that will make the process more streamlined to resolve . SB1737 seeks to amend Section 544.007 of Texas Transportation Code in order to allow cyclists and motorcyclists to proceed through a traffic-actuated red light if the traffic-control signal fails to register the motorcycle or bicycle. If passed, HB1757 would amend Section 37.09 of Texas Penal Code in order to make it a criminal offense for a peace officer (or another employee of a law enforcement agency) to alter, destroy, or conceal another persons audio, visual, or photographic recording of a peace officers performance of official duties without obtaining that other persons written consent. Each of the above bills, if passed, seek to amend several sections of Texas Election Code to reimplement the straight-ticket voting option. June 24, 2021. While these bills are similar to each other in many ways, there are key differences between each of themincluding how the tax proceeds would be allocated. Right to repair refers to government legislation that is intended to allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices, where otherwise the manufacturer of such devices requires the consumer to use only their offered services. Authorize force to be used by officers only after attempts to de-escalate a situation have failed. If passed, the bills would require the division to prepare and keep current a pandemic response plan, include provisions for: If passed, each of the bills listed above seek to amend Section 62.051 of the Texas Labor Code to raise the minimum wage in Texas. Texas Attorney Suspended, 20 Others Disciplined HB502, HB1199 & HB1274 all seek to allow motor vehicle owners in Texas to display a license plate only on the rear of a motor vehicle. If passed, the bills seeks to amend Article I of the Texas Constitution (bill of rights) to add Section 35, as follows: The right of the people to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or scrip, when trading and contracting for goods and services shall not be infringed. While our law firm solely focuses on car accidents and personal injury law, well do our best to provide answersor at least point you in the right direction. If passed, HB928 would define the term catfish as any species of the scientific family Ictaluridae. The term does not include any species of the scientific genus Pangasius, family Claridae or family Siluridae, including Swai fish (fish similar to catfish). Promote awareness among the public regarding how the office may be contacted, the purpose of the office, and the services the office provides. If passed, HB1517 would allow licensed or permitted bars located inside a hotel to extend the hours during which alcoholic beverages may be sold and consumed during special events but only upon request of the chief executive officer of a municipality. By state law, drivers in Texas must carry at least the minimum auto insurance required. Suspended License Driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor in Texas. Did you know that Texas recognizes Confederate Heroes Day (honoring Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and other Confederate heroes) as an official state holiday? HB383 seeks to raise the minimum wage to $12/hour, while HB60, HB1827 & HB4484 seek to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour. 11 New California Laws For 2022, Explained In One Minute All rights reserved. Similar to the bills above, HB616, if passed, seeks to amend Section 481.121 of Texas Health and Safety Code to classify possession of two (2) grams or less of marijuana as a Class C misdemeanor. It would also allow an Indian tribe recognized by the United States government under federal law to operate slot machines or casino gaming on its Indian land within this state, According to the bill, the goal is to impose a tax on the casino gaming revenue (10% of revenue from table games and 25% of revenue from slot machines) in order to foster economic development and job growth and to provide tax relief and funding for education and public safety programs.. Our attorneys are results-driven and dedicated DWI lawyers who can help you fight the underlying offense causing your license suspension to ensure that you can reinstate your license. HB170 & SB1067 both seek to adds language to Section 105.06 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code to further define a public place in this context. Retailers are authorized to sell beer for on-premise consumption between 10:00 a.m. and noon if the beer is served to a customer in conjunction with the service of food. If, during any 12-month period, TxDOT receives 10 or more of these reports for a single intersection, they shall perform a traffic study of that location and take actions determined reasonable and necessary to improve safety at the location. If approved, this holiday would fall on the 19th day of January. If passed, these bills would establish rules and regulations regarding qualifying patients, a patient registry system, cannabis testing facilities, licensure of dispensing organizations, allowable amounts, taxes, fees, and more. HCR12, if passed, would designate the City of Kyle as the official Pie Capital of Texas for the next 10 years. If an organization applies for a license to operate a casino, a local option election shall be held in the county. License and Vehicle Registration Suspension in Texas If passed, SB128 seeks to amend Section 662.003(b) of the Texas Government Code (a list of official Texas state holidays) to add Celebration of Suffrage Day in honor of the centuries-long struggle to bring the right of suffrage to all Americans. Excerpt from the bill: Uniquely situated amid rugged mountains and below the spectacular West Texas sky, Fort Davis is beloved by residents and visitors alike, and it has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the Lone Star States top destinations.. If voters decide to observe standard time year round, this would go into effect beginning 01/01/2022. Amendments to California Assembly Bill 655, intended to improve the states self-storage lien law, passed the Senate on Friday with a 30-0 vote. Search the Knowledge Base to find a . Violations of this Act (which are not remedied) would result in administrative penalties of not less than $25,000. The new laws may affect your current driving record. If passed, HB441, HB498 & SB1989 all seek to amend Section 481.121 of Texas Health and Safety Code to classify possession of one (1) ounce or less of marijuana as a Class C misdemeanor, and possession of more than one (1) but less than two (2) ounces of marijuana as a Class B misdemeanor. The court may authorize this only if the presence of the dog or animal will assist the witness in providing testimony, the party petitioning for the order provides proof of liability insurance coverage in effect for the dog or animal, and the party petitions the court no later than the 14th day before the date of the court proceeding. Under new law, unpaid tickets will no longer lead to suspended licenses Box 15999 No-Win No-Fee | Free Consultations. Element JWID is undefined in URL. HB1682, if passed, would amend Chapter 542 of Texas Insurance Code in order to require insurance companies to disclose their insureds policy information to 3rd-party claimants upon written request. If passed, HB1178 seeks to amend the heading to Section 481.125 of Texas Health and Safety Code in order to remove all criminal penalties for the possession of drug paraphernalia under the Texas Controlled Substances Act (possession of drug paraphernalia is currently a Class C misdemeanor). Excerpt from the bill: For thousands of years, the mermaid has been one of the most striking symbols of humanitys connection with the natural world, and over the past century, this legendary figure has come to represent the city of San Marcos and its special relationship to the water resources of Central Texas.. Daniels says most of those suspensions are for . HB3335, if passed, also seeks to amend amend Section 17.46, Business & Commerce Code to include selling electricity at prices at least 200% higher than the market average price for the four quarters immediately preceding a declared disaster as a false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice., SB2075 seeks to amend amend Section 17.46, Business & Commerce Code to include selling electricity at prices at least 300% higher than the average price for the month immediately preceding a declared disaster as a false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice., If passed, each of the above-proposed bills seek to amend Section 39.151 of Texas Utilities Code to ensure that each member of the governing body of the independent organization certified to manage the ERCOT power region (including the CEO) must be a resident of Texas. The bill states that A peace officer may not intentionally use a choke hold, carotid artery hold, or similar neck restraint in searching or arresting a person unless the restraint is necessary to prevent serious bodily injury to or the death of the officer or another person.. Strangely, the text of HB1980 states that this would not apply to a negotiated settlement agreement or administrative action.. If approved, this holiday would fall on the 28th day of June. The driver responsible for the incident was cited with failure to yield, but was never charged. Championed by the California Self Storage Association (CSSA) with . Vehicle registration suspended for driving without insurance. If passed, the bill would add language requiring tolls to be removed once the costs of acquisition and construction of the project have been paid. Mailing Address: Texas Department of Public Safety Central Cash Receiving P.O. Schedule a free case evaluation with our criminal lawyers by calling (254) 220-4225. Ill be honest I thought we had settled this one a long time ago. HB1982, if passed, would amend Chapter 481of Texas Health and Safety Code in order to add a section on medical cannabis prescriptions, which states that medical cannabis may be dispensed to a patient only by a pharmacist licensed under Subtitle J, Title 3, Occupations Code, at a pharmacy licensed under Chapter 560, Occupations Code, under a valid prescription. The bill states that teachers must be paid a monthly salary of at least $7,000, increased by $50 for every prior year of experience (i.e., a teacher with 10 years of experience would have a base monthly salary of at least $7,500, and a teacher with 20+ years of experience would have a base monthly salary of $8,000). Both HB94 and SB90 seek to allow the use of medical marijuana for patients with debilitating medical conditions, while SB250 seeks to allow the use of medical marijuana for patients for whom a physician determines medical use is the best available treatment.. If passed, HB1781 seeks to amend Section 43.357 of Texas Parks and Wildlife Code in order to allow the holder of a valid deer breeders permit to engage in the business of breeding breeder deer via cloning. If passed, HB3481 seeks to add Rosa Parks Day as an official state recognition day in order to honor Rosa Louise McCauley Parks for her courageous act of refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to protest segregation which helped launch the civil rights movement in the United States. If approved, Rosa Parks Day would fall on the 1st day of December. SB68, HB2011 & SB1601, if passed, would also require peace officers who witness the use of excessive force by another peace officer to promptly make a detailed report of the incident and deliver the report to their supervisor, as well as the supervisor of the officer who used the excessive force. Lets take a look at some of the more-interesting ones. A handler who is trained to manage the qualified facility dog or qualified therapy animal must accompany the dog or animal at a court proceeding, and courts may impose additional restrictions during the court proceeding. If passed, the bills would requirethe Public Utility Commission of Texas to, by rule, develop a process for obtaining emergency reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent blackout conditions in the state. SB1440, on the other hand, seeks to allow physicians in the state to prescribe low-THC cannabis to veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The training program must be approved by the attorney general, and will include guidance on how to recognize and report human trafficking, how to report suspected human trafficking, and more. In accordance with these rules, an independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power region shall adopt procedures and enter contracts as necessary to ensure the availability of a defined amount of emergency reserve power generation capacity the organization may call on to prevent blackouts caused by shortages of generated power. This constitutional amendment would also authorize the legislature to enact a law based on the results of the referendum. If passed, HB95 and SB72 would require each law enforcement agency in Texas to adopt a policy which prohibits a peace officer from discharging a firearm at or in the direction of a moving vehicle unless the peace officer discharges the firearm only when and to the degree the officer reasonably believes is immediately necessary to protect the officer or another person from the use of unlawful deadly force by an occupant of the vehicle by means other than by using the moving vehicle to strike any person.. At any time in which a child who is unable to swim (or is at risk when swimming) has access to a body of water, the organization shall: HOAs (AKA property owners associations) in Texas generally have a lot of leeway when it comes to enforcing restrictive covenants. In March of 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a waiver which permitted restaurants with a mixed beverage permit to offer beer, wine, and mixed drinks to-go with food purchases. If approved, the sign may remain posted for a period of two (2) years. If the victim simply says yes to any such settlement, under Texas law, theyve legally settled their claim. Many cities in Texas currently have hands-free ordinances on the books, but if passed, HB86 would effectively make these local laws unenforceable. This fee (which increases to $50 in some cases) does not apply to a suit filed by any governmental entity or to a suit for delinquent taxes. August 24, 2021 . Excerpt from the bill: Whereas, whether its pecan pie, apple pie, blueberry pie, or pot pie, a pie is an occasion for celebration and delight, and the people of Kyle are making this beloved dish a special focus of their identity as a community.. A provision providing that failure to comply with the written verification required by Subdivision (1) for any team sporting event at the teams home venue or other facility: Immediately subjects the team to any penalty the agreement authorizes for default (including requiring the team to repay any money paid to the team by this state or any governmental entity or classifying the team as ineligible to receive further money under the agreement); and. It would also amend Section 38.15 of Texas Penal Code (interference with public duties) to add an affirmative defense to prosecution if the conduct engaged in by the defendant consisted only of filming, recording, photographing, documenting, or observing a peace officer, if before or while engaging in the conduct, the defendant obeyed any reasonable and lawful order by a peace officer to change the defendants proximity or position., HB1757 also seeks to amend Section 542.501 of Texas Transportation Code (willfully failing or refuse to comply with a lawful order) to state that the law does not apply to an order or direction to cease filming, recording, photographing, documenting, or observing a peace officer while the officer is engaged in the performance of official duties, although this does not prohibit a peace officer from giving the person a reasonable and lawful order or direction to change the persons proximity or position relative to a peace officer who is engaged in the performance of official duties., Lastly, HB1757 would also amend Chapter 2 of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to state that if during the performance of the peace officers official duties a peace officer makes a video or audio recording of the officers interaction with a person, the peace officer must immediately disclose to the person that the officer is recording the interaction and the method by which the officer is making the recording, except if the peace officers interaction with a person occurs as part of an ongoing criminal investigation or if making the disclosure immediately would be unsafe, unrealistic, or impracticable.. If passed, HB501 would effectively raise the caps on noneconomic damages from $250,000 to upwards of $350,000. In this context, personal protective equipment means specialized clothing or equipment worn by a person meant to protect against potential infectious contaminants in the environment, or to interfere with the transmission of particles originating from the nose or mouth. The bill would also require each law enforcement agency in Texas to adopt a detailed written policy regarding the use of force by peace officers employed by the agency. The amount paid, the amount that would have been paid, or the amount likely to be paid for the medical or health care services by a health benefit plan, workers compensation insurance, an employer-provided plan, Medicaid, Medicare, or another similar source available. Both SB438 & HB1992, if passed, seek to amend Section 151.3565(b) of Texas Tax Code in order to list face masks, disposable gloves, and disinfectant cleaning supplies as emergency preparation items in order to exempt them from sales and use taxes during Texas Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday (which begins at 12:01 a.m. April 25 and ends at midnight April 27). Each of the above bills seek to amend Chapter 2 of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure in order to add a section regarding law enforcement policies on discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle. The officer reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect the officer from unlawful deadly force by the driver of the vehicle by means of the vehicle; and. The bill also states that officers have a duty to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using force against a person suspected of committing an offense if: Finally, a peace officer who witnesses the use of excessive force by another peace officer must also promptly make a detailed report of the incident and deliver the report to their supervisor. Offering an incentive or inducement (other than a warranty issued by a repair person or facility) for the beneficiary or claimant to use a particular repair person or facility. Requiring that a vehicle be repaired with a part or product on the basis that its the least expensive part or product available. SCR20 seeks to have the 87th Texas Legislature recognize the original 1847 Colt Walker pistol as the official handgun of the State of Texas. SB130 seeks to adopt an agreement among the States to elect the President by national popular vote. Any bills in this list which have passed both the house and senate (or which have already been signed into law) have been updated below, and well continue to update this page as more bills are signed into law over the coming weeks. Address the topics of privacy, what constitute a private space, and when and under what circumstances a body camera can or should be turned off. It also states that no person may sell, offer for sale, or deliver any liquor before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. on any other day. HB934 seeks to modify Section 551.352 of the Texas Transportation Code in order to add additional restrictions on operating motor-assisted scooters within the state of Texas. Disregarding a repair operation or cost identified by an estimating system, including the systems procedural pages and any repair, process, or procedure recommended by the original equipment manufacturer of a part or product. If passed, both HB647 & HJR37 seek to allow counties and municipalities to hold a local vote on whether or not to allow gaming devices commonly known as eight-liners (or similar gaming devices) to be legally operated or prohibited within the county or municipality.