Bill Analysis

BILL NAME SESSION ANALYSIS
SB 1738 86(R) - 2019 SB 1738 would require a metropolitan rapid transit authority in the bill author's district to "establish an education and training program on interacting with and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for employees of the authority who operate vehicles used to provide public transportation services for the authority."Read More
SB 653 86(R) - 2019 SB 653 would outlaw red light cameras or any other photographic traffic signal enforcement systems from being implemented or operated by a local authority. The bill would also prohibit any civil or criminal charges or citations brought from evidence from a photographic traffic signal enforcement system.  Read More
HB 3082 86(R) - 2019 HB 3082 would change the requisite intent for operating an unmanned aircraft over a correctional facility, detention facility, or critical infrastructure facility from intentionally or knowingly committing that conduct, to committing that conduct with criminal negligence. Under the Texas Penal Code, a person acts with criminal negligence when he or she ought to be aware of a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the circumstances exist...Read More
SB 1553 86(R) - 2019 SB 1553 would allow counties to declare slower speed limits of 20 miles per hour on county roads or highway located within 500 feet of an elementary, secondary, open-enrollment charter school, or a college/university. The bill would additionally allow the schools to request annual public hearings to consider speed limits on highways in the county or municipality near the school and to request an engineering and traffic investigation...Read More
SB 2052 86(R) - 2019 A general distinguishing number (GDN) is the basic dealer license that allows a person to buy, sell or exchange the type of used vehicle for which the GDN is issued.SB 2052 would expand to any motor vehicle dealer the requirement that a dealer obtain a GDN for a consignment location, unless the consignment location is a wholesale motor vehicle auction. Currently, this requirement only applies to a dealer who consigns for sale more than five...Read More
SB 297 86(R) - 2019 SB 297 would allow the City of Martindale to continue counting revenue generated by utility companies within the municipality as municipal revenue until 2031 (extended from 2021). This extends a workaround that helps the city defer payment of certain debts to the state. This bill addresses a complex issue that is apparently unique to the Martindale. For detailed background, see the bill author's statement of purpose. Read More
HB 2625 86(R) - 2019 HB 2625 creates a new "mass fraudulent use or possession of credit card or debit card information" offense. A person would commit an offense if, with intent to harm or defraud another, the person obtains, possesses, transfers, or uses five or more counterfeit credit cards or debit cards, the numbers and expiration dates of five or more credit or debit cards without the consent of the account holder, or stores the data imprint of five or...Read More
SB 365 86(R) - 2019 SB 365 would allow the Capital Metro rapid transit authority in Austin to extend their bond terms to 15 years.    Read More
HB 101 86(R) - 2019 HB 101 would create the offense of "False Caller Identification Information Display." The offense would be a misdemeanor and the elements would be: (1) the intent to defraud, harass, or cause harm, (2) making a call or engaging in any other conduct using any type of technology, (3) that results in the display on another person’s telecommunications device of data that misrepresents the actor's identity or telephone number.Read More
HB 2709 86(R) - 2019 HB 2709 would abolish a statutory requirement preventing the University of Texas Tech from selling any part of its original main campus in Lubbock without approval from the legislature. Read More
HB 37 86(R) - 2019 HB 37 would make the offense of mail theft a Class A misdemeanor for mail stolen from less than 10 addressees, a state jail felony for between 10-30 addressees, or a felony of the third degree from over 30 addressees.An offense would be committed "if the person appropriates mail without the effective consent of the addressee and with the intent to deprive that addressee of the mail." If the stolen mail contained an item of identifying information...Read More
HB 3165 86(R) - 2019 HB 3165 would allow the Lone Star College System District to establish an occupational and life skills associate degree program at each junior college in the district.Read More
HB 277 86(R) - 2019 HB 277 would require the common online application for post-secondary institutions to include a link to comparative gainful employment data. This would include data regarding the benefits of different types of degrees, career opportunities, and comparative data between different universities. This data would be compiled by a board in coordination with the Texas Workforce Commission. Read More
HB 3147 86(R) - 2019 HB 3147 would authorize an independent third-party organization to develop and implement a cancer clinical trial participation program to provide reimbursement to an individual who participates in the program for ancillary costs associated with participation in the trial. The reimbursement would be required to comply with applicable federal and state laws, and be reviewed by the institutional review board associated with the cancer clinical...Read More
HB 2786 86(R) - 2019 HB 2786 would require an application for renewal of a day-care center, family home, or group day-care home license to include a disclosure of the total number of employees who left employment with the license holder during the preceding calendar year. Read More
HB 2726 86(R) - 2019 HB 2726 would amend the Health and Safety Code to allow a person who submits an application for a permit amendment under the Texas Clean Air Act to begin work related to the permit after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has issued a draft permit including the amendment. Construction would be allowed at the individual’s own risk. A person may not begin under a draft permit if the project is a concrete batch plant located...Read More
HB 1631 86(R) - 2019 HB 1631 would prohibit red light cameras or any other photographic traffic signal enforcement systems from being implemented or operated by a local authority.  The bill would also prohibit a local authority from issuing a civil or criminal charge or citation for an offense or violation based on a recorded image produced by a photographic traffic signal enforcement system.A local government would be allowed to continue to operate its...Read More
HB 1343 86(R) - 2019 HB 1343 would expand the conduct that constitutes the offense of "improper contact" with a victim. This bill would provide that a person commits an offense if the person, while confined in a correctional facility after being charged with or convicted of certain sex-related crimes, contacts a victim or member of the victim's family, and the victim or victim's family member has not provided written consent. Read More
HB 721 86(R) - 2019 HB 721 would amend the current Water Code to require Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct feasibility studies of aquifer storage and recovery projects. The results of the projects would be reported to regional water planning groups and require collaboration with local river authorities. Additionally, HB 721 would require TWDB to conduct a statewide survey to identify the suitability of various aquifers for use.Read More
HB 531 86(R) - 2019 HB 531 would amend statutes of the Health and Safety Code as well as the Occupations Code to restrict the destruction of sexual assault medical records until 20 years after the record was created.Read More