After 30 days of deliberations the 85th 1st Called Legislative Special Session sent the following bills to the Governor’s desk:
Sunset legislation
SB 20 & SB 60 (V. Taylor) Relating to avoiding the abolishment of certain agencies subject to the Texas Sunset Act and repeal of certain riders.
- Signed by the Governor on 8/11
- Effective Immediately
Property Tax Reform
?? SB 1 (Bettencourt), property tax reform.
- 6% rollback rate for larger taxing units, automatic election for large districts, election by petition for small districts
- Establishes notice requirements for large taxing units on rate and election information sent to taxpayers
- Would set small taxing unit to M&O at $25 million or less
- Contains a 3 year disaster designation
- The legislation was amended to include language from HB 32 including language that would reappraise homes after disaster
- Bill takes effect January 1, 2018
School Finance
??HB 21??
Health Care
HB 13 (Capriglione) Relating to reporting requirements by certain physicians and health care facilities for abortion complications; authorizing a civil penalty.
- Would require HHSC to develop a form and an electronic system for reporting abortion complications by January 1, 2018
- HHSC shall publish annual report that aggregates each abortion complication on a statewide basis
- Physicians and facilities that fail to comply will be subject to a civil penalty of $500 for each violation
- Three separate violations could be subject to disciplinary action or the revoking of license or other authority
- Sent to Governor 8/1
HB 214 (Smithee) Relating to health plan and health benefit plan coverage for elective abortion.
- Prohibits certain health insurance plans from providing coverage for an elective abortion
- Elective abortion defined in Health and Safety Code, sec. 245.002, other than an abortion performed due to a medical emergency as specified in sec. 171.002.
- Sent to the Governor 8/14
Elections
SB 5 (Hancock) Relating to the prevention of fraud in the conduct of an election; creating a criminal offense; increasing criminal penalties.
- Amends the Election Code to create the Class A misdemeanor offense of election fraud
- Signed by the Governor 8/11
- Earliest effective date 12/1/17
Local Government
SB 6 (Campbell) Relating to municipal annexation.
- The bill creates a tiered system defined by population for the purpose of regulating annexations
- Defines a Tier 1 and Tier 2 county or municipality
- Prevailing party may be awarded court costs and reasonable and necessary attorney’s fees
- Tier 1 county means a county that is not a county that contains a freshwater fisheries center operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
- Area within five miles of the boundary of a military base – annexation proposition shall allow the voters of area to choose between either annexation or providing the municipality with the authority to adopt or enforce an ordinance regulating the land use recommended by the most recent joint land use study
- Sent to the Governor 8/14
