In January, Governor Perry announced the following as emergency items for the 82nd Legislative Session: voter ID, sanctuary cities, sonograms for women getting abortions, a federal balanced budget amendment, and eminent domain protection. This meant that lawmakers could vote on these priority issues in the initial 60 days of session, when otherwise they would be barred from passing legislation. With fewer than three and a half weeks left in the regular session the bills are on the move.
Voter ID
SB 14 – Fraser/Harless – Relating to requirements to vote, including presenting proof of identification. The conferees were appointed for both the House and Senate and a conference committee report was filed on May 4.
Sanctuary Cities
HB 12 – Solomons – Relating to the enforcement of state and federal laws governing immigration by certain governmental entities. As noted above, HB 12 has been put on the House Calendar for May 6. The filing deadline for amendments to HB 12 was on May 5. A total of 59 amendments were pre-filed.
Sonogram bill
HB 15 Miller/Patrick – Relating to providing a sonogram before an abortion. HB 15 by Representative Sid Miller, relating to providing a sonogram before an abortion, passed the Senate as substituted and amended on May 3 with 21 ayes and 10 nays. On May 5, the bill was laid out as passed by the Senate for consideration in the House and passed with 94 ayes and 41 nays. The bill is now on its way to the governor’s desk.
Federal balanced budget amendment
HCR 18 – Creighton – affirming that the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas urge the Congress of the United States to propose and submit to the states an amendment to the United States Constitution providing for a federal balanced budget. HCR 18 has passed out of the Senate and was sent over to the House where on May 3 it was referred to House Committee on State Affairs.
Eminent Domain
SB 18 – Estes/ Geren – Relating to the use of eminent domain authority. The conferees were appointed for both the House and Senate and a conference committee report was filed on May 2 and the House adopted the report on May 5.
