REP. LEMAN: 87TH LEGISLATURE A ‘TREMENDOUS SUCCESS’
State Representative Ben Leman calls the 87th Legislature a “tremendous success.”
Leman in a release said many critical issues were addressed in this legislative session, which was met with challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm Uri. From 2nd Amendment rights to new laws for businesses, Leman said legislators “worked tirelessly to pass meaningful legislation that would impact all Texans on all different levels.”
Leman pointed to the following as some of the most notable changes made in law this session:
Passed a Balanced State Budget - SB 1
Protecting the Sanctity of Life
- Bans abortions after the first sign of when a heartbeat is detected - SB 8
- Trigger bill to abolish abortions in Texas should Roe v. Wade be overturned - HB 1280
Expanding 2nd Amendment Rights
- "Constitutional Carry" (allows anyone over 21 who is legally able to possess a firearm in Texas to openly carry a handgun without a permit) - HB 1927
- Protect citizens from restrictive federal firearm regulations - HB 2622
- Grant a person the right to transport a firearm across an access easement - HB 4346
- Prohibit hotels from banning firearms to occupants who have a license - SB 20
- Designate the Colt Walker handgun as the Official Handgun of Texas - SCR 20
Reforming Pandemic Emergency Powers and Government Overreach
- Designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation - SB 25
- Prohibit vaccine passports in Texas - SB 968
Protecting the Integrity of Elections
- Increase the penalties for conducting fraudulent activity in elections - HB 574
- Change the process of removing deceased persons from voter rolls more efficiently - HB 1264
Eminent Domain Reform - Enhancing Landowner Protections
- Omnibus eminent domain reform bill - HB 2730
- Survey protections against pipeline companies using eminent domain - HB 4107
- Increase disclosure of condemner appraisals - SB 721
- Eliminate rollback tax penalties for landowners due to condemnation - SB 725
- Increase ability for landowners to repurchase the property if actual progress is not established by an entity that uses eminent domain - SB 726
Anti-Human Trafficking - Fighting Prostitution In Texas - HB 1005
Protecting Religious Freedom - SJR 27
Back the Blue/Anti-Defunding the Police
- Prohibit major municipalities in Texas from defunding the police - HB 1900
- Increase the penalty for obstructing an emergency vehicle - HB 9
- Restrict certain counties from defunding the police - SB 23
Banning Homeless Encampments in Certain Cities - HB 1925
Establishes COVID Liability Protections - SB 6
Permanently Expanding Tele-Healthcare in Texas- HB 4
Expanding High-Speed Broadband Internet - HB 5
Limiting Critical Race Theory from being Taught in Schools - HB 3979
ERCOT/Electric Grid Reliability
- Update the governing functions of the PUC and ERCOT - SB 2
- Revise certain CCN's and require annual assessments - SB 1281
- Increase generation by transmission and distribution utilities during a potential blackout - HB 2483
- Provide securitization of costs associated with the Winter Storm - SB 1580
Pro-Business Legislation
- Protect businesses from unemployment rate hikes - HB 7
- Protect small businesses by not taxing them for receiving Paycheck Protection Program loans - HB 1195
- Allow restaurants to sell alcohol-to-go - HB 1024
- Limit certain liability for commercial fleet vehicles - HB 19
- Prohibit unnecessary regulations by local entities - SB 14
Maintained Increased Education Funding - SB 1
Many of these bills do not read like they are from the “ party of less government”. In fact, just the opposite. The state should take care of business which concerns the state, not counties or cities. It no longer represents what it once stood for.
“Designate the Colt Walker handgun as the Official Handgun of Texas” – SCR 20 was a nearly 3-month legislative item that will effectively not benefit anyone in the state. It would be like designating the Ford Edsel to be the state’s favorite vehicle. Fewer than 1200 Walker revolvers were produced for five Companies (A-E), with almost 240 exploding in use. They were delivered in the midsummer of 1847, and the war ended in early February of 1848. Walker was killed in early October of 1847 by a Mexican lance (lance-control legislation might be needed…), while carrying two of the guns. The Wadsworth Atheneum has one on display.
It also seems rather strange that a Union company should be given so much acclaim, when they produced thousands upon thousands of revolvers that were used against the Confederacy, of which Texas was, as we’re frequently reminded, a part. Maybe the sponsors of this legislation should have read about the Dance Brothers shop over in Anderson which produced revolvers for the Confederacy.
How much time does insignificant proclamations and legislative action like this consume, instead of devising tougher laws and penalties for those who are out committing crimes and injuring innocent persons? Every Monday, KWHI reports a list of arrests that were made over the weekend, and if one follows those cases, few defendants are given any substantial punishment for their actions. Maybe this is what happens when everybody has rights–some will get [to do] what they want through new laws, and others won’t be required to pay for their crimes, by the inactivity/misactivity of legislators who refuse to introduce crime-curtailing measures, but pander to their own select group of supporters and interests.