About 7,000 bills have been filed since Nov. 14 for consideration during the regular session of the 85th Texas Legislature, which gets underway Jan. 10. Looming large on the 2017 agenda are bills relating to immigration, with some specifically aimed at ending so-called sanctuary cities. In a sanctuary city, municipal police do not enforce federal immigration laws.
Other legislative proposals seek to screen welfare recipients for drug use. Also, legislation reigning in lawsuits against insurance companies after hailstorms or windstorms has been deemed a priority by the Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.
As usual, there will be a legislation directed at a variety of social hot-button issues such as abortion, women’s health and civil rights for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities. Bills have been introduced to prohibit abortions of fetuses with severe abnormalities after 20 weeks of pregnancy, to require the burial or cremation of aborted fetuses and to prohibit abortion insurance coverage. Similarly, legislative effort is expected to pass laws that would require people to use public restrooms based on the gender listed on their birth certificate.
One area where bipartisan cooperation can be expected is in protecting students from inappropriate relationships with teachers and other educators. Proposed legislation will expand the protection of students, increase investigatory budgets and stiffen penalties for not reporting incidents.
Cyberbullying legislation also has bi-partisan support. An expansive bill popularly known as “David’s Law” is expected to give school districts and law enforcement a larger role and increased ability to investigate and prevent online bullies.
Parental rights are also on the agenda as at least one bill has been introduced to allow parents greater freedom in obtaining exemptions from the state’s immunization requirements. Various initiatives have been filed to regulate transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft. A statewide law would preempt local ordinances that have caused some ride-hailing companies to leave communities like Corpus Christi and Austin.
Along with Galveston and Midland, these cities have passed ordinances requiring all drivers for hire undergo criminal background checks. Uber and Lyft said the regulation was too restrictive and won’t do business with cities that require the background checks.
Only a small number of the thousands of bills filed will ever make it out of committee, pass through both legislative chambers to be signed by the governor and become law. It’s an especially rigorous process in a state legislature that meets only five months every two years.
For a look at what local State Rep. Todd Hunter has planned for this session, see related story.
Andrew Greenwell is a lawyer with a civil trial and appellate practice with a focus on commercial litigation. He was listed as a Super Lawyer in 2011-12 and 2014-15 and a Best Lawyer since 2005.