The session will end June 2, although special sessions can still be called. Gov. Greg Abbott has until June 22 to sign or veto all bills. Check out some of the bills filed by Houston-area lawmakers this legislative session.
1. Texas House passes bill aimed at protecting infrastructure as weather events increase
On May 16, the Texas House passed House Bill 871—by state representatives Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, Matt Morgan, R-Richmond and Gary Gates, R-Richmond—aimed at updating the state’s municipal residential and commercial building codes to build safer and more durable structures.
The bill will need to be approved by the Senate before heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to be signed.
“This is especially important as our state continues to experience increasingly severe weather. I am committed to advocating for policies that protect our communities and promote smart, forward-thinking infrastructure solutions," State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, said.
2. Bill on improved senior facility safety pending in Senate committee
A bill targeting better emergency preparedness in senior living facilities has made recent progress in the state senate’s Health & Human Services committee, but has yet to go before the House of Representatives.
Filed by Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, Senate Bill 481 was left pending in committee May 7. The bill calls for nursing and assisted living facilities to create and annually update emergency response plans, according to the filing. The bill also adds safety requirements such as protocol for emergency evacuations.
If passed, Senate Bill 481 would require senior living facilities to:
- Keep facilities at 71-81 degrees Fahrenheit
- Add emergency generators and carbon monoxide alarms
- Notify residents’ families during emergencies
A bill prohibiting organizations from offering services for people experiencing homelessness within 1,500 feet of a public school or higher education institute was sent to the Texas’ House of Representatives for consideration, according to the legislature’s website.
A House committee report on Senate Bill 2623—filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe—was sent to the House’s calendar May 21, according to the Texas Legislature Online. If adopted, the committee’s recommendations would expand the restrictions so that organizations cannot offer services for homeless individuals near parks either.
Under the bill, organizations in violation of SB 2623 would be given 30 days to correct their operations, according to the filing. A Safe Schools and Neighborhoods Task Force made up of 11 governor-appointed members would be created and charged with crafting requirements for providers to obtain a license to offer services.
In a May 20 email, John Basel, the social services director for nonprofit Hope Center Houston, expressed concern that SB 2623 could shut down organizations that help people experiencing homelessness.
“I ask the legislature that a bill be crafted that addresses the concerns of the legislature without punishing the hundreds of agencies across the state that have never had any issues with nearby schools or neighborhoods,” Basel said.
According to the filing, the bill makes exceptions for organizations that:
- Are offering emergency services during a declared disaster
- Can demonstrate their services do not risk school safety
- Are given permission by a higher education institute to offer services near that institute
4. Bill targeting pet breeders dies in Texas House
Two bills which would have prevented the sale of animals from pet breeders in Texas died in the House and Senate after being initially revived in late April. Senate Bill 1652 and House Bill 3458 were shot down in the House on May 13, which would have required animal shops to sell dogs and cats from local rescue centers instead of independent breeders.
“Texans deserve the right to choose where they get a pet—whether that’s from a shelter, a licensed breeder, or a trusted business. This bill limits those options and hurts people looking for the right fit for their family,” said Ashley Brinkman, director of government affairs for the Pet Advocacy Network.
Senate Bill 2722 by State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, is nearing full passage by the Texas Legislature as it was set to go before a final vote in the House in May. The bill passed the Senate in April and was recommended for full approval by the House Committee on Transportation on May 13.
