TexasCHLforum.com

Police across state today, incl. @CLEAT, Dallas Police Assoc and @HPOUTX speaking out against Huffines #opencarry amendment today #txlege

Several Republicans said that after the initial slowdown, Speaker Joe Straus intervened in the early afternoon, to get things moving. There were conflicting accounts, though, of precisely how Straus, a San Antonio Republican, did so.

House Republican Caucus Chairman Tan Parker of Flower Mound said that in conversations with individual Democrats, “the speaker was firm that he would use everything,” meaning parliamentary “nuclear options,” to shut down debate and force votes.

Straus, though, was coy.

“I didn’t talk to Democrats,” Straus told a reporter. “But I intend to get through this,” he added, referring to the House’s agenda.

One consideration may have been that the campus carry bill is part of a grand bargain on tax cuts, border security, guns and ethics. The deal may allow lawmakers to finish their work Monday, as scheduled, instead of having a special session.

As passed by the Senate, the campus carry measure would allow the licensed concealed carrying of handguns in most public university buildings. There were rumblings the House might restore a campus-by-campus opt-in provision, as it did two years ago, or let the measure die when the clock struck midnight.

Whether Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and his GOP allies in the Senate would consider that a breach of the grand bargain remained unclear.

Another House amendment would mandate private universities also implement the legislation

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, who tried to kill the bill through a number of procedural maneuvers, said he believes there was still a good chance to defeat the legislation.

"This is not over 'til it's over. The notion that we could take an entire day and fight campus carry until 11:35, 11:40 at night, it's a significant accomplishment, to know there are negotiated changes to make this proposition much more difficult to become a legislative reality," Martinez Fischer said.

The bill now heads back to the Senate, which is not expected to agree with the changes made to its legislation. This would push the bill to a conference committee to iron out the chambers' differences, where opponents of the legislation expect there could be deadlock.

If a majority of the conference committee members from both chambers cannot come to an agreement on the bill, it will not become law.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:Okay, now I can say a little more about the Rep. Zerwas amendment. Even with the Amendment, it decriminalizes campus-carry. While it is a version of opt-out, it does require a 2/3 vote of the Board of Regents and it cannot be the entire campus. I can't get into why at this point.

Now to the Senate, after 3rd reading, where the addition of private institutions is a problem.

Chas.

TexasJohnBoy wrote:They used a rule where 25 members can vote/sign/something and end all debate and amendments and force a vote immediately.

TexasJohnBoy wrote:Changes effective date to 9/1/2016? http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/84 ... 011H21.PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Vol Texan wrote:Let's not join the ranks of OCT. It won't do our cause any good.

juno106 wrote:It looks like the primaries and general election are the voter's only recourse...

Ruark wrote:I just hope 910 survives this mess, but jeez, it looks like all they'd have to do is load it up with 500 amendments and sink it. I can't believe that's allowed.

101 amendments to campus carry