2023 Legislative Session

[Papa_Tiger]

Early filing has started for the 2023-24 legislative session in Texas!

Yesterday there were 653 bills pre-filed in the House (Bills 1-20 are reserved for House high priority bills) and 198 filed in the Senate (Bills 1-30 are the reserved for the Lieutenant Governor's high priority items).

Of those:
37 House Bills and 10 Senate bills were filed with the category "Weapons", most of which mirror gun control talking points on:

• Red Flag Laws
• Large Capacity Magazines
• Universal Background Checks
• Gun Show Loopholes

Two particularly interesting bills are:
HB 220 - Goodwin - Creates a requirement to report suspended LTCs, an online searchable database thereof and criminal penalties for selling a firearm to a person with a suspended LTC
HB 244 - Bernal - Restricts the open carry of long-arms in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, Collin, HIdalgo, and El Paso counties.

There were several favorable bills filed as well including:
HB 175 - Schaefer - Records expungement for unlawful carry of a weapon if placed on deferred adjudication community supervision
HB 192 - Schaefer - Clarifying and narrowing "Premises of a court or offices utilized by the court" to the courtroom, jury room, judge's chambers, or the office of a member of the judge's staff. This limits the abuse of calling the entire county courthouse complex off limits (including tax offices, etc.) because the "office is utilized by the court".
HB 356 - Bell, Cecil - Limiting the liability of businesses that allow concealed handguns on the business premises (only applies to 30.06 - probably a re-file from previous sessions prior to the advent of open and "constitutional" carry laws.
HB 636 - Patterson - Allows election judges to carry in a polling place while conducting their election related duties

This will be an interesting legislative session, particularly after Uvalde.

[Rafe]

Also, from the NRA-ILA:

House Bill 22, House Bill 106, House Bill 284 & House Bill 324 — requiring the reporting of lawful sales of certain firearms and magazines to state and/or local law enforcement.

House Bill 76 — criminalizing the failure of a victim of gun theft to report having his or her firearms stolen.

House Bill 88 & House Bill 447 — additional taxes on the sale of firearms and/or ammunition and firearm accessories.

House Bill 197 — banning the sale or transfer and possession of standard capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

House Bill 179, House Bill 216 & House Bill 244 — restricting long gun open carry, with limited exceptions.

House Bill 298 — establishes a 3-day waiting period for firearm sales.

Senate Bill 32 — banning the sale or possession of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms.

There's always an early rush for leftist political animals to file these sorts of things in front of upcoming legislative sessions, but the complete lack of "The Red Tsunami" in the midterms has probably emboldened more than usual. But, yes...2023 will be an interesting legislative session.

[Beiruty]

Do we have the 2/3 of the Texas Senate?

[RoyGBiv]

Do we have the 2/3 of the Texas Senate?

No. Short by 2...

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/09 ... n-results/

In the House, the GOP grew its ranks by one — giving them an 86-to-64 advantage in the 150-member chamber for the 2023 legislative session. The Senate has 31 members, and Republicans previously outnumbered Democrats 18 to 13. The GOP will hold at least 19 seats next session. Democrats will hold at least 11, though they are leading in one Senate race that is still too close to call.

[powerboatr]

Also, from the NRA-ILA:

House Bill 22, House Bill 106, House Bill 284 & House Bill 324 — requiring the reporting of lawful sales of certain firearms and magazines to state and/or local law enforcement.

House Bill 76 — criminalizing the failure of a victim of gun theft to report having his or her firearms stolen.

House Bill 88 & House Bill 447 — additional taxes on the sale of firearms and/or ammunition and firearm accessories.

House Bill 197 — banning the sale or transfer and possession of standard capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

House Bill 179, House Bill 216 & House Bill 244 — restricting long gun open carry, with limited exceptions.

House Bill 298 — establishes a 3-day waiting period for firearm sales.

Senate Bill 32 — banning the sale or possession of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms.

There's always an early rush for leftist political animals to file these sorts of things in front of upcoming legislative sessions, but the complete lack of "The Red Tsunami" in the midterms has probably emboldened more than usual. But, yes...2023 will be an interesting legislative session.

thanks
that looks like a CA list of for agenda... scary stuff

[Papa_Tiger]

Do we have the 2/3 of the Texas Senate?

No. Short by 2...

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/09 ... n-results/

In the House, the GOP grew its ranks by one — giving them an 86-to-64 advantage in the 150-member chamber for the 2023 legislative session. The Senate has 31 members, and Republicans previously outnumbered Democrats 18 to 13. The GOP will hold at least 19 seats next session. Democrats will hold at least 11, though they are leading in one Senate race that is still too close to call.

A motion to suspend the regular order of business and take up a particular bill only requires a five-ninths majority.

See Senate Rule 5.13. This was changed from 2/3 to 3/5ths in 2015 and again from 3/5ths to 5/9ths in 2021. Source

I would not particularly be surprised to see it go back up to 3/5ths again this year, but could also understand letting it stay where it is since the bar has already been lowered.

[AF-Odin]

Most of those bills on the liberal wishlist will never be heard by committee and the ones that are will not make it out with the current make-up of both houses in Texas.

That said, time to continue to support NRA and TSRA. Both have full-time legislative reps in the Austin area

[LDB415]

Are we sure? Even when the Republocrat speaker appoints democrat cronies to chair committees?

[chasfm11]

Most of those bills on the Grassroots wishlist will never be heard by committee and the ones that are will not make it out with the current make-up of both houses in Texas. The Republican Party of Texas (RPT) puts together a list of priorities and fall victim to the same "never make it to the floor" strategy so that the Republican representatives don't have to be on record as voting against them.

Fixed it for you.

FYI there is a big storm brewing. Tony Tinderholt is trying to force the vote for Phelan for Speaker to the floor so that all of the Democrats who support him will be tallied along with the Republicans. The concept from the last session was that only the Republican caucus, because they are the majority, would vote for Speaker. Phelan went to them and told them that he had enough votes between the turn-coat GOP and Democrats to elect him. Phelan and Strauss have had the long standing Quid Pro Quo that favors the Democrats.


That said, time to continue to support NRA and TSRA. Both have full-time legislative reps in the Austin area

[LDB415]

I just got the link to this today.

https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas- ... un-rights/

[K.Mooneyham]

I hope this post will grow. Those of us out in "the sticks" don't always get much news about pending legislation.

[chasfm11]

I hope this post will grow. Those of us out in "the sticks" don't always get much news about pending legislation.

I have connections with several people on daily battle front. One is a very active Republican State Executive Committee representative from my area who is also a personal friend. She published an almost daily newsletter with everything she knew during the last session.

But there is no transparency in the way that the Texas House works. All of the deals are made behind closed doors. That means that, with few exceptions, there is nothing to report until it what the French call fait accompi. To me, there is no difference between Dade Phelon's Texas House and Nancy Pelosi's Federal House. Things have to get passed before we find out what was in them.

I'll try to share everything that I get in the way of breaking news from my SREC member. Don't expect it to be a lot of information in advance. Phelon knows that with advance knowledge even on short notice, the opponents will show up at the capital. I'm working with several groups now who are taking buses from different counties for January 12 and again on the 26. No way does Phelon like or want that. As long as he is in control. we are going to be treated like mushrooms. I hope that I don't have to explain that.

[Papa_Tiger]

Representative Anchia is at it again. This morning I was notified of a flood of House Bills filed with the "Weapons" subject.

HB2275 - Raises the age to carry a location restricted Knife to 21, Makes it illegal to sell any weapon to someone under the age of 21, creates an "Assault Weapon definition" and makes it illegal to carry one.
HB2276 - Re-defines a gun show and requires background checks
HB2277 - Makes purchasing a firearm with the intent to use it criminally a crime
HB2278 - Makes Fines for Signs applicable only to government locations owned or leased and OCCUPIED by a governmental agency.
HB2279 - Expands the definition of a school to included the grounds, campus, and locations where school sponsored activities are regularly conducted, expands the locations off limits by statute and redefines educational institution, post-secondary educational institution, and amusement park.
HB2280 - Allows public colleges to opt out of campus carry
HB2281 - Allows cities with populations >500K to vote to outlaw open carry.

All of these are terrible bills and need to be soundly defeated this legislative session.

[Ruark]

But there is no transparency in the way that the Texas House works. All of the deals are made behind closed doors.

Yep. 99% of legislation is decided in committees, backyard barbecues and over the lunch table in the Capitol Cafeteria. The testimonies and speeches on the floor - the stuff we see on our "live broadcasts" - is little more than a mandatory formality. That's why in the background, you see legislators standing around chatting, talking on their phones, etc., completely ignoring the speaker: the decisions have already been made.

[Rafe]

Rafael Anchia is a dolt. And BTW, can we say "term limits"? He's now serving his 10th term; prior to that he served two terms as a trustee for Dallas ISD and, BTW, was a Barack Obama appointee to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.

For evidence, consider this sterling bill proposal:

HB2277 - Makes purchasing a firearm with the intent to use it criminally a crime

Say what? Tom Cruise is going, "Didn't I already make that movie?"