AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Lawmakers in Austin are pushing last minute legislation as the regular session of the 87th state legislature wraps up at the end of this month.
“There’s still time remaining for the House and Senate to work together to get important conservative legislation to my desk,” said Governor Abbott on Wednesday. “Members in both chambers need to be spending every minute of every day to accomplish that mission.”
The last several weeks of the session have seen a number of bills make it through both chambers. Some legislation has already been signed by the Governor.
The Governor’s signature on the so-called ‘heartbeat bill’ aligned Texas with with more than a dozen other states that have similar legislation. The measure bans abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which the bill states can be as six weeks into a pregnancy. Federal courts have mostly blocked the measures from taking effect, but Texas’ new law differs from other states in its enforcement. The law will allow abortion providers to be sued if they violate it.
“The Texas Heartbeat law is very simple, if a heartbeat is detected, the baby must be protected,” said Jonathan Saenz, president and attorney for Texas Values. “We are proud that Texas, Gov. Abbott, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are leading the way with the strongest heartbeat law in the country.”
Another high profile piece of legislation that made its way through the legislature in recent days is the permitless carry bill, that will do away with the state’s requirement for a license to carry a gun.
The measure commonly known as ‘constitutional carry’ cleared its last hurdle on Monday as both chambers approved agreed changes.
“When you have prosecutors not prosecuting serious crimes, or when you have law enforcement that is not supported,” explained Senator Charles Schwertner with raised the bill up in the Senate. “I believe it is appropriate that individuals who feel it is necessary to have a handgun on them for self defense should not have the impediment of having to get a license.”
Abbott is expected to sign permitless carry into law.
A law with local significance also advanced in the legislature this week. Bo’s Law now has full approval by the House and Senate. The bill was authored by State Representative Carl Sherman after Botham Jean was shot and killed when a former Dallas Police Officer mistook his apartment for her own.
Sherman said the bill passed with bi-partisan support which to him signifies unity.
With just a few days left this session, the fate of several bills remains up in the air. On Wednesday, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick asked for a special legislative to hear bills that involve transgender athletes, tax payer funded lobbying, and social media censorship.
“The Texas House killed these conservative bills that majority of Texans in both parties support,” Patrick insisted.
Some are trying to end the game before the time clock has run out.
There’s still time remaining for the House & Senate to work together to get important conservative legislation to my desk.
Both chambers need to be spending every minute of every day to accomplish that mission.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 26, 2021
Abbott has already called a special session for later this year to address the budget and allocating COVID-19 relief funds.
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