| January 2007 | |
Committees push for shield, sunshine bills in 80th LegislatureAUSTIN — The wheels already are churning even though the 80th Legislature just opened Jan. 9. The Texas Press Association / Texas Daily Newspaper Association Legislative Advisory Committee again is geared up this session to track important sunshine issues and fight attempts to limit the public’s right to know. (LAC Bill Watch) Fred Hartman of Hartman Newspapers in Rosenberg is serving as the new LAC chairman this session replacing Donnis Baggett of The Bryan Eagle who chaired the LAC three consecutive sessions. Along with open government and public notice issues, key topics this session will include a journalists’ shield bill and business tax revamping, which includes efforts to make sure advertising is part of the cost of goods sold. The LAC also will seek a change in legislation passed last session that raised the minimum age of newspapers “hawkers” to 18. The LAC’s primary role is to track legislation and assign priorities to key bills affecting the newspaper industry and open government. LAC members represent newspapers around the state and hold periodic meetings in Austin to shape the industry’s legislative goals. “Like many other industries, much of what we do is play defense, in our case making sure hard-fought gains through the Texas Public Information Act are not lost through indifference or a lack of awareness,” Hartman said in the 2007 Legislative Handbook. “But Texas newspapers are also fighting for the public, making sure that our right to know as citizens is preserved and protected.” Last session the LAC looked at 155 bills that affected the newspaper industry in one way or another. Leaders testified or filed written positions on 33 bills, evenly divided between for and against, and worked with authors to improve the language of at least 10 bills and ended up not needing to take further action on those. As of Jan. 4, the LAC already is tracking 16 bills. The Bill Watch is updated regularly and is the best source for pending legislation that affects the public’s right to know and the newspaper industry. TPA also this session has again formed the Legislative Grassroots Committee to mobilize member newspapers to contact their legislators when crucial issues arise during the session. The committee is chaired by Terry Collier of the Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post. Key 80th Legislature dates: Monday, November 13, 2006 · Prefiling of legislation for the 80th Legislature began Tuesday, January 9, 2007 (1st day) · 80th Legislature convened at noon Friday, March 9, 2007 (60th day) · Deadline for filing bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that have been declared an emergency by the governor Monday, May 28, 2007 (140th day) · Last day of 80th Regular Session; corrections only in house and senate Sunday, June 17, 2007 (20th day following final adjournment) · Last day governor can sign or veto bills passed during the previous legislative session Monday, August 27, 2007 (91st day following final adjournment) · Date that bills without specific effective dates (that could not be effective immediately) become law — LAC Bill Watch Online: |
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