Self Storage Bill making newspaper notice optional. Includes vague language ("commercially reasonable manner") that would allow notice to be circumvented entirely.
Companion is SB 1897 by Birdwell
3/20: committee action pending, Tom Morin, Bill Patterson, Emily Cates, Terry Gandy testified in opposition.
Increases penalty for images/video distributed with intent to alter an election outcome
Report must list of all legislation for which the registrant communicated directly with a member of the legislative branch
Pro-transparency section, but for the most part this will be seen as an anti-law enforcement bill. We shouldn't be associated with it. Let's monitor.
We oppose increases in the amount of a contract that could be let without bidding. This raises from $300,000 to $1 million for highway improvement. However, the old threshold of $300k won't repair a road these days. Bill by Sen. Nichols, is one of our staunchest supporters and maybe the sponsor of an important notice bill for us.
Searchable Sortable Bill. Identical to SB 965 by Johnson. Similar to SB 45 by Zaffirini.
The Boeing Fix, part 2. In 2021 HB 943 was enacted to restore information in government contracts that was lost in a 2015 Supreme Court ruling. Despite the new law, information is still being withheld through loopholes. SB 680 seeks to close the loopholes. Companion is SB 680.
Greatly reduces the info available in the personnel file of a law enforcement officer or firefighter. We may move this to #1.
3/21: Met w/ legislative aide Brenda Simon who said she would pass our concerns on to Leg. Director (Jordon).
Kolkhorst is carrying Todd Hunter's oyster bed bill, except that it ELIMINATES a newspaper notice in favor of a government website.
We met with Hunter to correct the notice problem. Senate and House bills will have committee substitutes with corrected language. Hunter's bill is HB 2475.
3/22/23: Senate passed the corrected bill (restoring public notice in newspaper).
A Todd Hunter bill that ELIMINATES a newspaper notice in favor of placing a news release on a governmental agency’s website. Need to take up the issue with him - could be a drafting mistake. Companion is SB 1032 by Kolkhorst. Talk to her after Hunter.
2/28: Per Hunter’s suggestion Donnis spoke with David Eichler with TPWD and he’s fine with a committee sub on HB 2475 maintaining the existing newspaper notice requirement AND the press release they wanted to add on oyster bed closures. Eichler is going to notify Kolkhorst’s office. We will continue to monitor.