HB558 seeks to amend Section 724.012 of the Texas Transportation Code to state that a peace officer shall require the taking of a specimen of the persons blood if: Now passed, this law will take effect on 09/01/2021. Emphasize the use of conflict de-escalation techniques; and. If passed, these bills would establish rules and regulations regarding qualifying patients, a patient registry system, cannabis testing facilities, licensure of dispensing organizations, allowable amounts, taxes, fees, and more. The bill would amend Chapter 1952 of the Texas Insurance Code to (among other things) restrict insurers and adjusters from: HB1119 seeks to amend Chapter 601 of the Texas Transportation Code to establish the Texas Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Program, which would use automatic license plate reader systems to help law enforcement agencies identify uninsured motor vehicles. Any billboards erected on cemetery property under a contract or lease entered into before the effective date of this Act would have to be dismantled or removed from the cemetery on the expiration date of the existing contract or lease between the cemetery organization and the billboard owner or lessee. HJR133 & SJR49 both propose a constitutional amendment which would authorize and regulate casino gaming at a limited number of destination resorts and facilities licensed by the (yet-to-be-created) Texas Gaming Commission, as well as authorize sports wagering in the state. HB832, if passed, would require officers to intervene if the use of force by another peace officer violates state or federal law, puts any person at risk of bodily injury (unless necessary to avoid imminent harm to a peace officer or other person), or is not required to apprehend or complete the apprehension of a suspect. If passed, fees for event tickets made available for sale on a ticket website must be posted on the website in a location easily accessible by ticket purchasers or potential ticket purchasers. The amount actually paid for the medical or health care services. This would include the installation of automatic license plate reader systems on appropriate infrastructure owned by this state or a political subdivision of this state (including traffic signals, highway signs, bridges, and overpasses). Both HB4519 & SB2003, if passed, also seek to amend Section 2154.202(g) of the Texas Occupations Code in order to permit fireworks sales to the public beginning June 14 and ending at midnight on June 19 (Juneteenth), as well as five days before Labor Day and ending at midnight on Labor Day. HB804 seeks to amend this law so that the insurer is only entitled to an offset/credit/deduction if and when they have paid out the full amount of the applicable liability policy limits. State Bar of Texas | Find A Lawyer Both SB438 & HB1992, if passed, seek to amend Section 151.3565(b) of Texas Tax Code in order to list face masks, disposable gloves, and disinfectant cleaning supplies as emergency preparation items in order to exempt them from sales and use taxes during Texas Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday (which begins at 12:01 a.m. April 25 and ends at midnight April 27). The new law will end license suspensions due to non-payment of traffic fines, while making affordable payment plans available (at 2% of a person's monthly income or $25/month, whichever is greater). Among other things, the bills (if passed) would allow a court to: If passed, both SB209 & HB1980 seek to outlaw nondisclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, or other agreements between an employer and employee which prohibit the reporting of sexual assault and sexual harassment to local or state law enforcement agencies or any state or federal regulatory agency. Recorded video required by this act will be confidential, and may not be released or viewed by anyone except: If passed, HB1009 would modify Section 261.101 of Texas Family Code to provide a criminal penalty for those who fail to report child abuse resulting in a serious injury. Schedule a free case evaluation with our criminal lawyers by calling (254) 220-4225. People who can't work or who lose income due to a suspended license have less money to contribute to the economy and less money to pay off their initial fines and fees leaving them saddled with court debt for years. This would effectively allow physicians in Texas to prescribe low-THC cannabis to patients diagnosed with any medical condition that produces symptoms, or the treatment of which produces symptoms, that are alleviated by medical use of low-THC cannabis., As mentioned previously, the Texas Compassionate Use Act currently allows physicians in Texas to prescribe low-THC cannabis only to patients diagnosed with epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal cancer, or an incurable neurodegenerative disease.. A new year brings new laws in California. If approved, this holiday would fall on the 16th day of April (her birthday). Texas Suspended Driver's License & Reinstatement | DMV.ORG The exemption provided by this section applies to both the portion of the state using central standard time as the official standard time and the portion of the state using mountain standard time as the official standard time. Before discharging the firearm, the officer has exhausted all other reasonable means of mitigating or preventing the deadly force by the driver or has determined that other means of mitigating or preventing the deadly force would be inappropriate under the circumstances. SB55 & HB1176, if passed, seek to modify Section 13.001 of Texas Election Code to reflect this change in law. If passed, HB477 would allow the Texas Lottery Commission to award to applicants not more than nine casino gaming operator licenses as follows: HJR102 & HB2257, if passed, would allow casino gaming operated by appropriately licensed persons at locations in this state that are within 200 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, but with no set limit on the number of licenses awarded (although the legislature may designate the counties in which a casino gaming operators license may be issued). It also states that no person may sell, offer for sale, or deliver any liquor before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. on any other day. If passed, schools, preschools, kindergartens, nursery schools, day camps, or youth camps must determine whether a child is able to swim or is at risk when swimming, and provide the owner or operator of the body of water a written or electronic disclosure that clearly identifies each child who is unable to swim or is at risk when swimming. Require a peace officer who participates in an investigation to keep a body worn camera activated for the entirety of the investigation. Both HB94 and SB90 seek to allow the use of medical marijuana for patients with debilitating medical conditions, while SB250 seeks to allow the use of medical marijuana for patients for whom a physician determines medical use is the best available treatment.. In September of 2003, Texas passed a law which substantially limited the amount of compensation that medical malpractice victims can seek from a physician or health care provider in civil court. Payments must be made to customers by December 15, 2021. For 1 year, if you are under 21 years old and: An additional 180 days, if you don't complete an Alcohol Education Program. For more information on the current license structure, fees and more, visit the following pages and resources: TABC License and Permit Types. If passed, HB441, HB498 & SB1989 all seek to amend Section 481.121 of Texas Health and Safety Code to classify possession of one (1) ounce or less of marijuana as a Class C misdemeanor, and possession of more than one (1) but less than two (2) ounces of marijuana as a Class B misdemeanor. A description of any attempt that was made by the peace officer to de-escalate the situation before the force was used (if applicable). The amount billed by the medical or health care provider. The force used is proportionate to the threat posed and to the seriousness of the alleged offense; The force used does not present a serious risk of injury to any person other than the actor or the person against whom the force is used; and. If passed, SB1012 & HB3138 both seek to require electric providers to obtain a residential customers express consent before enrolling them in a variable rate energy plan. If an organization applies for a license to operate a casino, a local option election shall be held in the county. The only way to compel an insurance company to reveal their drivers policy limits is by filing an actual lawsuit. According to the text of the bill, a person who knows that a child has suffered a serious bodily injury caused by abuse or neglect shall immediately make a report to law enforcement and/or the appropriate licensing agency. Today, we figured wed highlight some of these new proposed laws and explain exactly what they mean in simple terms. Our attorneys are results-driven and dedicated DWI lawyers who can help you fight the underlying offense causing your license suspension to ensure that you can reinstate your license. If enacted, HB552 would modify Section 601.072(a-1)(3) of the Texas Transportation Code to specify that any diminution of value (diminished value) as the result of a crash must be included when assessing the property damage portion of a motor vehicle accident claim. Limit motorized scooters to one rider at a time. SB1345 states that adults over the age of 21 could use and possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, up to 15 grams of cannabis concentrates, cannabis paraphernalia, as well as the cultivation (for personal use) of not more than 12 cannabis plants in a private residence. The bill also states that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution if: If approved, this act will take effect on 09/01/2021. This includes any licensed or permitted premises (e.g., bars), as well as any street, highway, or park or a common area of a school, hospital, apartment, office building, transportation facility, shop, restaurant, or nightclub. If passed, HB502 would amend Section 504.010 of the Texas Transportation Code to authorize the department to collect a fee of $50 per year from drivers who do not wish to display a front license plate on their registered vehicle. If passed, HB2828 seeks to provide one-time cash payments (or credits) of $250, provided by state funds, to residential and commercial customers of municipally owned utilities, electric cooperatives, and retail electric providers in the ERCOT power region. If passed, HB3198 would require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of digital electronic equipment sold or used in this state to make available, on fair and reasonable terms, to any independent repair provider or to an owner of digital electronic equipment manufactured by or on behalf of, sold by, or supplied by the original equipment manufacturer: HB4063, on the other hand, would require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of electronics-enabled heavy equipment sold or used in this state to make available, on fair and reasonable terms, to any independent repair provider or to an owner of electronics-enabled heavy equipment manufactured by or on behalf of, sold by, or supplied by the original equipment manufacturer: Texas law currently prohibits car manufacturers from directly selling vehicles to customers, and instead encourages automakers to sell via franchised dealerships. HB1943 seeks to go a bit further by stating that a peace officer may not, while performing an official duty, discharge a firearm at or in the direction of a moving vehicle occupied solely by the driver unless: If the vehicle has one or more passengers, an officer may only discharge a firearm in the direction of the vehicle if and when: HB1943 also states that an offense under this bill would be a felony of the third degree.