As mentioned in earlier posts HB 1927 by Rep. Schaefer has passed the House and Senate but the Senate couldn't help themselves from amending the bill which proved unacceptable to the author (and most House Members that voted for the bill). Thus hashing out language that is acceptable to both House and Senate has been the responsibility of a conference committee this week. Although conference committee negotiations are not open to the public, Rep. Schaefer has consistently fought hard for the bill, and the Texas Chapter of Gun Owners of America has reason to believe he is continuing to advocate for our rights. By the way, Gun Owners of America have been the ramrod on advocating for Texas firearm legislation, and have done a great job.
Yesterday Rep. Schaefer announced: "Great progress is being made on Constitutional Carry! Positive work with the Senate continues." Next week is the final week of this session so moves this week or it doesn't move at all.
The House has listened to the firearm-owning citizens of Texas and the Texas Senate has tended to listen more to law enforcement organizations/associations and jurisdictions who generally oppose permit-less carry. Make of that what you will.
A bill that many consider more important than Constitutional Carry is making Texas a sanctuary state for enforcement of federal firearms control legislation.
Several weeks ago, the House passed HB 2622 by Rep. Holland and the Senate passed SB 513 by Sen. Hall. They are not "companion" bills (identical) but rather differ on some important points. Each bill is designed to keep Texas State personnel and resources from being used to enforce future Federal laws restricting firearm ownership and have provisions to withhold funding from agencies or entities that violate this law. The Senate version also included an individual criminal penalty for some who violate this law. Both bills passed their respective chambers and then were sent to the "other" chamber for assignment to committee, committee hearings (at least two) and then to the calendars committee to be scheduled for a floor vote (which won't happen without the Speaker's okay in the House, and the Lt. Governor's sign-off in the Senate).
My wife and I advocate for agricultural, natural resource, and water issues at the Texas Legislature and I can confidently say it is a million times easier to kill bills, or to "let them die," than to pass legislation. It takes Herculean efforts to pass most bills that contain even a speck of controversy and in the great scheme of things that's alright by most people familiar with the process.
The Texas House has not moved SB 513, and time is now very short for a bill to get through the committee process - in fact almost impossible. Last week, a Senate committee heard HB 2622 and voted it forward. It will be eligible for a Senate floor vote as early as today. This should be an easy vote for the Senate, because it already passed similar language - as long as Senators don't make floor amendments which would surely kill the bill.
One could make a case the House is the mover and shaker on Constitutional Carry and the Senate is taking the lead on making Texas a sanctuary state for federal gun grab policies. Today it seems like Constitutional Carry has a better chance of passage than Texas becoming a sanctuary state but never say never when the Texas Legislature is part of the equation. Stay tuned; it will all be over very soon.
Yesterday Rep. Schaefer announced: "Great progress is being made on Constitutional Carry! Positive work with the Senate continues." Next week is the final week of this session so moves this week or it doesn't move at all.
The House has listened to the firearm-owning citizens of Texas and the Texas Senate has tended to listen more to law enforcement organizations/associations and jurisdictions who generally oppose permit-less carry. Make of that what you will.
A bill that many consider more important than Constitutional Carry is making Texas a sanctuary state for enforcement of federal firearms control legislation.
Several weeks ago, the House passed HB 2622 by Rep. Holland and the Senate passed SB 513 by Sen. Hall. They are not "companion" bills (identical) but rather differ on some important points. Each bill is designed to keep Texas State personnel and resources from being used to enforce future Federal laws restricting firearm ownership and have provisions to withhold funding from agencies or entities that violate this law. The Senate version also included an individual criminal penalty for some who violate this law. Both bills passed their respective chambers and then were sent to the "other" chamber for assignment to committee, committee hearings (at least two) and then to the calendars committee to be scheduled for a floor vote (which won't happen without the Speaker's okay in the House, and the Lt. Governor's sign-off in the Senate).
My wife and I advocate for agricultural, natural resource, and water issues at the Texas Legislature and I can confidently say it is a million times easier to kill bills, or to "let them die," than to pass legislation. It takes Herculean efforts to pass most bills that contain even a speck of controversy and in the great scheme of things that's alright by most people familiar with the process.
The Texas House has not moved SB 513, and time is now very short for a bill to get through the committee process - in fact almost impossible. Last week, a Senate committee heard HB 2622 and voted it forward. It will be eligible for a Senate floor vote as early as today. This should be an easy vote for the Senate, because it already passed similar language - as long as Senators don't make floor amendments which would surely kill the bill.
One could make a case the House is the mover and shaker on Constitutional Carry and the Senate is taking the lead on making Texas a sanctuary state for federal gun grab policies. Today it seems like Constitutional Carry has a better chance of passage than Texas becoming a sanctuary state but never say never when the Texas Legislature is part of the equation. Stay tuned; it will all be over very soon.
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