Beginning on Sept. 1, bills passed in the Texas House and Senate and signed by Governor Greg Abbott during 2017 became active. This list provides a brief description of seven of these laws.
Texting and Driving [HB62]
Officially effective, House Bill 62 prohibits the use of a phone to text for all drivers within the state of Texas. The bill officially amended the Transportation Code to make using a cell phone to send or read text messages while driving a misdemeanor.
Voting [HB25]
Planning to vote straight-ticket in the 2020 presidential election? Not anymore. House Bill 25 will go into effect beginning on Sept. 1, 2020, just over two months before the next presidential election. So buckle down and get ready to do a little bit of homework on which congressional and local candidates you want in office before casting your ballot.
Rescuing children from hot cars [HB478]
Since 1998, 736 US children have died of heatstroke due to sitting in a hot car. As of 2016, statistics showed 30 more deaths than that of any other state. In an effort to combat this, politicians passed House Bill 478. This grants civil lawsuit immunity to any individual who breaks into a car in order to save an individual in need, provided that they first call authorities and remain within “reasonable proximity” to the vehicle.
Marriage of Minors [SB1705]
Beginning on Sept. 1, 2017, Family Code provisions which previously allowed minors to marry with parental consent will become ineffective. Continually, the bill makes current marriages to such a person void unless a court order has already granted removal of the disabilities of a minority for the individual.
Driverless vehicles in Texas [SB2205]
Senate Bill 2205 allows for the testing of autonomous cars on Texas roads whether or not the car has a person in the control seat. As of July 2016, Florida remained the only other state which allowed this.
Cyberbullying [SB179]
Known as David’s Law, Senators José Menéndez and Judith Zaffirini introduced Senate Bill 179 in response to the rising suicide rates which correlate with increased cyberbullying. The bill gives schools the right to investigate off-campus cyberbullying if it affects the environment of the school. The bill also requires schools to notify parents of children involved in cyberbullying.
Hogs and Hot Air [HB3535]
Finally, a personal favorite of the new laws- House Bill 3535. Limited accessible backstory to this law exists, but the new bill makes it legal for landowners to hunt feral hogs or coyotes on their property from a hot air balloon.
