Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Friday was the deadline for legislators to file new bills for the 2017 Legislative Session with the exception of local bills that only affect a specific jurisdiction within the state. This session:
- 4251 bills have been filed in the Texas House of Representatives
- 2235 bills have been filed in the Texas Senate
- for a total of 6486 bills filed
Currently it is illegal to operate a drone over a critical infrastructure facility such as an oil refinery a dam or a water treatment facility without proper authorization. Because drones could be used to capture images of correctional facilities or to drop contraband inside the perimeter of a correctional facility my bill would add correctional facilities to the list of critical infrastructure facilities where drones cannot be flown without authorization.
Ethics Reform
Our democracy is founded on the belief that public servants are elected by the people to serve as their voice in government and to represent their interests. The House ethics reform package aims to protect and restore the publics trust and confidence in our elected bodies.
The proposed ethics reform legislation is intended to build public trust and confidence in our elected leaders and public institutions. Broadly the bill establishes needed punishments for abuse of office shines a brighter light on lobbyist spending and public officials contracts with governmental entities and cements a firm wall between elective office and lobbying.
House Bill 500
• Protects the publics trust in our state and local governments by prohibiting a public retirement system from paying a full retirement annuity to an elected official convicted and imprisoned for an abuse of office. Elected officials that violate the public trust should not be allowed to receive full public compensation in the form of a pension while serving time. • The bill also provides a clear line for future reference: once a legislator or state officer is convicted of a felony they are removed from office on the day that conviction becomes final.
House Bill 501
• Expands transparency and disclosure requirements for state ethics reporting by requiring elected officials to disclose contracts with governmental entities including bond counsel services and legal referral fees. • Broadly HB 501 proposes three disclosure reforms. First the bill requires that elected officers and candidates disclose contracts for goods or services between themselves or their spouse or dependent child and governmental entities. Second HB 501 requires legislators that offer bond counsel services to public issuers such as water districts or cities to disclose specific information regarding each issuance. Lastly the bill requires state officers that are attorneys to report specific information regarding legal referrals including the date the referral is made the style of the case referred and the referral fee paid.
House Bill 502• Shines a brighter light on lobbyist spending on elected officials. HB 502 proposes three key reforms regarding lobbyists disclosure requirements. • HB 502 lowers the reporting threshold for lobbyist spending on transportation lodging food and drink or entertainment for a member of the legislative or executive branch from 60 to 30 percent of the legislative per diem. Ends the practice of ticket splitting." • The bill expands the reporting requirements for lobbyist spending on transportation lodging food and drink or entertainment to include those amounts spent on the immediate family of a member of the legislative or executive branch.
House Bill 503• Prohibits a person who is a registered state or federal lobbyist or required to be registered from running for office and prohibits elected officials from lobbying. • Does not preclude a person who is no longer a registered lobbyist from seeking elected office.
House Bill 504• Prohibits former legislators from lobbying for a minimum of two years following their retirement from legislative office.
House Bill 505• Prohibits the use of campaigns funds by a former officeholder that has registered as a lobbyist for two years following their retirement from office. This change establishes a two-year cooling off period before former elected officials can use their campaign funds for lobbying purposes.
Texas Legislature Online Texas Legislature Online (TLO) allows you to stay up to date with legislation at the Capitol. You can use TLO to search for bills on subjects that are important to you learn when bills are scheduled to be heard in committee and to follow bills as they move throughout the process. Capitol Office Contact Information We have recently moved into a new office at the Capitol. Our updated contact information is provided below. Please note that political or campaign-related correspondence should not be addressed to my official office at the Capitol.
Click this link to visit TLOSuite E1.304 Texas State Capitol P.O. Box 2910 Austin Texas 78768 (512) 463-0652 District47.Workman@House.Texas.Gov
As always I hope you will continue to keep me apprised of the issues that are important to you.
State Rep. Paul Workman represents Texas House District 47 which includes most of western Travis County and portions of southern Travis County. Workman serves as a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Business & Industry.
