Defund the Police? Gov. Abbott Signs Important Public Safety Bills to Penalize Cities that Try

Texas supports Law Enforcement & continues to "Back the Blue"

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott signed into law two major bills this week to bring significant reforms to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and the Public Utility Commission. Senate Bill 2 restructures the PUC board to expand the board and implement residential requirements, and Senate Bill 3 provides a host of changes that will increase oversight and create new standards for weatherization, as well as penalties for failing to meet those new standards.

Public Safety

Earlier this month, Abbott also signed several important public safety bills to penalize cities that try to:
 

• Defund their police (House Bill 1900 by State Rep. Craig Goldman) and
• Punish protestors who block emergency vehicles (House Bill 9 by State Rep. Stephanie Klick).

These priority bills are seen as instrumental efforts in showing Texas' support of Law Enforcement across the state, and to continuing the state's efforts to "Back the Blue."

Other public safety bills signed into law were:
 

• Senate Bill 23 requireing certain counties to hold elections before reducing the funding of the county’s primary law enforcement agency or reallocating their funds; 
• Senate Bill 15 establishing the Texas Consumer Privacy Act to limit state agencies ability to sell or disclose personal information to 3rd parties; and 
• House Bill 1938 establishing a grant program to help law enforcement agencies cover the costs of storing body-worn camera footage.