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| Cap Wrap - Voter ID & Arson |
| By Marcus Funk |
| Published: 04/07/2009 |
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Today, at the Capitol ... It's baaaack - Voter ID steps into the ring for round two today, this time in the House Elections Committee. The same bill lit a 23-hour bonfire in the Senate last month, with testimony stretching into the wee hours of the morning. Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless and chair of the House Elections Committee, has vowed to make the process more cordial by hearing expert testimony today and civilian testimony at another hearing tomorrow; today's hearing begins once the House adjourns. The final outcome could be a toss up in the narrowly divided House. Back on the floor, the House will take up a measure requiring new standards for attorneys representing indigent defendants in capital cases. New requirements include at least five years experience in criminal law and experience challenging forensic expert witnesses. The chamber convenes at 10 a.m., when they'll also consider classifying farm elk as livestock. Arson penalties would be reduced from third degree felonies to state jail felonies under HB3224, by Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, which the House Property Crime Sub-Committee hears at 8 a.m. Arson was a hot topic last week at the Texas Observer as well. Property Owner's Associations would face new regulations on disclosing bylaws and documents, the right of refusal, solar panels and enforcement actions under bills in review by the House Business and Industry Committee at 9 a.m. All four were passed in the Senate and authored by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas; there are also a handful of House bills on POA's at the same hearing. Proposals using the Texas Enterprise Fund to preserve Texas businesses, fund rail projects and support health benefit plans are all under consideration by the House Technology, Economic Development and Workforce Committee at 9 a.m. There's also a proposal to bar federal bailout recipients from accessing the fund, which caused a stir immediately after the House began passing bills a few weeks ago. Statutes of limitations for civil and criminal crimes committed in disaster areas could be extended by the state's highest courts under HB1861, which the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee hears at either 2 p.m. or upon adjournment of the House. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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