If passed, any and all insurance claim release agreements made in exchange for money or other consideration will no longer be enforceable unless the contract is in writing. HB502, HB1199 & HB1274 all seek to allow motor vehicle owners in Texas to display a license plate only on the rear of a motor vehicle. The Lisa Torry Smith Act (HB2081 & SB1055) seeks to provide greater protection for pedestrians by amending Subchapter I, Chapter 545 of Texas Transportation Code to add a section on motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians or other vulnerable road used within an area of crosswalk., If passed, the bills would make it a Class A misdemeanor to cause bodily injury to a pedestrian or a person operating a bicycle, motor-assisted scooter, electronic personal assistive mobility device, neighborhood electric vehicle, or golf cart while negligently operating a motor vehicle within the area of a crosswalk. HB3580, if passed, seeks to increase the salary of any classroom teacher in the state to a minimum of $70,000 per year, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year. The average amount typically paid or allowed by health benefit plan issuers or governmental payers at or near the time the medical or health care services were provided. Since this time, the noneconomic damages portion of a victims claim have been limited to an amount not to exceed $250,000regardless of whether or not the plaintiff was awarded more in court. If passed, HB1121, SB736 & HB2070 each seek to lay the groundwork for legalized sports betting in Texas. The bill also states that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution if: If approved, this act will take effect on 09/01/2021. New laws affecting TDLR licensees take effect September 1 . If passed, the bills would requirethe Public Utility Commission of Texas to, by rule, develop a process for obtaining emergency reserve power generation capacity as appropriate to prevent blackout conditions in the state. Conduct a hearing or other proceeding as a remote proceeding without the consent of the parties (unless the United States Constitution or Texas Constitution requires consent); Allow or require a judge, party, attorney, witness, court reporter, juror, or any other individual to participate in a remote proceeding, including a deposition, hearing, trial, or other proceeding. The bill would amend Chapter 1952 of the Texas Insurance Code to (among other things) restrict insurers and adjusters from: HB1119 seeks to amend Chapter 601 of the Texas Transportation Code to establish the Texas Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Program, which would use automatic license plate reader systems to help law enforcement agencies identify uninsured motor vehicles. HB113 would amend Texas Business & Commerce Code to allow for peer-to-peer car sharing programs (a business platform that connects owners with drivers to enable vehicle sharing for financial consideration) to operate within the State of Texas. Address the topics of privacy, what constitute a private space, and when and under what circumstances a body camera can or should be turned off. Temporary Event Authorizations. Many states, including Texas, currently allow minors under the age of 18 to get married if theyve received a court order removing the disabilities of minority (i.e., emancipation). While our law firm solely focuses on car accidents and personal injury law, well do our best to provide answersor at least point you in the right direction. The force used is proportionate to the threat posed and to the seriousness of the alleged offense; The force used does not present a serious risk of injury to any person other than the actor or the person against whom the force is used; and. Notably, the bill would permit the delivery of such beverages to consumers located in dry areas of the state. If passed, SB680 seeks amend Section 17.46, Business & Commerce Code (deceptive trade practices) in order to define electricity as a necessity, as well as to outlaw the exorbitant or excessive pricing of electricity during a declared disaster. The Texas Compassionate Use Act (first passed in 2015) already allows physicians in Texas to prescribe low-THC cannabis to patients diagnosed with epilepsy, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal cancer, or an incurable neurodegenerative disease., If passed, HB1233 seeks to amend Sections 169.002 and 169.003 of the Texas Occupations Code in order to remove these specific qualifying conditions. Gavin Newsom hundreds of bills that he signed into law, including several with major consequences for Californians. New Lawyer's License Suspended After Sending Letter Falsely Accusing Co-Worker's Husband of Sexual Harassment. The reform would also reinstate the licenses of people who currently have a suspended license due to non-payment of traffic fines. HB554 & SB1290 both seek to add a section to the Texas Transportation Code outlining rules for motor vehicles when passing pedestrians or bicycle operators on a roadway. No government shall prohibit or encumber the ownership or holding of any form or amount of money or other currency.. See our Carry of Firearms page for more info on this new law. HB3248 & SB1345 both lay out the infrastructure for cannabis sales, the licensure of cannabis growers, retailers, testing facilities, and more. If passed, a person does not commit an offense involving the possession of a controlled substance or marijuana if: Following the tragic death of Javier Ambler, who died of heart failure in the custody of the Williamson County Sheriffs Office during a recording of the now-canceled Live PD TV show last year, many people have argued that we shouldnt allow policing to become entertainment in our community. If passed, the bill would: The bill also seeks to allow counties and municipalities to further restrict the speed at which a person may operate a motor-assisted scooter, the locations a person may operate a motor-assisted scooter, locations a person may park a scooter, a minimum age requirement, higher civil and criminal penalties for traffic law violations, as well as the requirement that riders wear a safety helmet. Among other things, if passed, the amendment would allow up to four (4) casinos to operate at destination resorts located in metropolitan areas of the state with a population of two million or more (i.e., Houston, San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth), provided that no more than one (1) casino is located within any one metropolitan area. If passed, HB3773 seeks to designate September 21 as Alzheimers Awareness Day in order to increase awareness of individuals who are suffering from dementia and to express appreciation to the caregivers of Alzheimers patients for the services and care provided to the patients.. The new law will end license suspensions due to non-payment of traffic fines, while making affordable payment plans available (at 2% of a person's monthly income or $25/month, whichever is greater). Each of the three bills listed above seek to amend several sections of Texas Government Code (as well as the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Family Code, Estates Code, Health and Safety Code, and Code of Criminal Procedure) in order to permit or require the attendance of a court hearing or proceeding remotely through the use of technology and the Internet.. HB1609 goes even further by seeking to classify possession of four (4) ounces or less of marijuana as a Class C misdemeanor. HB1676 (known as Catis Act) seeks to amend Chapter 341 of Texas Health and Safety Code in order to enact additional requirements for schools and youth camps which allow children under their supervision access to a swimming pools, lakes, rivers, or other bodies of water. Ill be honest I thought we had settled this one a long time ago. If passed, HB88 (known as the George Floyd Act) seeks to address qualified immunity for police officers by allowing civil lawsuits at the state level for deprivation of rights under color of law, require the use of de-escalation tactics, require officers to intervene if another officer is using excessive force, require officers to provide aid immediately to any person who needs medical attention (including as a result of the use of force), to further define when and why police officers can use nonlethal and lethal force, to ban chokeholds, as well as prevent arrests for misdemeanor fine-only offenses. Each of the bills listed above seek to lay out the groundwork for legalizing and regulating the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, sale, testing, possession, and use of cannabis and cannabis products in Texas. If passed, HB4379 seeks to amend Sections 2301.252(a) and 2301.476 of Texas Occupations Code (as well as Section 503.029(a) of the Texas Transportation Code) in order to enable all-electric car manufacturers (e.g., Tesla) to sell their vehicles directly to consumersas long as the manufacturers line-make has never before been sold in this state through an independent franchised new motor vehicle dealership. Currently, there is no specific penalty for turning off a camera during an investigation. These signs read Please Dont Drink and Drive followed by In Memory Of and the name(s) of the victim(s). Texas blue laws currently state that alcohol retailers may not sell wine or vinous liquor containing more than 17 percent alcohol by volume on Sundays. Nine new 2021 California laws that will affect you. Sarah Hoffman, 37, of Dallas, was disciplined in three separate cases. Restrict anyone from riding a motorized scooter (gas or electric) on a roadway unless the posted speed limit is 30 mph or less (currently the limit is 35 mph or less). If passed, this temporary exemption would expire on January 1, 2022. Require a peace officer who participates in an investigation to keep a body worn camera activated for the entirety of the investigation. Proponents often argue that students names and images are used on products and in advertising that brings revenue to the school, and thus should receive a portion of these profits as compensation. The driver responsible for the incident was cited with failure to yield, but was never charged. Each of the bills listed above, which were filed in response to the widespread electrical outages experienced during the catastrophic winter storm in February of 2021, seek to ensure that Texas has adequate reserve power to prevent blackout conditions caused by shortages of generated power in the ERCOT power region. If passed, HB4554 seeks to amend Chapter 3101 of Texas Government Code in order to designate Dr. Pepper as the official state soft drink of Texas. These policies must: Both HB562 and HB833 seek to amend Chapter 2 of Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to add a section titled Law Enforcement Policy on De-escalation and Proportionate Response.. For 1 year, if you are under 21 years old and: An additional 180 days, if you don't complete an Alcohol Education Program. HB3141 seeks to require those who sell or resell tickets for a concert or other event in this state (including the operator of a ticket website) to disclose all fees charged in connection with the sale of a ticket for the event. HB3990 seeks to address non-signaled intersections in the state which commonly lead to right-angle (T-bone) crashes. Reinstatement fees can be paid in person, unless your suspension paperwork gives directions on how to pay by mail or phone. 2 : select ContactID AS ID, CDCJudgments 3 : from cc_Contact_Sanction_TX 4 : where JWID = <cfqueryparam value ="#URL.JWID#" cfsqltype="CF_SQL_numeric" maxlength="9"> 5 : </cfquery> 6 : Check the ColdFusion documentation to verify that you are using the correct syntax. Tela Mange . Excerpt from the bill: Whereas the outstanding achievements of Z-Ro and Travis Scott have made Missouri City a very bright spot on the map of hip-hops most vibrant communities, bringing increased recognition of the Lone Star States contributions to this popular genre.. She received a two-year partially probated suspension, effective Feb. 15, in connection with a case where she accepted $1,200 . 1:38. Excerpt from the bill: Uniquely situated amid rugged mountains and below the spectacular West Texas sky, Fort Davis is beloved by residents and visitors alike, and it has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the Lone Star States top destinations.. 50 percent of all amounts recovered by the injured individual through a cause of action, judgment, or settlement. Weight: 11.2 or 14.3 oz. MDARD suspended Marlena's food establishment license on Jan. 20, but Pavlos-Hackney refused to close, posting her decision to a large following on multiple Facebook pages. The bill also states that officers have a duty to intervene to stop or prevent another peace officer from using force against a person suspected of committing an offense if: Finally, a peace officer who witnesses the use of excessive force by another peace officer must also promptly make a detailed report of the incident and deliver the report to their supervisor. HB1199 & HB1274, if passed, would also amend Section 504.010 of the Texas Transportation Code to state that a person is entitled to operate on a public highway a passenger car or light truck that displays only one license plate if the plate is attached at the rear of the vehicle, and that the department shall issue only one license plate for attachment at the rear of a passenger car or light truck for which the plate is issued.. HB383 seeks to raise the minimum wage to $12/hour, while HB60, HB1827 & HB4484 seek to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour. The most versatile suppressor in the Banish line, the Banish 30 works with all of your rifle calibers from .17 to .30 caliber magnums. SJR36 proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the operation of up to twelve (12) casinos in Texas counties that have approved casino gaming. With a two-year interim gap, states like Texas often have to wait well over a year to respond to new federal laws or make other timely policies. Payments must be made to customers by December 15, 2021. Set a maximum speed of 15 mph for standing scooters (or 20 mph for seated scooters). SB881 drt th DMV to reinstate drvng . It would also require policyholders who receive a written request for policy information from a claimant to disclose the name of their insurance company and type of coverage provided by their insurer. Under HB1117, once a toll road is paid off, the road would become part of the state highway system and must be maintained by the commission (or shall continue to be maintained by the entity operating the project if certain criteria is not met). An appeals court suspended Rudy Giuliani from practicing law in New York because he made false statements while trying to get courts to overturn Donald Trump's loss in the presidential race. The officer reasonably believes it is immediately necessary to protect the officer from unlawful deadly force by the driver of the vehicle by means of the vehicle; and. Allow motorized scooters to be ridden on sidewalks. Normally in a motor vehicle accident, if a passenger files a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim against the owner/operator of a vehicle they were riding in, the insurance company is entitled to an offset/credit/deduction equal to the amount they paid out. If passed, HB1519 seeks to remove this restriction entirely. The bill would also allow liquor to be sold on any other day between the (expanded) hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Texas blue laws also state that stores may not sell beer on Sundays between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. HB1551, if passed, seeks to amend Section 105.04 of Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code in order to allow beer and wine stores (stores which hold a wine and malt beverage retailers permit or a wine and malt beverage retailers off-premise permit) to sell beer on Sundays between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. License suspensions undermine public safety. Similar to HB904 (see above), HB66 seeks to amend Section 662.003(b) of the Texas Government Code (a list of official Texas state holidays) to add every day on which an election, including a primary election, is held throughout the state.. HB442, if passed, would effectively lower the prima facie speed limit of any residential street in Texas (located within in a municipality and not officially designated or marked as part of the state highway system) from 30 miles per hour down to 25 miles per hour. If you feel that we left out an important proposed bill, let us know by commenting below! The person entering into the settlement agreement on behalf of the minor must complete an affidavit or verified statement that attests that to the best of the persons knowledge, the minor will be fully compensated by the settlement, or that there is no practical way to obtain additional amounts from the party entering into the settlement agreement with the minor. The act would also require officers to provide aid immediately to any person who needs medical attention as a result of the use of force by a peace officer, as well as require identification as a peace officer before taking any action within the course and scope of the officers official duties (unless the identification would render the action impracticable). Montgomery Law is a Dallas-based personal injury law firm focused on getting clients the justice and compensation they deserve. Dan Patrick says he doesnt expect a push to legalize sports betting in Texas to go anywhere in this years legislative session. Please allow 21 business days for processing. Although spending $666 on average per year may seem like a lot, you will likely spend twice that amount in fines if you skip insurance altogether. HB804 seeks to amend this law so that the insurer is only entitled to an offset/credit/deduction if and when they have paid out the full amount of the applicable liability policy limits. If passed, HB3056 would amend Subchapter A, Chapter 711 of Texas Health and Safety Code to add a section entitled Prohibiting Billboards on Cemetery Property. It would state that a person may not erect or maintain a billboard on cemetery property, and that a cemetery organization may not enter into a contract or lease authorizing a billboard on cemetery property. In Texas, fireworks are only permitted to be sold to the public during certain periods of the year (i.e., between June 24 through July 4; December 20 through January 1; May 1 through May 5). likely played a role in the crash. A peace officer may not assert official immunity as a defense to liability, and the officers governmental unit would also be liable to such a suit under the doctrine of respondeat superior. In, fact, most of them wont. If passed, SB616 seeks to further lay the legal groundwork for casinos to operate in the state, including administration, licensure, fees, standards, inspections, and more. If the child was under seven (7) years old and died as a result of said injury, the offense is elevated to a third degree felony. If passed, HB827 seeks to amend Chapter 372 of the Texas Transportation Code in order to prohibit toll project entities (or private entities that operate a toll project) from disclosing information on the speed at which a vehicle is operated on the toll project to a law enforcement agency for the purpose of proving an offense under Subchapter H, Chapter 545 (speed restrictions). Interestingly though, if voters decide to observe daylight saving time year-round instead, it would only go into effect if the United States Congress enacts legislation that becomes law that authorizes the State of Texas to observe daylight saving time year-round.. Emphasize the use of conflict de-escalation techniques; and. If passed, HB1955 seeks to amend Section 9.51 of Texas Penal Code to state that a peace officer is only justified in using deadly force against another when and to the degree the peace officer reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary to make an arrest (or to prevent escape after arrest) if: HB1757 seeks to add additional rules relating to the recording of a peace officers performance of official duties and interactions with the public. The parent(s) of a child who is involved in an alleged incident. Beginning January 1, 2022, new laws will take effect that will make the process more streamlined to resolve . Employees who make a good faith report of a suspected act of human trafficking may not be disciplined, retaliated against, or otherwise discriminated against by their employer. A new year brings new laws in California. Review complaints received by the office regarding the use of force by peace officers of law enforcement agencies, conduct investigations, and (when necessary) request the district or county attorney to bring actions against an agency in order to institute reforms regarding their use of force practices. Insurance companies claim that this information is irrelevant and immaterial to a pre-suit claim, while plaintiffs lawyers argue that it can help facilitate settlement and avoid needless litigation. According to HB3248, a 10% tax would be imposed on each sale in this state of cannabis and cannabis products. If passed, HB1781 seeks to amend Section 43.357 of Texas Parks and Wildlife Code in order to allow the holder of a valid deer breeders permit to engage in the business of breeding breeder deer via cloning. If enacted, HB552 would modify Section 601.072(a-1)(3) of the Texas Transportation Code to specify that any diminution of value (diminished value) as the result of a crash must be included when assessing the property damage portion of a motor vehicle accident claim. About 330,000 Hoosiers had an active driver's license suspension in 2019, according to Chris Daniels of the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. While similar to HB1001 and SB327 (which would allow PTSD patients to be prescribed low-THC cannabis), HB1109 seeks to allow veterans with PTSD to apply for a permit in order to purchase medical marijuana from a cultivating or dispensing facility in Texas. Suspended License Driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor in Texas. Texas law currently prohibits the consumption of alcoholic beverages during certain hours in a public place. There is a substantial risk that the person to be arrested or attempting to escape after arrest will cause death or serious bodily injury to the actor or another if the arrest or apprehension is delayed. Aug 23, 2010. Many cities in Texas currently have hands-free ordinances on the books, but if passed, HB86 would effectively make these local laws unenforceable. HB307 seeks to amend Section 481.111 of the Texas Health and Safety Code to expand on defenses to possession of certain consumable hemp products containing a controlled substance or marijuana. Suspensions & Reinstatements. The bills outline the path for the commission to form a sports betting program, to enter into contracts, to issue permits for sports betting operations, and much more. HB215, if passed, seeks to amend several sections of Texas Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Government Code in order to effectively abolish the death penalty in Texas. Many have argued that reality TV shows like Live PD and Cops may encourage some law enforcement officers to use excessive force. If such a local option election does legalize the sale of liquor on Sundays, holders of package store permits in said area may sell, offer for sale, or deliver liquor on Sunday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Holders of wholesalers permits may sell, offer for sale, or deliver liquor to a retailer anytime on Sunday, and holders of local distributors permits may sell, offer for sale, or deliver liquor to a retailer on Sunday between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Texas blue laws currently state that alcohol retailers may not sell beer or wine for off-premise consumption on Sundays between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and noon. CDL Disqualifications. Texas Compassionate Use Act currently allows physicians in Texas to prescribe low-THC cannabis to patients suffering from epilepsy, a seizure disorder, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism, terminal cancer, or an incurable neurodegenerative disease. If passed, HB441, HB498 & SB1989 all seek to amend Section 481.121 of Texas Health and Safety Code to classify possession of one (1) ounce or less of marijuana as a Class C misdemeanor, and possession of more than one (1) but less than two (2) ounces of marijuana as a Class B misdemeanor. If approved, this holiday would fall on the 28th day of June. HB170 & SB1067 both seek to adds language to Section 105.06 of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code to further define a public place in this context. The person purchased the product from a retailer the person reasonably believed was authorized to sell a consumable hemp product. Hospitals often place liens on claims where a victim receives medical services for injuries caused by an accident thats attributed to the negligence of another person. Currently, such hospital liens may not exceed: If passed, HB2064 would also add that such hospital liens may not exceed the amount awarded by the trier of fact for the services provided to the injured individual by the hospital, less the pro rata share of attorneys fees and expenses the injured individual incurred in pursuing the claim.. If passed, HB477 would allow the Texas Lottery Commission to award to applicants not more than nine casino gaming operator licenses as follows: HJR102 & HB2257, if passed, would allow casino gaming operated by appropriately licensed persons at locations in this state that are within 200 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, but with no set limit on the number of licenses awarded (although the legislature may designate the counties in which a casino gaming operators license may be issued). Call us toll-free at 1-833-720-6090 to discuss your case today for no cost. If passed, HB1198 seeks to amend Section 662.003(b) of the Texas Government Code to add Sam Houston Day, in honor of one of this states greatest heroes. If approved, this holiday would fall on the 26th day of July. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); A serious injury or death in the family can turn everything inside out. The bill would also require each law enforcement agency in Texas to adopt a detailed written policy regarding the use of force by peace officers employed by the agency. The officer reasonably believes that they are unable to mitigate or prevent the deadly force by the officer moving out of the path of the vehicle. According to HJR102 & HB2257, the money generated from these casinos would go toward providing additional money for property tax relief. If passed, SB128 seeks to amend Section 662.003(b) of the Texas Government Code (a list of official Texas state holidays) to add Celebration of Suffrage Day in honor of the centuries-long struggle to bring the right of suffrage to all Americans. Both HB405 and SB57 seek to extend this period from 180 days to one (1) year. If passed, HB505 seeks to amend Section 2154.202(g) of the Texas Occupations Code in order to also permit fireworks sales to the public beginning five days before Labor Day and ending at midnight on Labor Day (in a county in which the commissioners court of the county has approved the sale of fireworks during the period). Requiring that a part or product be purchased from any vendor or supplier on the basis that the part or product is the least expensive part or product available. Under current Texas law, even possession of less than 1 gram of marijuana concentrates (e.g., edibles, vape pens, etc.) For existing electrical customers, a $250 credit may be applied to each retail account. The new laws may affect your current driving record. The bills do not allow betting on any youth sports (those involving participants under 18 years old), orin the case of HB1121on any college sports games involving one or more Texas teams.