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SB766 has finally passed and it's on to the Governor for signature.

Thanks again for everyone's help. Your contacts made the difference.

Chas.

Hoi Polloi wrote:2. Kinda convenient that now that they are hearing significant backlash over their decision, they dropped themselves from the cop-carry type provisions (wasn't that bill specifically intended for legislators?), had the Speaker dredge up what he considered a bill too unimportant to get to the floor, and are supporting each other and patting each other on the back for their great efforts.

"They" (other Republicans) didn't get the Speaker to dredge up anything. "They" didn't pass SB766 as cover for SB905. The response to calls to action on SB766 is precisely why the Speaker got involved. We were told the phones were ringing all the time and emails were pouring in. That's why SB766 came to be recognized as a bill that is important to a lot of people. Plus, Alice Tripp delivering information packets on SB766 to 120 House Members and the Speaker's office also helped.

SB766 made it to the House floor because of a lot of hard work behind the scenes and because of an overwhelming response to our calls-to-action, not because of a PR plot by Republicans.

Chas.

Rhinrickson is right; SB766 passed to third reading on a voice vote without a single question. I can't recall when I've been so pleased to be wrong!

I have to disclose something now that I couldn't mention earlier. SB766 got out of the Calendars Committee because of the efforts of Speaker Straus. Had he not stepped in, it would have died there because it was not believed to be of significant importance to be placed high enough to make it to the floor before time ran out. I will also note that Speaker Straus controlled the order in which items were taken on the calendar for "eligible items" as well as the "Second Calendar" and the General Calendar. Had they gone straight through, SB766 would not have been reached.

We still have to get it passed to engrossment, so we'll keep on top if it.

Make no mistake, your calls and faxes are the reason the Speaker stepped in. I cannot thank you enough!

Chas.

RHenriksen wrote:

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

Jasonw560 wrote:20 more bills until 766.

Now it's 13 more bills before SB766.

Chas.

This close to the end of the session, is there a cap on how much time is devoted to each bill on the floor?

No. About 1 1/2 hrs. was wasted on a homeowners association bill that the author had to pull down when a gutting amendment was adopted. A good bit of time was spent on SB8 also, as well as a few others.

Chas.

Jasonw560 wrote:20 more bills until 766.

Now it's 13 more bills before SB766.

Chas.

hirundo82 wrote:Is the Supplementary House Calendar the real order of business for today?

Yes. It includes things not finished during the last session.

Chas.

This is the last day to pass Senate Bills on second reading. SB766 (range protection) is 22nd on the House General Calendar, behind 23 other items, excluding 3 items on Local & Consent. We have been informed "everything is okay." We'll see; I hope my skepticism is misplaced.

I have no idea how late the House will stay in session. Chairman Todd Hunter stated on the House floor late last week that the rumors that they would take a day off were false, because time was running out. He stated they (the entire House) would work every day until the session was over. On Saturday, the House adjourned at approximately 3:30pm and took off Sunday. SB766, a critically important bill with absolutely no opposition, sat in the Calendars Committee from April 21st until it was put on the General Calendar on the very last day Senate Bills can pass on second reading. My back is wet, there are no clouds in the sky, and someone is telling me it's raining.

Chas.

EDITED: I was wrong!!!! SB766 passed to third reading with just under two hours to spare.

Everyone needs to call Calendars Chairman Todd Hunter every day between now and Tuesday and respectfully but strongly state that SB766 is needed to protect ranges in Texas from frivolous lawsuits. Tell him also that it needs to be put on the State Major Calendar because you are aware that, if he puts it on the General Calendar, it's dead.

Tell him SB766 has been in Calendars since April 21st and it has no opposition.

Keep the calls coming folks; I can't say more at this time.
Chas.

Todd Hunter, Chairman
512-463-0672
todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us

Please call and/or fax! Emails often get buried and ignored.

Chas.

It's crunch time folks and we need everyone to respond!! SB766 is floundering in the House Calendars Committee even though it has no opposition. The problem is time is running out this session and SB766 just isn't viewed as a critical bill to make the final cut since so many bills are going to die when time runs out.

Please call and/or fax every member of the Calendars Committee, especially the Chairman, and Speaker Joe Straus. Tell them more and more ranges are in danger because of frivolous lawsuits that they cannot afford to defend. Most shooting ranges are either small businesses or clubs that do not have deep pockets to fight costly law suits.

Please call/fax starting Monday and keep it up until SB766 is put on the "Major House Calendar," not buried at the bottom of the House General Calendar that where it will never be reached. Call your friends and family and ask them to do likewise. We absolutely must have a large response to this call-to-action or SB766 will die because no one thinks it's important.

Thanks,
Chas.

House Speaker Joe Straus
512-463-1000
To send an email to the Speaker,click on link
Speaker's Email

Todd Hunter, Chairman
512-463-0672
todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us

Dennis Bonnen, Vice-Chairman
512-463-0564

dennis.bonnen@house.state.tx.us

Dan Branch
512-463-0367
dan.branch@house.state.tx.us

Byron Cook
512-463-0730
byron.cook@house.state.tx.us

Charlie Geren
512-463-0610
charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us

Jim Keffer
512-463-0656
jim.keffer@house.state.tx.us

Tracy King
512-463-0194
tracy.king@house.state.tx.us

Lois Kolkhorst
512-463-0600
lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us

Eddie Lucio III
512-463-0606
eddie.lucio@house.state.tx.us

Allan Ritter
512-463-0706
allan.ritter@house.state.tx.us

Burt Solomons
512-463-0478

burt.solomons@house.state.tx.us

Vicki Truitt
512-463-0690

vicki.truitt@house.state.tx.us

John Zerwas
512-463-0657

john.zerwas@house.state.tx.us