Bills In The House Calendars Committee

[joe817]

This is an important committee, that can either schedule a bill for floor debate....or stall a bill, bottle it up, effectively killing the bill. It's happened before and will happen again. With some key bills of interest to us recently being assigned to the Calendars Committee, I'm curious to know how quickly they can move to the next step.

Here's a listing of the Bills that are listed on TFC's website that, as of 04/01/15, have been assigned to the Calendars Committee. Bill number, brief description, date Committee report sent to Calendars & either Support(s) or Oppose(o)[from the TFC website] :

HB 118 - Relating to a fee waiver for a combination resident hunting and fishing license for certain military personnel. Sent to Local & Consent calendar 04/09/2015 (n); Report sent to Calendars Committee 04/27/15; Passed House 05/12/2015

HB 226 - Relating to certain offenses relating to carrying concealed handguns on property owned or leased by a governmental entity; providing a civil penalty. 03/23/2015 (s); Calendars Committee 04/14/15; Placed on General State Calendar 05/12/2015

HB 278 - Relating to authorizing certain attorneys representing the state to openly carry a handgun. 04/01/15. Sent to Local & Consent Calendar. (o); Considered in Calendars Committee 05/01/15; Placed on General State Calendar 05/13/2015

HB 284 - Relating to the handgun proficiency required to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license. 04/01/15. Sent to Local & Consent Calendar. (s); Transferred to Calendar Committee 05/01/15; Considered in Calendars 05/08/2015; Placed on General State Calendar 05/12/2015

HB 308 - Relating to the places where a person may carry a handgun if the person is licensed to carry a concealed handgun; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty. (s) 05/08/2015

HB 353 - Relating to the application of certain weapons laws to and liability for certain actions of volunteer emergency services personnel licensed to carry a concealed handgun. 03/31/2015 (o); Placed on General State Calendar 05/06/2015; Received By Senate 05/11/2015

HB 422 - Relating to the enforcement of certain federal laws regulating firearms, firearm accessories, and firearm ammunition within the State of Texas. (s) 05/11/2015

HB 554 - Relating to a defense to prosecution for the offense of possessing or carrying a weapon in or into the secured area of an airport. 03/26/2015 (s); Placed on General State Calendar 05/06/2015. Reported engrossed 05/11/2015; Received by Senate 05/11/2015

HB 849 - Relating to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting supplies for a limited period. (s) Committee report sent to Calendars 04/24/2015; Passed to engrossment 05/11/2015; Passed 05/12/2015

HB 905 - Relating to the regulation of knives by a municipality or county. 04/01/15. Sent to Local & Consent Calendar; Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar 05/05/2015; Passed House 05/05/2015 ; Received By Senate 05/06/2015

HB 910 - Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty. 03/31/2015 (s)
Placed on General State Calendar for 04/17/15. Passed, sent to Senate 04/21/2015; Referred to State Affairs 05/06/2015

HB 937 - Relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty; creating a criminal offense.[Note: this is companion bill to SB 11] 04/15/2015 (s); Considered in Calendars 05/07/2015

HB 989 - Relating to defenses and exceptions to the prosecution of the criminal offense of the possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of certain prohibited explosive weapons, firearms, and related items. (s) Committee report sent to Calendars 04/17/2015; Placed on General State Calendar for 05/06/2015;

HB 1179 - Relating to the duties of certain law enforcement officials under procedures regulating the making or transfer of firearms. 03/13/2015 (s); Considered in Calendars 04/01/2015 and 04/23/2015.

HB 1509 - Relating to the prosecution of the offense of unlawful carrying of weapons. 04/06/2015 (s); Considered in Calendars 04/28/2015

HB 1649 - Relating to the transportation and storage of firearms and ammunition in private vehicles on the campuses of institutions of higher education. (s) Committee report sent to Calendars 04/17/2015; Considered in Calendars 05/11/2015

HB 2269 - Relating to the unlawful seizure of a firearm by a governmental officer or employee; creating an offense. Committee report sent to Calendars 04/21/2015; Placed on General State Calendar 05/13/2015

HB 2359 - Relating to prohibiting the Department of Public Safety from responding to bulk requests from the federal government for lists of individuals licensed to carry a concealed handgun. Placed on General State Calendar 05/13/2015

HB 2999 - Relating to restrictive covenants regarding firearms or firearms ammunition. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar 05/05/2015; Placed on General State Calendar 05/12/2015

HB 3710 - Relating to a voluntary contribution to the fund for veterans' assistance when applying for a concealed handgun license. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar 05/05/2015; Reported Engrossed & Passed 05/06/2015; Received By Senate 05/06/2015

HB 3747 - Relating to the issuance of a concealed handgun license to certain retired judicial officers. Placed on Local, Consent, and Res. Calendar 05/05/2015; Passed & Reported Engrossed 05/05/2015; Received By Senate 05/06/2015

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As an addendum to this post, the following bils have passed the Senate Floor vote and have been passed from the Senate and received by the House on the date indicated:

SB 11 - Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education. 03/20/2015 (s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 03/19/2015; Received By House 03/20/2015; Read First Time 05/05/2015

SB 17 - Relating to the authority of a person who is licensed to carry a handgun to openly carry a holstered handgun; creating a criminal offense; providing penalties. 03/16/2015 (s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 03/17/2015; Received By House 03/18/2015; Read First Time 05/05/2015

SB 179 - Relating to the handgun proficiency required to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license. 03/23/2015(s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 03/24/2015; Received By House 03/25/2015

SB 228 - Relating to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting supplies for a limited period. (s) 04/30/2015; Passed & Reported Engrossed 04/30/2015; Received By House 04/30/2015; Withdrawn from schedule 05/12/2015

SB 273 - Relating to certain offenses relating to carrying concealed handguns on property owned or leased by a governmental entity; providing a civil penalty. 03/18/2015 (s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 03/18/2015; Received By House 03/18/2015; Considered in public hearing 05/05/2015; Committee report sent to Calendars 05/08/2015

SB 473 - Relating to defenses and exceptions to the prosecution of the criminal offense of the possession, manufacture, transport, repair, or sale of certain prohibited explosive weapons, firearms, and related items. 04/16/2015(s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 04/20/2015; Received from House 04/21/2015; House Passage Reported 05/11/2015; Signed in the Senate 05/12/2015

SB 476 - Relating to the duties of certain law enforcement officials under procedures regulating the making or transfer of firearms. (04/16/2015)(s); Passed & Reported Engrossed 04/22/2015; Received By House 04/22/2015; Committee report sent to Calendars 05/07/2015

SJR 22 - Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife. 04/01/2015; Received from Senate 04/01/2015

HJR 61 - Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife. 04/07/2015; Considered in Calendars 04/29/2015

Source: https://www.texasfirearmscoalition.com/ ... ve-session" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I invite you all to post additional bills that make it to Calendars as time goes on.

[The Wall]

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this information.

[treadlightly]

I called Representative Hunter's office today. He's the chair of the calendars committee.

The staffer who took my call said the prime factor in whether a bill made it out of the Calendar committee was whether there was any interest in it or not, that the Calendar committee was rather mechanical, not there to study the merits of a bill. Yes, I know, that's probably not strictly true in all cases.

Anyway, we had our conversation, I told him why I was in favor of gun bills, even open carry bills when I didn't intend to open carry, and he said he completely understood, that he has a CHL.

I realize his support for gun rights does not necessarily reflect his boss's views, but it was still nice and our conversation was cordial. It was like talking to a fellow shooter at a gun store. Nice guy, hope his boss is equally cognizant of civil rights, including the ones opposed by anti-civil rights organizations like Moms Demand Action for Gun Silliness, or whatever they're called.

[joe817]

Good info treadlightly! Thanks for sharing.

[Srnewby]

I called Representative Hunter's office today. He's the chair of the calendars committee.

The staffer who took my call said the prime factor in whether a bill made it out of the Calendar committee was whether there was any interest in it or not, that the Calendar committee was rather mechanical, not there to study the merits of a bill. Yes, I know, that's probably not strictly true in all cases.

Anyway, we had our conversation, I told him why I was in favor of gun bills, even open carry bills when I didn't intend to open carry, and he said he completely understood, that he has a CHL.

I realize his support for gun rights does not necessarily reflect his boss's views, but it was still nice and our conversation was cordial. It was like talking to a fellow shooter at a gun store. Nice guy, hope his boss is equally cognizant of civil rights, including the ones opposed by anti-civil rights organizations like Moms Demand Action for Gun Silliness, or whatever they're called.

In an interview that I read a couple of weeks ago, Rep. Hunter said that the Calendars Committee would move gun bills to the floor. Others have suggested that once the House completes its work on the budget that things should start moving. The other key to passing open carry is for SB 17 to get a first reading and be sent to the Homeland Security committee where it can be passed without further hearings. Rep Phillips' (HB 910 author and chairman of Homeland Security) staff said last week that the plan is to call up SB 17 when HB 910 gets a date on the calendar so that the House can pass the same bill the Senate did. Before SB 17 can be called up as a "replacement" it has to be favorably reported by Homeland Security.

All that being said, there are two key things that need to happen for OC to be voted on in the House: 1) Calendars Committee has to put HB 910 on the House calendar and 2) SB 17 has to get a first reading so it can get to the Homeland Security commitee.

[airborned]

I read hb 353 as you can carrry imto a hospital or a nursing home if you are a volunteer fire fighter or ems? Im confused as to what this law is. Any input would be great as i help run a fire and ems department.

[oljames3]

I read hb 353 as you can carrry imto a hospital or a nursing home if you are a volunteer fire fighter or ems? Im confused as to what this law is. Any input would be great as i help run a fire and ems department.

You can find a brief analysis and links to the actual bills at:
https://www.texasfirearmscoalition.com/ ... ve-session

[joe817]

There are 5 other bills that have been sent to Local & Consent Calendar that are firearms related, although only 2 refers to CHL. I include those bills here only as a matter of interest.

HB 1285 - Relating to the authority of certain personal protection officers to carry certain weapons. 04/01/2015

HB 1376 - Relating to the application of certain concealed handgun license laws to community supervision and corrections department officers and juvenile probation officers; reducing a fee. 04/01/2015

HB 2135 - Relating to the purchasing of a firearm of an honorably retired or deceased peace officer. 04/01/2015

HB 2241 - Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns by certain county officers and employees in a courthouse. 04/01/2015

HB 2604 - Relating to a concealed handgun license application that is submitted by a peace officer or a member of the state military forces. 04/02/2015

[treadlightly]

Learned something new. I called the clerk of the Calendars committee and was told the best way to show support for something lingering in Calendars is to call your Representative and get him or her to fill out a "red and green form," showing your support or opposition to the bill.

Some Representatives know about this form, others don't. Mine didn't. Supposedly they will get up to speed by tomorrow.

[Tracker]

House Calendars Committee holds sway over bills' fates as Texas Legislature winds down. 2011
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics ... -down-.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Hunter said in his office he has a stack of two forms — a green stack and a red stack — one for supporters and the other for opponents. Any lawmaker can write anonymous notes for or against certain legislation on the forms. Then, he decides how to proceed, based on the concerns.

Rep. Beverly Woolley, who was Calendars chairwoman for three sessions, said the ultimate discretion of which legislation moves forward is up to the chairman."

[joe817]

I knew that the Committee was a powerful one. Kind of like judge, jury & exectcutioner.

Nail biting time.

[v7a]

NRA-ILA email that just went out:

These NRA-backed measures all move to the House Calendars Committee, which will decide IF AND WHEN these bills are considered by the Texas House. Please contact Calendars Committee members and urge them to quickly set HB 910, HB 937, and HJR 61 for a House floor vote. Their contact information can be found here.

Also, please contact your State Representatives and urge them to support HB 910, HB 937 and HJR 61. Contact information for House members can be found here. If you're not sure who your state Representative is, click here.

[casp625]

Learned something new. I called the clerk of the Calendars committee and was told the best way to show support for something lingering in Calendars is to call your Representative and get him or her to fill out a "red and green form," showing your support or opposition to the bill.

Some Representatives know about this form, others don't. Mine didn't. Supposedly they will get up to speed by tomorrow.

You would think that with all the authors and co-authors of the bills that could easily pass a House vote, that would *prove* there is enough support for a bill.

[Jasonw560]

Learned something new. I called the clerk of the Calendars committee and was told the best way to show support for something lingering in Calendars is to call your Representative and get him or her to fill out a "red and green form," showing your support or opposition to the bill.

Some Representatives know about this form, others don't. Mine didn't. Supposedly they will get up to speed by tomorrow.

You would think that with all the authors and co-authors of the bills that could easily pass a House vote, that would *prove* there is enough support for a bill.

Not to mention they could go back and see all the witness forms who were pro and anti during the hearing. Maybe not. Seemed like there were quite a few more opponents in the hearings.

[SewTexas]

it would be interesting if they would put this committee on video