There might still be two months before the 84th legislative session starts, but eager lawmakers aren't waiting to get their legislation on the table.
On Monday, the first day that legislation can be submitted, Texas lawmakers filed more than 350 bills, addressing topics including guns, texting while driving, health, transportation and much more.
Monday鈥檚 filings do not guarantee that the Legislature would consider the bills, and the assigned bill numbers have no impact on how legislation is taken up in committees. But the early attention can be a benefit ahead of the session, which starts Jan. 13.
"I think getting a low number, getting an early scheduled hearing, I think that helps you," said state Rep. , R-Midland. "When you get a bill filed early, it gives you a chance and it gives people a chance to kind of view it and know its there."
Craddick, a former speaker of the House,, legislation he has filed in previous sessions. Similar legislation was filed by state Rep. , D-Harlingen; Sen. , D-Laredo; and Rep. , D-San Antonio.
The proposed ban has received bipartisan support in the past but has stopped just short of becoming law. In 2011, Gov. , calling it an "overreach."
A team of Democrats has filed legislation to repeal Texas' ban on same-sex marriage 鈥� a fight they are unlikely to win in the Republican-controlled House and Senate. One lawmaker, state Rep. , D-Houston, filed a constitutional amendment to overturn the ban,, but acknowledged Monday that a court ruling is more likely to bring same-sex marriage to Texas than legislation. But he said bills can give advocates something to organize around.
"In talking with my colleagues, what we wanted to do was show people that this is important and show people that this deserves a spotlight that is bigger than one member filing a bill,鈥� Coleman said.
As of Monday afternoon, a bill repealing the Texas Dream Act, which allows undocumented immigrant students to pay in-state college tuition rates, had yet to emerge. that he would work to repeal the act. The bill could part of legislation that is reserved for priorities set by the lieutenant governor.
All bills can be seen on the . Here鈥檚 a list of other noteworthy legislation filed Monday:
Guns
State Reps. , R-Canton, and , R-Woodville, filed legislation, and , respectively, that would allow Texans to openly carry handheld guns.
, filed by Rep. , R-Lexington, would create the "Second Amendment Preservation Act," which would say a federal law "that infringes on a law-abiding citizen's right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution or Section 23, Article I, Texas Constitution, is invalid and not enforceable in this state."
Transportation
and , filed by Sen. , R-Lubbock, would eliminate diversions from the state highway fund to the Department of Public Safety to ensure those funds are only used on road construction. Currently, part of the state highway fund is paying for state highway police.
Health
, filed by Sen. , D-McAllen, would require schools to stock EpiPens, and that employees are trained in how to use the medical devices that combat serious allergic reactions.
and , also filed by Hinojosa, would introduce regulations of vapor products, or e-cigarettes, in Texas. SB 96 prohibits the use of vapor products on school property, while SB 97 would apply many of the regulations on cigarettes to vapor products.
, filed by Rep. , R-Cypress, would make it illegal to perform an abortion based on the sex of the child.
, filed by Rep. , D-San Antonio, would expand Medicaid eligibility in the state.
Education
Sen. , D-Laredo, filed several higher education related bills. would increase the orientation training for university system regents, while would prevent the governor from appointing a student regent if that person did not submit an application to the university or its student government. , also filed by , would make pre-kindergarten available to all 4-year-olds in Texas and make half-day pre-K available to 3-year olds who meet certain at-risk measures.
, filed by Sen. , R-Amarillo, would fund 64 construction and renovation projects at higher education institutions across the state. It would cost $2.86 billion.
, filed by Rep. , R-Canton, would stop independent school districts from banning schools from posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Voting
, filed by Rep. , D-Austin, would allow citizens to register to vote online.
Sen. , D-Houston, filed three bills in an attempt to increase civic engagement in Texas. would create a voter education program in Texas high schools, would allow deputy registrars to receive their training online, andwould notify voters who were rejected while registering of what mistakes they made on their registration forms.
, filed by Rep. , D-San Antonio, would create same-day voter registration.
Energy and Environment
, filed by Sen.-elect , R-Plano, establishes new deadlines for processing water rights permits in Texas. In a statement on Monday, Taylor said the bill was aimed at bureaucracy that is preventing parts of North Texas from accessing water.
, filed by Rep. , D-Rio Grande City, would change the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas to the 鈥淭exas Energy Resources Commission.鈥� Similar legislation has failed in the past.
Other
, filed by Rep. , D-Weslaco, would allow money from the Texas Enterprise Fund to go to veterans hospitals in the state. this past election season, when it was revealed that several recipients of the fund never formally submitted applications.
, filed by Rep. , R-Woodville, would change the legal definition of an "illegal knife."
, filed by Rep. , R-Canton, would nix daylight savings time in Texas.
, filed by Rep. , R-San Antonio, would allow counties to house prisoners in tents.
-- by Bobby Blanchard, The Texas Tribune
