Chad’s Morning Brief: Campus Carry and Statewide Texting Ban Legislation Still Have Unclear Paths

Here is your Morning Brief for May 8, 2015.

24 days left in the 84th Texas Legislative Session

Campus Carry Deal... Not a Done Deal

According to the Dallas Morning News, there still is not a confirmed deal on a way to move Campus Carry in the House. On Wednesday we learned that there was a possibility that the legislation would be added to open carry legislation as an amendment, but that changed yesterday.

Sen. Craig Estes – who would carry the other bill, open carry – said on Thursday that Fletcher was “a little premature in that analysis.” He said pro-gun lawmakers were indeed looking at multiple possibilities to move forward, but that “nothing has been decided.”

And Estes, R-Wichita Falls, was quick to point out that the House could still act on the Senate’s versions of campus carry and open carry.

“We look forward to the House hearing our Senate bills,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”

With just over three weeks left in the session, it’s uncertain what all the jockeying means — if anything — for campus carry’s prospects.

The measure – which would allow private universities, but not state ones, to opt out – sped out of the Senate. The House version passed out of committee in late March, but it has been stalled from reaching the floor by the House Calendars Committee.

House Calendars Committee Chairman Todd Hunter said earlier in the week that he wasn’t sure when campus carry might reach the floor. He said the hold-up was just a timing issue, as the panel might look to group several gun bills onto to the same day.

Fletcher’s proposal would allow campus carry to bypass the normal Calendars process. If the Senate approved the House’s open carry bill – with campus carry attached – then the House would just have to vote on whether they concur with the Senate amendments.

Fletcher, R-Tomball, said on Thursday that he’ll “stand by what I said.”

The fact that the House hasn't voted on and passed campus carry is shameful really. Both open carry and campus carry are common sense pieces of legislation that still haven't reached the Governor's desk. The Senate has done their job on these two issues, it's time for the House to move.

Texting Ban in Question

Legislation that would ban texting while driving in Texas is also being held up, but it's future is more uncertain that other legislation. According to the Dallas Morning News, it's some Republicans in the Senate who are holding up this legislation.

Efforts to get a statewide ban on texting-while-driving hit a road bump Thursday after Dallas senator Don Huffines used procedural tactics to delay an important committee vote.

Senate State Affairs Committee Chairwoman Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who said she “strongly supports” the bill, will take a vote Monday.

“I’ll get it out of committee,” Huffman said. On the floor, “it’s very close…it’s so close that it’s hard to say.”

Huffines, a Republican, “tagged” the bill, forcing the committee to wait 72 hours before taking it up. Huffman negotiated with Huffines to remove the tag so the planned meeting Thursday could proceed but agreed to hold on a vote. Some Republicans have expressed concerns about whether a texting ban would infringe on personal liberties.

Texas doesn't need a state-wide ban on texting while driving. We already have laws on the books that would cover this. Sadly, there are many lawmakers who preach small government but don't carry through with it when they get to Austin. I hope that Governor Abbott will follow Rick Perry's lead in vetoing the legislation IF it reaches his desk.

Other Must Read Links:

Group Secretly Films Texas Lawmakers

House Limits Payday Lender Telemarketing 

House Reject Tax Breaks for Boats 

Huckabee Looks to Texas Ties 

Ted Cruz Blocked in Senate

These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of The Chad Hasty Show. Tune in mornings 8:30-11am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard on our KFYO YouTube page after the show and online at kfyo.com.