Legislative Updates from TAHU

Speaker Announces Guidelines for Interim Business

Last week Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen issued guidelines for conducting the business of House committees during the current crisis. Interim committee meetings ceased in early March when the Governor declared a pandemic emergency. Unlike the courts or state agencies, however, the House under its own rules cannot conduct virtual committee hearings. Speaker Bonnen gave House members three options: posting information pertinent to a committee’s oversight jurisdiction on a House committee’s website; formally soliciting agency, stakeholder, and public comment on an interim charge or other matter through notice posted on the Texas Legislature Online/Texas Legislative Information System and House websites; and public forums hosted by committee chairs. With respect to the public forum option, a committee chair is not required to invite House members to attend, but if the chair does do so, he must invite all members of the House, not just committee members. 

TDI Extends Modified Requirements for Sworn Statements

TDI has once again extended the time they will allow filings to be submitted without sworn statements, affidavits, and notarizations, this time to September 30, 2020. You can view their modified filings chart for a complete list of temporary COVID-related changes. 

Be Aware of Fingerprint Backlog

TDI is reporting it is taking longer than usual to get an appointment with their vendor for fingerprints. The wait can be two to four weeks depending on the location. Call IdentoGO at 1-888-467-2080 for information on which sites have the shortest wait times. Once they receive the background information, they process most licenses within one day.

Questions? Contact your TAHU Lobbyists at:
Mike Meroney
Shannon Meroney
512-499-8880 (office)
512-731-6615 (Shannon’s mobile) 
512-589-2531 (Mike’s mobile)

Shannon@MeroneyPublicAffairs.com
Mike@MeroneyPublicAffairs.com