Below are some of the major laws that passed and what they mean for Texans. The descriptions are not all-inclusive, just summaries of some of the high points of that particular piece of legislation. Click each bill to read more.
SB 21 – Minimum age for tobacco sales – This one is pretty cut and dry — you’ll have to be at least 21 years old to purchase or consume or possess tobacco products. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes and all other tobacco products.
SB 38 – Hazing — This redefines hazing to be more inclusive of certain actions. Namely, the consumption of alcohol. The law also gives immunity from civil and criminal liability to anyone who voluntarily reports a hazing incident in certain situations.
HB 1518 – Cough syrup — This prohibits the sale of dextromethorphan to customers under the age of 18. Dextromethorphan is commonly used in cough suppressants and can cause a “high” feeling if taken in large doses.
HB 2048 – Increase fines/fees for drivers — This repeals the Driver Responsibility Program, which will allow hundreds of thousands of Texans who’ve had their licenses suspended to reinstate them, and increases state fines for traffic and intoxicated drivers violations. State traffic fines will increase from $30 to $50 and intoxicated driver fines will increase as well: $3,000 for the first conviction within 36 months; $4,500 for a subsequent conviction within 36 months; or $6,000 for a conviction if it was shown that the person’s alcohol concentration level was 0.16 or more
SB 1232 – Alcohol delivery — The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission will give permits to qualifying beer and wine retailers so that the retailers can make alcohol deliveries. “The bill would not authorize the holder of a brewpub license to deliver alcoholic beverages directly to ultimate consumers for off-premise consumption at a location other than the licensed premise,” according to a bill analysis.
HB 1387 – School marshals — This increases the number of school marshals a campus can appoint. School’s can “appoint to one marshal per 100 students in average daily attendance, or for a private school, one marshal per 100 students enrolled,” according to a bill analysis.
And … Gov. Abbott signed House Bill 3703. Effective immediately, specialty doctors will be able to prescribe medical marijuana to treat multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, terminal cancer, autism, and many kinds of seizure disorders. Past state law only allowed those patients diagnosed with intractable epilepsy to be prescribed medical cannabis products, which in Texas may only contain low levels of the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. These products cannot be smoked. In Texas, the state’s only dispensary offer medical marijuana only in oil and inhaler forms.
