Abbott and Patrick move top priorities through the Legislature
The Legislature has been making waves, as lawmakers scramble to advance big bills before deadlines in both the House and Senate send them to Gov. Greg Abbott before the last day of session on May 29.
Two bills touted by Abbott and Lt. Gov Dan Patrick have cleared the Legislature and will be signed by Abbott to become law.
Sanctuary Cities
The bill - SB 4 -
by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock)
- cleared the Senate Thursday on a 20-11 party-line vote after moving
through the House (94-53) amid hours of debate last week.
The legislation
bans "sanctuary cities" and imposes penalties on uncooperative officials.
The Senate, where Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has been advocating for the bill, also accepted the so-called "show-me-your-papers" amendment added by Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler).
The amendment would allow law enforcement to question a person's immigration status while detained despite not being charged with a crime.
Abbott has said he will sign the bill into law, which will become effective Sept. 1, 2017.
Constitutional Convention
One of Abbott's four emergency items - a resolution calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution - passed the Texas House on Thursday along party lines.
The measure - SJR 2
- passed by a 94-51 vote as amended and now heads back to the Senate for approval of the changes.
Texas would be the 11th state to adopt a call for a national convention, which can only occur when at least two-thirds, or 34 states, support the idea.
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