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Voting rights, critical race theory, abortion pills: 7 new laws go into effect today in Texas
The laws that go into effect come from the second special session, which adjourned in early September. (Pexels)
Several new laws from the Texas Legislature’s second special session will take effect Thursday, spanning controversial topics like voting rights, critical race theory and continued abortion restriction.
Though they take effect today, many of the bills have uncertain futures as they face opposition in the courts. Here are the seven bills to know about.
Voting restrictions: The highly-contested Senate Bill 1 will ban 24-hour voting, drive-thru voting, mail-in ballot ID requirements, protections for poll watchers and limits on polling places for the disabled or non-English speakers. The bill has been hit with six lawsuits—five from more than 20 civil rights organizations and one from the U.S. Department of Justice. Since law will stand trial in July, March 1 primaries will definitely be affected by SB 1.
Social site suits: House Bill 20 would allow social media users and the state attorney general to sue Twitter, Facebook or Youtube if their opinions are blocked or removed. The bill comes after complaints that conservative viewpoints were being censored surfaced around the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot. Though it was set to go into effect today, the bill was blocked by federal Judge Robert Pitman on Wednesday because it "prohibits virtually all content moderation," according to the filing. Companies contesting the bill, NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, said they were not surprised about the outcome because the government "can't force a citizen or company to be associated with a viewpoint they disapprove of."
Critical race theory: Controversial SB 3 will bar teaching critical race theory, which teaches how racism shaped America through history, and mandate that racial topics be “free from political bias” in all grades. Though the theory is not part of official public school curricula, proponents argued that teaching the theory would foster a racial divide and alienate white students while opponents argued the law will whitewash history.
Abortion pills pulled: SB 4 limits the availability of abortion pills from under 10 weeks pregnant to seven weeks and prohibits that the medication be sent via mail or delivery. Once the law goes into effect, it will be a state felony for a doctor to prescribe the drug without an in-person exam prior.
Can’t do the time? Don’t do the crime: SB 6 prohibits judges from allowing violent offenders and felons to have no-cash bail. Certain sections of the bill, including limits on charity organizations that post bail and a newly-created system to report a defendant’s criminal history, won’t go into effect until January.
Violence safety training in schools: SB 9 requires that schools teach trainings on child abuse, family violence, dating violence and sex trafficking at least once in middle school and once in high school. The law requires that children receive parental permission to attend.
An unnecessary precaution: SB 13 would have delayed the Texas primaries in the event that more time was needed for redistricting for 2020 census changes. The maps were approved in the third special session, so primaries will remain on March 1.- Gov. Abbott announces Texas Legislature special session agenda ... ›
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Popular
Delta-8 can be found on smoke shop shelves again. (Pexels)
Smoke shops are free to sell Delta-8 THC products again, for now, as a temporary injunction on the case has been granted—a victory for retailers.
An Austin judge temporarily removed Delta-8 and other language that restricted THC sales from the Texas list of controlled substances on Monday morning. The battle for Delta-8 legalization is far from over and will have a final trial in early 2022.
Behind the lawsuit to relegalize Delta-8 was Hometown Hero, an Austin-based hemp manufacturer and retailer. Founder Lukas Gilkey shared his excitement Monday morning in a YouTube video announcing the news, though he said he expects the decision to be appealed "immediately."
"We thought we were going to get it but now that we're here, this is crazy," Gilkey said in the video. "Couldn't sleep all last night—it's been a shit show."
The case comes after the Texas Department of Health and Human Services clarified on its website that Delta-8, which produces a similar but weaker high to traditional THC, was still considered illegal in Texas. The shift threw Delta-8 retailers, consumers and manufacturers into a frenzy—Green Herbal Care CBD told Austonia it makes as much as 90% of its revenue on Delta-8—since they've been selling it for over two years.
Austonia followed up with CBD retailer Grassroots Harvest CEO Kemal Whyte after speaking with him on the subject in October. Whyte said he is happy to see lawmakers going through the correct channels but warned other retailers to stay vigilant.
"We are an industry that is used to being constantly trodden on, stigmatized and beaten down, all while our customers are thanking us day and night about how much we've saved their lives," Whyte said. "I think they thought we were going to roll over and didn't realize that we had people like Lukas of Hometown Hero. We had a lot of good people fighting this fight."
Both Gilkey and Whyte took the time to thank the many businesses and agencies that pitched in to help make the suit a reality: Delta Xtracts, Go Ghost Hemp, Vape City, the Texas Hemp Federation and the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"Start off with kindness. Thank our congressional parties, the people who have influence over the future conversation, thank them for the support," Whyte said. "That will help them recognize that there's a large part of the constituency that wants this to be this way."
A final trial on the merits of Delta-8 will be held on Jan. 28, according to presiding judge Jan Soifer.
Council Member Greg Casar will run for District 35. (Greg Casar Campaign)
Austin City Council Member Greg Casar announced Thursday he is running for U.S. Congress after launching an exploratory committee for District 35 last month.
Currently holding the District 35 seat is Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who announced last month he is running for Texas' new District 37. District 35 mostly looks how it has the past 10 years—running from East Austin down I-35 through San Marcos, covering Lockhart and down to Northeast San Antonio—after Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed off on the new congressional map.
"I believe that working families from Bexar, to Hays, to Comal, to Travis County deserve a progressive leader, who will always fight and deliver for reproductive rights, good jobs, medicare for all and a better Texas. That's why I'm running for Congress," Casar said in his campaign launch video.
The 32-year-old Democrat will first need to win the Democratic primary in March 2022 to get closer to winning the seat. So far he is up against Austin community activist Claudia Zapata.
Casar has been the frontman for City Council and has championed progressive policy in his time. He's been a leader against immigrant families being separated, ending personal marijuana tickets and arrests, and doubling the minimum wage for city employees. He's also notably been part of cutting police funds to provide other resources to the community and advocating against a homeless camping ban. He won his third council term earlier this year by a landslide.
Before his campaign launch, his exploratory committee included a wide range of community members, and his campaign gained over 1,000 volunteers.
As his announcement his made, he has gained the support of former Texas Senator Wendy Davis, San Antonio City Council Members Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Teri Castillo, San Marcos City Council Member Alyssa Garza, San Marcos ISD Trustee Juan Miguel Arredondo, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Austin Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper Madison, Austin City Council Members Vanessa Fuentes, Ann Kitchen, and Paige Ellis, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza and Travis County District Attorney José Garza.
With his run, a special election will be held to fill his District 4 seat on council in 2022. Until then, Casar says he will continue to serve.
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