Last week the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee voted only two penalty reduction bills out of the committee to be moved to the Texas House Floor.
Learn how to become a medical cannabis patient in Texas
While both bills are great bills for what they are, partisan politics may keep either one of them from making it to the Texas Senate floor. The most powerful Democrat, Joe Moody who was Speaker Pro Tempore last session and this session, did not get his bill past Dan Patrick. But Moody’s bill did not get past Lt. Gov Dan Patrick, despite that this was a bill tailored to be an item that Governor Greg Abbott was willing to sign. Moody’s bill has been passed on to junior Democrat Erin Zwiener who covers a flip district in the Hays and Blanco County area, HD45. The bill may be a great bill, but it is likely that Dan Patrick will not let a Democrat written bill be heard in a Senate Committee or on the Senate floor.
HB 99 is a decriminalization bill written by Republic Representative Stephen Toth. Toth is considered a hardline conservative by many across the aisle. Toth’s bill would take 2 ounces to being a Class C, with no arrests, and a diversion program to be included in the committee substitute. It may be possible that for a penalty reduction to take place this session, a bill such as Toth’s will have to be put forward. Toth’s bill also gives some moving room to go down to 1 ounce which is what HB 441 bill has written into it.
It only takes a moment and a letter is already written for you if you need one. Send a letter in and call their offices over the next 24 hours asking them to move HB 99 to calendars to be heard on the House floor. Phone numbers are below the form on this webpage. You can click here or fill out the form below.
Read more about Delta-8 in Texas