Texas House Bill HB4595

Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

• Filed: 3/9/23
• Out of House Committee: 4/24/23
• Voted on by House: 5/2/23
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/16/23
• Voted on by Senate: 5/17/23
• Governor Action: 6/12/23

Caption

Relating to nonsubstantive additions to, revisions of, and corrections in enacted codes and to the nonsubstantive codification or disposition of various laws omitted from enacted codes.

Impact

As a cleanup bill, HB 4595 is crucial in streamlining Texas laws and assuring consistency in statutory language. By correcting inconsistencies among various codes, the bill helps legislators, legal practitioners, and citizens to better understand their rights and responsibilities under the law. The extensive input from the Texas Legislative Council indicates a thorough review of previous legislative measures, ensuring that technical inaccuracies in law are addressed without altering their intent. This in turn aids in preserving continuity and clarity within Texas's legal framework.

Summary

House Bill 4595 serves as an important legislative measure in Texas, aimed at the non-substantive addition, revision, and correction of various enacted codes. The bill is part of the Texas Legislative Council's ongoing efforts to clarify and refine existing statutory language without making substantive changes to the law. The bill addresses numerous areas, especially within the alcoholic beverage code and business and commerce code, ensuring that several laws that were inadvertently omitted from previous legislative enactments are properly integrated and codified as needed.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment concerning HB 4595 appears largely positive among legislators, as it received strong support during discussions and votes. Senators and representatives recognize the importance of having a clean and accurate code, agreeing on the necessity of these revisions as an essential part of legislative maintenance. The lack of opposition during discussions in committees suggests a broad consensus on the need for such measures, emphasizing a collaborative approach to legislative housekeeping.

Contention

While HB 4595 does not appear to incite significant controversy, some points of contention may arise from the broader implications of continuous statutory revisions and potential unforeseen consequences of these changes. Critics may argue that even non-substantive amendments can lead to complexities within existing laws or create situations where prior interpretations of statutory language might shift subtly due to codification efforts. Ensuring that these amendments do not undesirably affect established legal precedents remains a crucial concern in the legislative discourse.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Transportation Code

• Chapter 361. State Highway Turnpike Projects
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 201. General Provisions And Administration
  • Section: 624

• Chapter 225. State Highway Names
  • Section: 201

• Chapter 503. Dealer's And Manufacturer's Vehicle License Plates
  • Section: 0626

Alcoholic Beverage Code

• Chapter 5. Alcoholic Beverage Commission
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 1. General Provisions
  • Section: New Section

Education Code

• Chapter 12. Charters
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 33. Service Programs And Extracurricular Activities
  • Section: 083

Health And Safety Code

• Chapter 481. Texas Controlled Substances Act
  • Section: 134
  • Section: 134

• Chapter 692a. Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act
  • Section: 020

• Chapter 62. Child Health Plan For Certain Low-income Children
  • Section: 1571

Government Code

• Chapter 2277. Agreements With Professional Sports Teams
  • Section: 003

• Chapter 2273. Prohibited Transactions
  • Section: 004

Local Government Code

• Chapter 179. Authority Of Certain First Responders To Carry Handgun
  • Section: 051

• Chapter 250. Miscellaneous Regulatory Authority
  • Section: 011
  • Section: 012

• Chapter 43. Municipal Annexation
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 180. Miscellaneous Provisions Affecting Officers And Employees Of More Than One Type Of Local Government
  • Section: 009

Penal Code

• Chapter 46. Weapons
  • Section: 15
  • Section: 15

Natural Resources Code

• Chapter 153. Prescribed Burning
  • Section: 084

Occupations Code

• Chapter 1701. Law Enforcement Officers
  • Section: 271

Tax Code

• Chapter 25. Local Appraisal
  • Section: 19

• Chapter 41. Local Review
  • Section: 45

• Chapter 5. State Administration
  • Section: New Section

Civil Practice And Remedies Code

• Chapter 51. Appeals
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: New Section

Utilities Code

• Chapter 33. Jurisdiction And Powers Of Municipality
  • Section: 0211

Code Of Criminal Procedure

• Chapter 12. Limitation
  • Section: New Section

Human Resources Code

• Chapter 32. Medical Assistance Program
  • Section: 024