The legislative session is coming to a close in about three weeks, and there’s a ton of potential legislation that still needs to be pushed through by lawmakers. A recent bill passed by the Senate has caused quite a stir, as it exposes anyone involved in the process of providing abortion-inducing drugs to lawsuits of up to $100,000. The measure also extends the wrongful death statute to allow family members, such as men who suspect their partner of having an abortion, to file lawsuits up to six years after the incident.
Bail reform is also a hot topic in Texas, with a bill passed in the Senate and set to be taken up in the House that would give judges the power to deny bail to certain criminal defendants. This new legislation would overturn the previous standard that guaranteed pretrial release to individuals charged with capital murder. Additionally, there’s a bill in the works to prohibit land sales in Texas to residents of countries listed on a U.S. Threat assessment list, which currently includes China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Blaise Gainey, a state politics reporter, believes that the Republicans’ bail reform bill has a good chance of passing and being signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott this session. The proposed bill would enable judges to refuse bail to individuals accused of specific crimes, such as aggravated kidnapping, robbery, or assault with a weapon in murder cases. The rationale behind this move is to prevent individuals from committing additional crimes after being released from jail before their initial court appearance or sentencing.
In terms of votes, Republican lawmakers need 100 votes in the House to secure the passage of the bail reform bill, which means they require around 12 to 14 Democrats to support the measure. While some Democrats are in favor of the bill, others, particularly progressive Democrats, oppose it due to the belief in the American principle of being innocent until proven guilty. The bill faces scrutiny for potentially infringing on individuals’ rights by detaining them until their trial date without the presumption of innocence.
The Texas House recently approved Senate Bill 17, aiming to restrict land sales to individuals from specific countries. The bill intends to prevent these countries from acquiring significant amounts of land in the United States. Despite concerns that the bill may target individuals from Asia for racial or xenophobic reasons, exceptions have been made for naturalized citizens from these countries residing in America. Critics worry about the potential threat posed by individuals from these countries purchasing land near military bases, prompting states to take action on the matter.
As the legislative session draws to a close, it seems likely that these controversial bills will make their way to the governor’s desk for approval. Many lawmakers and advocates are closely monitoring these developments, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues related to bail reform and land sales to foreign individuals. The impact of these bills on various aspects of the legal system and national security has sparked debates and discussions among legislators and the public alike.
