698 New Laws for Texas

According to the Legislative Reference Library of Texas, 698 bills that passed during the regular session of the 83rd Legislature took effect on September 1, 2013 as did sections of bills passed in 2011. Access the list of new laws from http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/whatsNew/client/index.cfm/2013/8/7/New-Laws-Effective-September-1-2013. The page includes links to the legislation.

The Aug. 31, 2013 Forth Worth Star Telegram also features a selection of these laws which include:

• prohibiting teens under 18 from using tanning beds
• prohibiting the use of drones to photograph people on private property without their consent
• prohibiting motorists from using cellphones on school property (even outside a school zone) unless their vehicle is stopped or they are using a hands-free device
• requiring drivers to move over a lane or slow to 20 mph below the posted speed for Texas Department of Transportation vehicles and tow trucks on the side of the road in addition to the previously listed first responder or law enforcement vehicles.

.

New Multimedia Congressional Timeline

The Dirksen Center has created a fun and informative multimedia Congressional timeline by session from 1933 to the present. Using a clever revolving cube to access audio, videos, photos, and documents, the site spotlights major legislation during each session and includes information about women and African American members, measures of productivity, and the partisan composition of each Congress.  A wiki allows for participation by viewers.

Higher Education Act Debate

In a July 30, 2008 press release, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings indicated support for many provisions contained in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act that recently made its way through Congress and is awaiting the president's signature. However, she expressed concern about "the creation of more than 60 new, costly, and duplicative programs." She also felt that the legislation "falls short on strengthening accountability."

The complete bill, H.R. 4137, is available at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-4137. To see other versions of the bill, access the "Full Text on THOMAS" link from the Library of Congress on the left side of that page.

State Legislation About Immigration

The National Conference of State Legislatures has released a report entitled 2007 Enacted State Legislation Related to Immigrants and Immigration. It includes a chart showing that all but nine states enacted some kind of immigration legislation in 2007. It covers legislation from the following main topics: education, employment, health, human trafficking, ID/driver's licenses/other licenses, law enforcement, legal services, miscellaneous, comprehensive measures, public benefits, voting, and resolutions. Under each topic is a list of states that have passed legislation related to that topic as well as a brief description of the legislation.