Here is a quick rundown on where we stand on our Bills.
The Helmet Bill HB 264 will go to Law Enforcement Committee: Reps on Committee:
Joe Driver
Jim Jackson
Glen Hegar
Lon Burnam
Stephen Frost
Suzannah Gratia Hupp.
Hupp and Veasey have said yes. Frost and Jackson are leaning our way so the Ft. Worth area riders need to contact Lon Burnam and everyone needs to contact Joe Driver and ask him to support the Bill. We currently have 38 yeses pledged which is ½ the votes needed for passage.
Transportation Committee will hear our Failure to Yield Bill. Committee Members are:
Mike Krusee
Larry Phillips
Peggy Hamric
Bill Callegari
Joe Deshotel
Kino Flores
Fred Hill
Buddy West.
Phillips and Deshotel have said yes. Callegari Flores and West have always supported us . Hill, Hamric and Krusee need to get letters.
Our Insurance Bill is filed by Rep. Carl Isett and is waiting for a number. Of course it will be heard by the Insurance Committee with members:
John Smithee
Gene Seaman
Carl Isett
Craig Eiland
Rene Oliviera
Larry Taylor
Corbin Van Arsdale
Chairman Smithee has spoken favorably of the Bill and Isett is Sponsoring the Bill.
Eiland offered a similar Bill HB 949 to keep insurance companies from denying benefits to someone injured with alcohol or drugs in their system so he is a safe bet for yes. Taylor is yes and Oliveira has always supported our issues. This one looks good Committee wise.
Reps are hard to catch face to face right now but things will settle down in about two weeks and then it will be daylight to dark at the capitol. I feel very comfortable with the committees on Insurance and Law Enforcement. We'll just have to see what happens with Transportation.
Everyone should be writing letters to their Rep and Senator concerning our Bills so it will make it easy to get votes once we meet face to face. Coming to Legislative Day wasn't the end it was only the beginning.
Sputnik