Legislation Filed Without Signature

Gov. Rick Perry has allowed five pieces of legislation to become law without his signature.

In allowing Senate Bill 18, which relates to some taxing districts’ ability to adopt tax rates, to become law without his signature, Perry said the bill does not provide enough taxpayer protections to help end ‘hidden’ tax increases by valuation.

“Texans are concerned about being priced out of homeownership and want true property tax relief and true protection from ever increasing property taxes,” Perry added. “This bill does not get us there. And I will continue to fight for better for Texas taxpayers.”

Perry also allowed House Bill 2463 to become law without his signature, saying the hospital taxing districts created in Bexar, Webb and Hidalgo Counties may not meet federal standards and could result in increased scrutiny of Texas’ use on intergovernmental transfers in the Medicaid program.

In filing House Bill 126, which lowers the penalty for tampering with a document used to establish a student’s residency for public schools, without his signature, Perry noted that he is concerned about lowering penalties for such an offense.

Perry said he would let it become law, though, because “many school districts have found that the current penalty is not being enforced due to an overburdened court system and more serious cases taking precedence. Lowering the penalty may allow these cases to be heard in justice of the peace courts instead of higher courts.”

Also filed without signature are House Bill 214, which allows Gillespie and Starr counties to impose a hotel occupancy tax; and House Bill 1586, which allows the 11th Court of Appeals to hold court in Eastland or any county in the district.

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NOTE: The Governor also has signed the following legislation:

HB 10 by Pitts
• Sponsor: Ogden
• Relating to making supplemental appropriations and reductions in appropriations.
• Effective: immediately

HB 2639 by Geren
• Sponsor: Brimer
• Relating to the Powers and Duties of the Tarrant Regional Water district.
• Effective: September 1, 2005