Do you know your state senator or representative?

If not, you can look up your senator by going to, www.senate.state.tx.us Then on the main page, look at the left column, click on “Senators” and the fourth choice in the drop down menu is “Who Represents me?” Fill in the blanks and you will find your senator. Or simply paste this link in your browser, http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/Members.htm#FYI

And you can look up your representative by going to www.house.state.tx.us Then on the main page, in approximately the center of the page it says “How do I…” and then the first item below the heading says “Find who represents me?” Click there and then fill in the form with your home address.

                                                    Bills from 82nd Legislature

This list does not purport to cover every bill or proceeding that might affect registered interior designers, so it shouldn’t be relied upon as a sole source of legislative data. Click Bill # for additional information

These are the bills of current interest that we are tracking by priority.

PASSED, DIED FOR LACK OF ACTION, and AMENDED AND WITHDRAWN

The following bills are on the Governor’s desk -

HB 51 by Lucio III,Relating to energy efficiency standards for certain buildings and to high-performance design, construction, and renovation standards for certain government buildings and facilities.

HB 628 by Callegari, Relating to contracts by governmental entities and related professional services and to public works performance and payment bonds.

HB 2284 by Hardcastle, Relating to the practice of engineering and adding grandfathering for some engineers to practice architecture.

HB 3167 by Callegari, Relating to the repeal of occupational licensing requirements. -- This was the bill that did have interior designers being removed from statutes but that was changed in committee and this bill no longer mentions interior designers in any way.

SB 361 by Duncan, Relating to indemnification provisions in construction contracts.

The following bills did not make it through the process -

HB 2142 by Callegari, Relating to abolishing the regulation of the practice of interior design. -- Referred to Committee

HB 2543 by Wayne Smith, Relating to the licensing and regulation of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and land surveying by the Texas Board of Professional Services, the deregulation of interior design, and the abolition of the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, and the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveyors. -- Referred to Committee

HB 3166 by Callegari, Relating to the abolition and consolidation of state agencies. -- Died in Calendars

HB 2480 by Geren, Relating to the licensing and regulation of geoscientists by the Texas Board of Professional Engineers, the regulation and licensing of land surveyors by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners, and the abolition of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists and the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying. -- Left Pending in Committee

HB 2658 by Lavender, Relating to architectural barriers standards. -- Referred to Committee

HB 3756 by Carter, Relating to imposing liens for labor and materials provided by interior designers. -- Left Pending in Committee

HB 775 by Anchia, Relating to the adoption of energy efficiency, conservation, and indoor air quality standards for the design, construction, and renovation of public school instructional facilities. -- Left Pending in Committee

HB 1465 by Callegari, Relating to the abolition of the Joint Advisory Committee on the Practice of Engineering and Architecture. -- Referred to Committee but Action was Absorbed in HB 2284

HB 1698 by Wayne Smith, Relating to representation of certain state agencies by the office of the attorney general in certain law suits. -- Referred to Committee

HB 1876 by Truitt, Relating to the authority of certain municipalities to require fire protection sprinkler systems in certain residences. -- Left Pending in Committee

HB 2522 by Otto, Relating to the ability of certain state agencies to seek injunctions against certain individuals. -- Referred to Committee

HB 2682 by Lucio III, Relating to requiring upholstered furniture sold in this state to be made with filling that is burn resistant to an open flame; imposing a criminal penalty. -- Sent to Calendars

HB 3676 by Brown, Relating to procuring contracts for certain professional services by a governmental entity. -- Referred to Committee