July 19, 2019

Thank you for subscribing to my e-newsletter. Below you will find updates from federal, state and local agencies. Should you have any questions about the information below, please do not hesitate to contact us using the contact details listed at the end of this newsletter.

This week marks the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission and the walk on the moon. NASA is hosting events all year but this Saturday is the Apollo 50th Lunar Celebration at Space Center Houston. Check it out below to purchase tickets to join us for an all-day event featuring an outdoor festival, concert and countdown broadcast of the moon original landing footage.

Today, community members will gather to remember Humble City Council Member, Glenn Redmon. Glenn lost his battle with leukemia last weekend. Born and raised in Humble, Glenn and his family have deep roots locally. He was a beacon of "service over self" and a generous donor to the community. Our sincerest condolences go out to the Redmon family and all of his friends. He will be greatly missed. Click here to learn more about Glenn and the services to celebrate his life.

Please note: the District Office will be closed Friday, July 19th, but the Capitol Office will remain open. Should you have questions regarding anything in this newsletter, please feel free to contact us directly using the information provided at the bottom of this email.

Sincerely,

Download my July 2019 calendar by clicking the link below. This month is full of events in and around Texas that could be fun or useful to you and your family! This new format allows you to save the document for printing or sending to your family members.

 

Keep watch for these updated calendars at the beginning of each month. Important local and legislative dates and events will be posted here.

Mission Apollo Minute

The historic Apollo lunar landing on July 20, 1969 paved the way for future space exploration and opened the door to boundless curiosity and discovery. The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission symbolizes how anything is possible. We are all explorers who can do our part to expand knowledge and be a part of the NASA mission. Experience the legacy of the first lunar landing and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing among an array of significant Apollo artifacts under one roof. Learn more:  spacecenter.org/apollo-50

Apollo 50th Anniversary Celebration

All eyes will be on Houston, the home of human spaceflight, as the world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon on July 20. Space Center Houston is the perfect setting to celebrate all things Apollo 11 this summer – especially from the anniversary of the Apollo 11 blastoff on July 16 through the mission’s conclusion when the astronauts safely splashed down back on Earth on July 24.



Apollo 11 50th Live is an all-day lunar celebration and countdown to Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon. Discover an array of space-themed experiences including late-night NASA Tram Tours, notable speakers, book signings, an outdoor festival with a concert, a family STEM zone, and more.

Flood Control District to Begin Taylor Gully Project

TEA: "HB 3 in 30" Video Series - Pre K

State Leaders Send Letter To District And County Attorneys Regarding Hemp And Marijuana Possession Cases

Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dennis Bonnen, and Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to all Texas District and County Attorneys (DAs) regarding recently dismissed marijuana possession cases and reports that some DAs will no longer prosecute misdemeanor marijuana cases. In the letter, the four state leaders lay out how actions taken by certain DAs do not align with the passage of House Bill 1325 and represent a misunderstanding of how this law works. The leaders urge all DAs to uphold their oath and faithfully execute the law.

 

“Marijuana has not been decriminalized in Texas, and these actions demonstrate a misunderstanding of how H.B. 1325 works,” the letter states. “The power to change the law is legislative and rests with the Texas Legislature under the Texas Constitution. Since H.B. 1325 did not repeal the marijuana laws of Texas, as Judicial Branch Members, you should continue to enforce those laws by ‘faithfully executing the duties of the office of the [District or County Attorney], of the State of Texas, and ... to the best of [your] ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States and of this State.’”

 

Below is an overview of the letter. The full letter can be found here.

 

Marijuana, Hemp, and the 2018 Farm Bill

Congress’ 2018 Farm Bill differentiated hemp from marijuana by setting a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) threshold concentration of 0.3%. Anything above 0.3% is still considered marijuana and therefore generally illegal in Texas.

 

H.B. 1325 Adopted the Federal Framework  

The Farm Bill delegated primary authority over how to regulate the production and sale of hemp to the states. H.B. 1325 adopted the 0.3% THC standard (same as the Farm Bill) for distinguishing regulated hemp from prohibited marijuana. Furthermore, H.B. 1325 directs the Texas Department of Agriculture to pass rules requiring hemp producers to be state-licensed and test their products to ensure 0.3% or less THC concentration. Importantly, the law also requires a shipping certificate that confirms the product in transport is legally compliant hemp (no more than 0.3% THC). Failure to have the required certificate during transport is a misdemeanor and also subjects the person to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation. In short, H.B. 1325 gave prosecutors more tools to prosecute these crimes, not less, because they can now prosecute a misdemeanor for failure to have a proper hemp certificate.

 

Lab Tests Are Only One of Multiple Established Ways to Prove Marijuana Possession Cases

 Additionally, as some DAs and county attorneys have pointed out, lab tests are not the only way to prove marijuana possession cases. Adopting this federal definition of hemp did not limit the prosecutorial options for prosecuting marijuana cases. Criminal cases can be proven either through lab tests or through other circumstantial evidence. Furthermore, even before the passage of H.B. 1325, companies and labs were already developing THC concentration tests. As more companies enter the testing marketplace, the costs of the tests will certainly decline. Finally, even if a lab test were needed, they are not as costly as some initial reporting indicated.

TxDMV: Looking for Advisory Applicants

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is looking for individuals interested in serving as members on one of its five new advisory committees that may be created. Advisory committees provide recommendations to the board and executive director on rules and policy issues related to TxDMV.

The new advisory committees that TxDMV may create include:



Anyone wishing to apply for an advisory committee may complete  the Application . If you have any questions about applying to be an advisory committee member, email   [email protected] .

GLO Comm. Bush: "What we learned after Harvey"

Legislative Update:

HB 9 07 - Relating to the regulation of aggregate production operations by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; increasing a fee; increasing administrative penalties.

In this weekly section, you will find bills authored by Rep. Huberty that successfully passed both chambers and were sent to Governor Abbott for his approval. Governor Abbott has signed all of the 11 House Bills and both of the Senate Bills Rep. Huberty passed. The last bill highlighted here was HB 831 , which clarifies language regarding resident requirements for eligibility to public office. This week, you will learn more about HB 907, which strengthens enforcement actions for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on aggregate production operations in Texas.

HB 907 amends the Water Code to increase to at least once every two years the frequency with which the TCEQ is required to inspect an active aggregate production operation during the first six years in which the operation is registered. The bill authorizes TCEQ to conduct unannounced periodic inspections of an aggregate production operation that in the preceding three-year period has been issued a notice of violation by TCEQ for a violation of an environmental law or rule under TCEQ jurisdiction. The bill increases the maximum annual aggregate production operation registration fee and the maximum penalties for the operation of an unregistered aggregate production operation.

This bill furthers the purpose of Rep. Huberty's original APO registration legislation, passed in his freshman session in 2011. These businesses were not even required to register their operations prior to the passage of his original HB 571. This new language helps to strengthen the existing process and further the enforcement capability of TCEQ over the bad actors in the industry. There is still more to do to prevent further damage, but this is a good update the process.

To see a list of Rep. Huberty's legislation from the 86th Session, click here.

Last weekend, our community suffered a huge loss with the passing of Glenn Redmon. A longtime community member and business leader, Glenn had just recently been elected to serve to the City of Humble City Council. Rep. Huberty had a resolution drafted in his honor and the text is as seen below:

"Whereas, Residents of Humble are mourning the loss of city council member Glenn Everett Redmon, who passed away on July 13, 2019, at the age of 65; and, Whereas, Born on November 2, 1953, Mr. Redmon graduated from Humble High School, where he played on the football team; he went on to complete his bachelor's degree in business administration and management at Sam Houston State University; in 1976, he established Custom Kitchen Equipment, and as its president, he continued to expand operations of the company, which today employs a staff of more than 20; and

 

Whereas, Mr. Redmon was elected to the Position 2 seat on the Humble City Council in May 2019; long admired for his efforts in behalf of the community, he was a stalwart supporter of sports and academics in the Humble Independent School District; he founded Special Kid Day, which gives children with special needs the opportunity to participate in FFA and 4H livestock exhibitions, and he managed the Humble 4H Club and served as chair of Project Graduation at Humble High School; in addition, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Humble and the First Baptist Humble congregation; his many accolades included recognition as an Honorary Farmer by the Humble, Kingwood, and Atascocita FFA groups, and he was a two-time Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow; and

 

Whereas, Devoted to his family, Mr. Redmon shared a rewarding marriage with his wife, Karla; he was the proud father of three daughters, Blair Ary, Brook Dickison, and Kendra Roller; and, Whereas, The life of Glenn Redmon stands as an outstanding example of civic engagement, and although he will be deeply missed by those he left behind, his contributions will be remembered and admired for years to come; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That tribute be paid to the memory of Glenn Everett Redmon and that sincere condolences be extended to his family, his friends, and his fellow citizens."

Our office is always ready to assist you. Call or email us and we will do our best to help. Many State Agencies also have hotlines or citizen assistance offices to assist you. That contact information is available at this link, in alphabetical order: 

http://www.lrl.texas.gov/genInfo/stateAgencies.cfm

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