SB 723 Update 5

We're now into the last month of the 2011 Texas Legislative session, and the clock is ticking toward the end of it on May 30.  We're keeping an eye on an anti bullying bill now on the House floor among with a few others.  

The Legislative Queery blog is an excellent resource to keep with with all things Texas Legislature related from a TBLG perspective, and if you want to get a feel for Texas politics, Burnt Orange Report is one of my fave sites as well.

But let's get to what you trans peeps want to hear about, SB 723.   

Sen Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands) had to make a decision as to whether to put his bill back on the senate intent calendar or let it go onto the general calendar, where as of April 22 it was 74th in line.   The  general calendar is where bills go that are more controversial in nature and don't have 2/3 support of senators to expedite the process.   

Well, there is good news and bad news concerning SB 723.    The good news is that it is NOT on the intent calendar any more, it's on the general calendar.

The bad news is that Sen. Williams has until May 20 to get SB 723 voted out of the Senate, and then it must work its way through the House process by May 25.   HB 3098, the companion bill to SB 723 is still languishing in committee right now as it has been since March 18.   The bad news is that the sponsor of that bill is the chair of the committee, and she can call a meeting at any time.   

Still keeping an eye on it until the clock strikes midnight on May 30.