Local Legislative Update: Bluff, Nursing Homes & Cannabis
The effort to restrict truck traffic on the Bluff hit a roadblock last week.
Senate Bill 1053 filed by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst, who represents Fayette County, would have authorized Fayette County officials to restrict commercial truck traffic on major highways. The bill was intended to allow Fayette County officials to keep 18-wheelers off US 77 up and down the Bluff south of La Grange. Some Fayetteville residents were also excited about the possibility of using this legislation to curb 18-wheeler traffic on SH 159 and FM 955.
The Senate Transportation Committee discussed the bill at a hearing on April 21. Several Fayette County residents attended the hearing, including County Judge Joe Weber, who spoke in favor of the bill.
Two representatives from the trucking industry spoke against the bill at the same hearing, according to the hearing minutes.
The Texas Legislature ended its 87th session on last Sunday, and the bill died in committee without going up for a vote in the Senate. SB 1053 applied only to Fayette County and did not attract much interest from other lawmakers this session.
Nursing Home Access
Senate Bill 25, another bill authored by Kolkhorst, would guarantee family members or other caregivers access to their loved ones staying in nursing homes. During the coronavirus pandemic, nursing homes across the state stopped visitation in an effort to protect vulnerable elderly resident from the virus. That led to months of seclusion for residents. SB 25 would give residents the right to designate an essential caregiver for inperson visitation in future cases when facilities stop visitation. Caregivers would have to follow certain safety protocols. The bill passed both houses and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Cannabis Bill
Cannabis Bill
The Engle community between Schulenburg and Flatonia is home to one of just three legal cannabis dispensaries in the State of Texas. HB 1535, filed by Republican Rep. Stephanie Klick of North Richland Hills, would expand the state’s cannabis industry. Currently, medical cannabis treatment is only open to certain epilepsy patients, terminally ill cancer patients and those suffering from a few rare neurological disorders. HB 1535 would open up treatment to patients suffering other conditions such as PTSD, non-terminal cancer and certain experimental treatments. Kolkhorst and Rep. Ben Leman, who represents Fayette County in the State House, both voted in favor of the final version of the bill.
It passed both houses and has also been sent to the governor’s desk.