SB 29 and HB 41 Killed in the House

Representative David Simpson’s anti-groping bill has died on a procedural vote in the Texas House when he failed to get 4/5 votes needed to pass a constitutional measure. Initially Representative Simpson agreed to accept a CLEAT amendment offered by Representative Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, Chair of the House Committee on Public Safety, that clarified reasonable suspicion. At the last minute, Representative Simpson reneged on the agreement and had his legislative staffer call the CLEAT office to leave the information. CLEAT simply wanted Texas peace officers to be excluded from the bill specifically and the reasonable suspicion clause remain in place. CLEAT is pleased in this result for Texas law enforcement.