Currently Texas State Laws and have been either proposed, filed or are in review that greatly impact immigrants and their families. On March 22, 2013, the TRUST REPORT was complied by the Texas Residents United for a Stronger Texas, which included a full list of the legislation currently impacting immigrants and their families. Below is a full list.
Filed legislation that attempts to put local law enforcement of state agencies in the role of regulating immigration, an area that should be left to Congress and federal agencies:
- HB 157 Permits a peace officer conducting a motor vehicle stop to detain the person operating the motor vehicle, for purposes of determining the person’s identity, if the person fails to provide government issued identification or fingerprints.
- HB 359 Requires law enforcement agencies to verify the immigration status of arrested persons, and notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the judge or magistrate authorized to order or deny bail if the person is not lawfully present in the United States.
- HB 559 Mandates that employer licenses be suspended for hiring persons without lawful presence.
- HB 615 Unnecessarily prohibits the knowing employment of unauthorized immigrants.
- HB 676 Requires that state contractor participate in the flawed everify database.
- SB 473 Attempts to establish a state temporary worker plan.
- SB 738 Creates a Texas Essential Workers Program that attempts to create a state temporary worker plan.
Filed legislation that attempts to remove an established privilege or right from the immigrant community:
- HB 119 Requires that persons who receive local or state money to provide services to individuals identify the citizenship status of the individuals they serve, determine the cost of providing services to non-United States citizens, and report this information to the State Comptroller to seek a reimbursement.
- HB 122 Prevents a person not lawfully present in the United States from establishing resident status at public institutions of higher education.
- HB 163 Requires a copy of a named insured’s driver’s license for issuance of an automobile insurance policy.
- HB 180 Repeals In-State Tuition for Dreamers.
- HB 181 Prohibits the use of public funds for the construction or operation by a local government entity of a day labor center used to facilitate employment of aliens not lawfully present in the United States.
- HB 219 Prohibits governmental entities from providing education or health benefits or services at no cost to a person who is not lawfully present in the United States, unless required by federal law.
- HB 423 Potentially denies SNAP benefits to immigrant families
- HJR 51 Proposing a constitutional amendment to mandate the denial of bail to certain persons who are unlawfully present in the United States and are taken into custody for committing a felony.
- SB 437 Denies in-state tuition to Dreamers.
The following bills have been filed that will assist in helping immigrants come out of the shadows and engage their communities:
- HB 152 Mandates that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles accept identity documents issued by another country as satisfactory proof of identity for the issuance of a driver’s license.
- HB 298 Prohibits employer retaliation against employees who seek recovery of unpaid wages and procedures in wage claims hearings and adds administrative penalties.
- HB 540 Prohibits the discriminatory practice of denying undocumented housing by municipalities.
- HB 636 Ensures homeowners that lack certain identification documents can still access their homestead exemption.
- HB 823 Requires an arrested person be informed about the consequences of a plea of guilty or no-contest.
- HB 2001 Ensures homeowners that lack certain identification documents can still access their homestead exemption.
- HB 2964 Allows a person who was incorrectly informed about pleading guilty or no-contest to file a writ of habeas corpus.
- HB 3206 Repeals the proof of immigration status provisions necessary to obtain a Texas identification document.
- SB 361 Requires an arrested person be informed about the consequences of a plea of guilty or no-contest.
- SB 526 Protects witnesses and victims of crimes from being asked about their immigration.
- SB 527 Prevents the wrongful detention of immigrants.
- HCR 44 Urges Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
- SCR 15 Urges Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.