Page 162 - 2019 A Police Officers Guide

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8. Legislative developments:

In the 2019 Legislative session, there were more than 7300 bills filed and more than 1400 of
those were enacted into law. This section presents only a smattering of those legislative
enactments and seeks to present those of more significance to law enforcement. This is by no
means complete.

HB 1631 No more red light cameras.

HB 446 Brass knuckles (as well as switchblade knives) are no longer illegal.

SB 1582 Broadens the worker comp coverage for police officers with the presumption that
certain conditions are workplace related.

HB 4236 Broadens the category of people who may view Officers’ body camera
recordings.

HB 1177 Regarding the carrying of a handgun after a disaster.

HB 1325 enacts Agriculture Code §122.358 (Powers and Duties of Peace Officers).
Subsection (b) authorizes a peace officer to detain any hemp in transit and request
documentation proving the product 1) is legal and 2) is legally possessed and
transported. Subsection (c) allows peace officers to seize and impound any
cannabis product for which there is probable cause to believe that it is marijuana
or “any other illegal substance”—such as hemp that does not meet various other
regulations required or adopted under HB 1325. (Read the new statutes on this!)

Caution: The “post-hemp” legal world is still developing with a long way to go. Officers
should rely heavily on their local prosecutors for guidance in this area.

A Peace Officer’s Guide to Texas Law 154 2019 Edition