This Week At The Capitol With State Rep. Zwiener

Texas House Passes Bill Softening Marijuana Penalties

Austin, TX — The Texas House Tuesday, April 30, passed legislation coauthored by State Representative Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) that would soften the penalties for those possessing small amounts of cannabis.

Authored by Rep. Joseph Moody (D-El Paso), House Bill 63 lessens the penalty for possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, which is currently set at up to $2,000 in fines and 180 days of jail time, to a Class C misdemeanor with fines not exceeding $500 and no possibility of incarceration. Studies have shown Texas incarcerates nearly 75,000 individuals each year for marijuana possession, one of the highest rates in the nation.

“An arrest for carrying small amounts of cannabis should not derail someone’s life, make them lose their driver’s license, or give them difficulty finding a job or housing,” said Rep. Zwiener. “That is why I believe in Texas we should fully decriminalize cannabis. House Bill 63 moves us in that direction, treats Texans more compassionately, and takes a critical step toward a fairer criminal justice system.”

An advocate for patient rights, Rep. Zwiener is also a co-author on HB 1365 by Representative Eddie Lucio III (D-Brownsville), which would authorize the use of medical cannabis for patients with certain debilitating medical conditions.

Rep. Zwiener also filed HB 4145 to prohibit a practitioner from refusing to treat a patient or prescribe a controlled substance for pain treatment if the results of a drug test show cannabidiol in the patient’s system. HB 4145 is scheduled for a hearing with the House Committee on Public Health tomorrow, May 1.

“There are so many people, including veterans and those with chronic pain, that would benefit from the use of cannabis,” said Rep. Zwiener. “People should not be denied those benefits simply because some legislators do not understand cannabis and its benefits to Texans. This session, I am hopeful we will make substantial progress on the access to medical marijuana and marijuana decriminalization.”

Rep. Zwiener Recognizes Texas Hill Country for Contributions to State

 Austin, TX — State Representative Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) Monday recognized with House Resolution 1402 the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area (AVA) for its cultural, geographic, and economic contributions to the state of Texas and the nation. Highlighting the dozens of counties and millions of acres that span the Texas Hill Country, Rep. Zwiener said the region’s quick and continued growth has led wine aficionados from near and far to visit the area and boost the economy.

“I am honored to represent part of the Hill Country at the Capitol and so proud to see the area continue to garner national attention,” said Rep. Zwiener. “As the Hill Country continues to grow in homeowners, visitors, and businesses, it is important to recognize the vast contributions this area makes to our great state and nation. The wine industry, in particular, is a major contributor to the region’s economic vitality and cultural vibrancy, and it deserves to be acknowledged and appreciated here today.”

Lying just north of San Antonio and west of Austin, the Texas Hill Country American Viticultural Area spans 9.6 million acres and extends into 23 Texas counties including Hays and Blanco counties in Rep. Zwiener’s House District 45. The Hill Country AVA is one of the largest viticultural regions in the United States, home to over 50 wineries and vineyards, and the number two wine tourism area in the nation. Wine labeled “Texas Hill County” is composed of at least 85% wine from within the AVA.

Rep. Zwiener Lays Out Pipeline Bill on Eminent Domain

Austin, TX — Last week, State Representative Erin Zwiener (D-Driftwood) pushed forward on more legislation aimed at public oversight on proposed oil and gas pipelines.

On April 25, she laid out House Bill 3327 in the Land and Resource Management Committee saying her legislation would enable county governments to share site-specific concerns with pipeline operators early enough in the process to impact the route. Rep. Zwiener brought this bill and others in response to the Permian Highway Pipeline, a proposed 42-inch natural gas pipeline operated by Kinder Morgan.

“By the time Kinder Morgan reached out to our local elected officials, they had already chosen a route,” said Rep. Zwiener. “But they didn’t have local on-the-ground information about planned developments, road reroutes, and the counties’ open space plans. Their maps even showed outdated city boundaries, and they skipped reaching out directly to at least one city where they’re planning to build.”

HB 3327 would require pipeline operators with eminent domain authority to send a written notice of intent to county judges of the counties before the operator contacts landowners. This notification would initiate a process for the county commissioners court to exchange information with the operator about public infrastructure, planned developments, site-specific safety concerns, and environmental sensitivities. Right now there is no public routing process for intrastate transmission pipelines in Texas, and only the pipeline operator determines the route.

“There should be full and transparent communication between common carriers attempting to route a pipeline and the county governments it will affect so that we can ensure the needs of each community are met,” Rep. Zwiener said. “Companies should know their full liabilities and have the ability to understand their siting prior to beginning the eminent domain process. With this bill, we’ll create a faster and fairer procedure for all parties involved in the pipeline laying process.” 

The Land and Resource Management committee also heard several other bills related to eminent domain including SB 421 and HB 991 by Senator Lois Kolkhorst and Representative DeWayne Burns, respectively. This bill would set up minimum easement standards, provide protection from low ball offers, and require a landowner meeting. Rep. Zwiener is a coauthor of HB 991.