WEBVTT NOTE duration:"00:02:50.7000000" NOTE recognizability:0.978 NOTE language:en-us NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.128 You're taking a live look at our NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:02.128 --> 00:00:04.125 state capitol, a big day for Texans NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:04.125 --> 00:00:05.930 666 new laws taking effect today. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:05.930 --> 00:00:08.037 Hannah Rucker joins us now from The NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:08.037 --> 00:00:10.277 Newsroom with some of the biggest do laws. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:10.280 --> 00:00:11.906 You need to know about before NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:11.906 --> 00:00:13.760 you head out the door handle. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:13.760 --> 00:00:15.500 Good morning. Hi, good morning to NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:17.488 you Rob. I know you hear that NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:17.488 --> 00:00:18.979 number over 600 new laws. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:18.980 --> 00:00:20.430 A little overwhelming. Don't worry, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:20.430 --> 00:00:22.854 we're going to break down some of the NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:22.854 --> 00:00:24.776 main highlights to keep in mind today. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:24.780 --> 00:00:26.520 A big one today will be NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:26.520 --> 00:00:27.680 the homeless camping ban. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:27.680 --> 00:00:29.380 And of course something we're NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:29.380 --> 00:00:31.056 familiar with here. In Austin, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:31.056 --> 00:00:33.679 it will apply to the entire state, though, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.980 where people can face a fine of up to $500. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:36.980 --> 00:00:39.276 Cities cannot opt out of the ban. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:39.946 Of course. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:39.946 --> 00:00:42.277 Here in Austin you know we've already NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:42.277 --> 00:00:44.876 been going through the phases of Prop B, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:46.866 but for other Texas cities this NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:46.866 --> 00:00:49.556 will be the first time ban for them NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:49.556 --> 00:00:51.890 and another big one will allow any NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:51.890 --> 00:00:54.109 Texan who is eligible and over 21 NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:54.109 --> 00:00:56.598 years old to buy a handgun to carry NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:56.598 --> 00:00:58.690 one without a license or training. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:00:58.690 --> 00:01:00.440 This has been interesting, Austin. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:00.440 --> 00:01:02.230 Interim Police Chief Joseph Chacon NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:02.230 --> 00:01:04.600 has been very vocal against this law, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:04.600 --> 00:01:06.763 saying that he feels it'll be very NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:06.763 --> 00:01:08.996 crucial to make sure these new gun NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:08.996 --> 00:01:10.850 owners take some type of safety NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:10.920 --> 00:01:12.556 course and another controversial NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:12.556 --> 00:01:15.010 bill is the Texas Heartbeat bill. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:15.010 --> 00:01:17.594 We've heard a lot about this the past NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:17.594 --> 00:01:19.650 couple months and outlaws abortions as NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:19.650 --> 00:01:22.300 soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:22.300 --> 00:01:24.040 Before they know they're pregnant. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:24.040 --> 00:01:24.382 Now, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:24.382 --> 00:01:26.092 the safety concern from local NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:26.092 --> 00:01:28.208 providers with this is that they NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:28.208 --> 00:01:30.660 believe people will still find a way. NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:30.660 --> 00:01:31.740 To have abortions, NOTE Confidence: 0.9754424 00:01:31.740 --> 00:01:32.440 it's the NOTE Confidence: 0.9847294 00:01:32.440 --> 00:01:35.224 women with the least resources among the most NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:35.230 --> 00:01:37.038 vulnerable and marginalized communities NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:37.038 --> 00:01:40.077 who cannot meet this mandate and will NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:40.077 --> 00:01:42.444 not be able to travel out of state to NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:42.515 --> 00:01:44.650 access what has been for 50 years. NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:44.650 --> 00:01:46.738 A right a constitutional right in NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:46.738 --> 00:01:49.190 this country. So a lot of pushback NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:49.190 --> 00:01:51.668 with some of these laws here and NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:51.668 --> 00:01:53.672 other other providers are trying to NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:53.672 --> 00:01:56.178 get EU S Supreme Court to halt that NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:56.178 --> 00:01:58.258 heartbeat bill from becoming law. NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:01:58.260 --> 00:02:00.878 They have been successful at that yet. NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:02:00.880 --> 00:02:02.800 Another big one today is the NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:04.080 expanding of medical marijuana, NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:02:04.080 --> 00:02:06.369 which we will talk a little bit NOTE Confidence: 0.984729399999999 00:02:06.369 --> 00:02:08.560 more about later in the show. Rob NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.480 back to you. So many things NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:10.480 --> 00:02:11.760 changing already affected today. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:11.760 --> 00:02:12.741 Hannah, thank you. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:12.741 --> 00:02:13.722 There's another controversial NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:13.722 --> 00:02:15.599 bill that could soon become law. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:15.600 --> 00:02:17.200 It took two special sessions, NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:18.480 but lawmakers have passed NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:18.480 --> 00:02:19.760 the election reform bill. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:19.760 --> 00:02:22.320 It's on its way to the governor's desk. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:22.320 --> 00:02:24.096 This measure bans things like 24 NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:24.096 --> 00:02:26.159 hour voting and drive through voting. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:26.160 --> 00:02:27.710 It also limits how election NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:27.710 --> 00:02:29.657 officials can send out mail in NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:29.657 --> 00:02:31.347 ballot applications and it gives. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:31.350 --> 00:02:33.894 Partisan poll watchers free NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:33.894 --> 00:02:36.438 movement inside polling places. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:36.440 --> 00:02:38.060 During the first special session, NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:38.060 --> 00:02:39.675 Democrats fled the state for NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:39.675 --> 00:02:41.290 weeks to block this bill, NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:41.290 --> 00:02:42.900 saying it will suppress voters. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:42.900 --> 00:02:44.796 But Republicans say it'll make it NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:44.796 --> 00:02:47.098 easier to vote and harder to cheat. NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:47.100 --> 00:02:48.900 Governor Abbott says he will NOTE Confidence: 0.97817624 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:50.700 sign it into law soon.