I accompanied Dave Barker, Don Soderburg, and about 30 others to the legislative hearing on this bill in Austin yesterday. Evidently the committee was impressed by the number of emails, calls, and letters (as well as our personal turnout), for Dave was called up before the meeting to consult with the committee chair in private.
The result was that Dave, based on his decades-long reputation with both the professional and amateur Texas herpetological community, was invited to work with the legislators to work up a version of the bill which is less objectionable to the herp community. He will do so, based on his own ideas and input from the herp community at large. He is scheduled to return to The Statehouse this Friday.
The committee chair seems to be absolutely determined to pass some version of this bill through his committee. His primary concern is that the state know where exotic venomous snakes are held in the state. He does not seem much concerned with constrictors. By the way, native venomous snakes are not addressed in this bill at all.
I'm sure Dave Barker will welcome any input any of you may have.
Brad Chambers
