Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The language of HB1500 is not contained in HB3079 at this time. Time is running out to return the rights of herpers in Texas to legally cruise and walk the right-of-ways of the roadways of Texas. We have a very small window and it all depends on Senator Uresti's office. Senator Uresti is the Senator representing West Texas, the area in which all rural businesses are going to be effected if this bill does not pass. While his office has sent out emails assuring his constituents that things have been made right, nothing has changed thus far. In fact, as we speak, HB3079 sits in a committee in which the amendment to include the snake hunting language cannot be added. We need to inundate their office with phone calls requesting the following be done:

1.) Place HB3079 in the correct committee to allow for the snake hunting amendment to be added.
2.) once in the proper location, request that the amendment be added
3.) Once HB3079 is amended favorably, to immediately bring it to a vote BEFORE the end of the current legislative session.

Ask to speak to Thomas. If he is unavailable speak to whomever answers the phone. Send emails, faxes and phone calls ASAP. If not you will not be able to legally herp in Texas along its roadways for at least another two years. Now is the time!

The Honorable Carlos I. Uresti
P.O. Box 12068
Capitol Station
Austin, Texas 78711
(512) 463-0119
(512) 463-1017 Fax
email: carlos.uresti@senate.state.tx.us

DO IT, DO IT NOW!!! GET IT!!!
-----
Todd Hughes

Senator Uresti has worked w/ Hegar to craft some language for the bill that would allow roadside collecting. When this shows up and goes through- be sure to write and thank every author and co-author. Letter writing afterwords will help next time.

"Senator Uresti has worked w/ Hegar to craft some language for the bill that would allow roadside collecting."

That is what the form letter said to all of us who emailed Senator Uresti but as the Damon said, HB 3079 was not placed in the proper committee for that language to be added. Which is why we need to take the actions that Damon said above.

Here is the link to Senator Uresti's web page. There is a message FORM there, to send him an email regarding this.

Here is the link:
http://www.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist19/dist19.htm

Here is what I wrote him:

Senator Uresti,
Please add the language of HB 1500 to HB 3079. It has been brought to my attention that HB 3079 is not currently in the proper committee for the HB 1500 language to be added.
So please Senator Uresti, move HB 3079 to the proper committee and add the HB 1500 language to HB 3079, before it is too late.
I thank you,
John S. Crickmer

You can call his office, as has been stated @ 512-463-0119.

Or you can fax him a personal message @ 512-463-1017.

I've done all three. I suggest you do the same. There is only one or two more working days remaining to get this done this session. Otherwise, it will be two years before we can bring it up again.

jsc
-----
"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

This is the email they sent me after my first plea for support, probably the same one that got sent to everybody:

Dear Aaron,
Thank you for writing and expressing your concern about this time-honored Texas tradition.
Working with Sen. Hegar and other lawmakers, I have helped craft language for the bill that would not prohibit the collection of reptiles from Texas roadways.
Thanks again for taking the time to write and good hunting!
Sincerely,
Carlos I. Uresti

Here is what I said:

Dear Senator Uresti and Mark Langford,
Thank you for your response. Myself and many other reptile enthusiasts were very excited to learn of the language in HB1500. Due to the current status of HB 3079, it is our understanding that the language of HB 1500 cannot be added at this time. Therefore I urge Senator Uresti to take the following action:
1.) Place HB3079 in the correct committee to allow for the snake hunting amendment to be added.
2.) once in the proper location, request that the amendment be added
3.) Once HB3079 is amended favorably, to immediately bring it to a vote BEFORE the end of the current legislative session.
I hope we do not have to go through all this again next session.

Sincerely,
Aaron