| The Texas Open Beaches Act is under threat |
| Wednesday, 17 June 2009 10:07 |
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The Texas Open Beaches Act has been a star example of beach management since it was first enacted in 1959, providing for free and unrestricted use of the state's beaches and shores.
Late in the night on May 31st, Rep. Wayne Christian interjected wording from his previously rejected HB4025, which was an attempt to circumvent the TX Open Beaches Act, into HB770, a bill that would have allowed homestead exemption to continue for primary residences that were destroyed in a hurricane until the owner built somewhere else. Christian has severely compromised this bill by adding wording that would bar the Texas Attorney General or any other entity from filing suit for the removal of a damaged or destroyed structure that found itself on the public beach after a "meteorological event" and allow them to rebuild that structure on the public beach. Unfortunately, unlike HB4025, this bill was filed right at the end of the 81st Texas Legislative Session and went directly to Governor Rick Perry's desk to await his action. He can do one of three things at this point. Governor Perry can either veto the bill outright, sign it into law or take no action and after 21 days the bill will become law anyway. Source: Surfrider Foundation |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 09 December 2012 21:41 |











