On Jan. 1, many laws passed during the 82nd Regular Legislative Session went into effect. These laws range from property tax exemptions to regulation of metal recycling. Each of the bills that took effect on Jan. 1 went through a 140-day legislative session, including House and Senate committee hearings, before passing the Texas House and Senate.

Here are some of those pieces of legislation:

• House Bill ( HB) 2149 Sections 7, 9, 10, 11, and 15 repeal Election Code provisions requiring the maintenance of a registration omissions list by an election officer at a polling place, the acceptance of a voter with an incorrect voter registration certificate who is not on the precinct list of registered voters, and the acceptance of a voter without such certificate who is on that list. The bill revises the content of the affidavit required for provisional voting by a voter without a certificate who is not on the precinct registration list.

• ( HB) 2357, except for Sections 195 and 246 (effective Sept.1) and Section 215 (effective Sept. 1, 2014). This law amends the Transportation Code to update and reorganize Chapters 501, 502, 504, and 520, relating to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and certificates of title, vehicle registration, license plates, and miscellaneous provisions. It includes numerous technical changes, one of which authorizes the commissioners court of a county that borders or contains a portion of the Guadalupe River and contains a part of a barrier island that borders the Gulf of Mexico to allow an operator to operate a golf cart or utility vehicle on all or part of a public highway that is located in the unincorporated area of the county and has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per hour. The bill requires the golf cart and utility vehicle to have the same equipment required of a golf cart authorized to operate on a public highway within the boundaries of a municipality. It does not apply to Port Aransas.

• (HB) 2490 addresses the regulation of crafted precious metal dealers, providing criminal and administrative penalties. It was effective Sept. 1, except for some sections on registration as a dealer, a dealer’s temporary location, and a criminal penalty, which were effective Jan. 1.

It is important to learn and know about the new laws that were passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature. If you would like to view any of the other legislation that was passed during the 82nd regular session and the first called special session on your own, these Web sites are great resources:

• The Texas Legislature at www.capitol.state.tx.us .

• The Texas House of Representatives at www.house. state.tx.us .

• The Texas Senate at www.senate.state.tx.us .

If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my capitol or district office.

Todd Hunter, R- Corpus Christi, is the District 32 State Representative. Contact him at E2-808, P.O. Box 2910, Austin TX 78768; (512) 463-0672, the district office at (361) 949- 4603 or todd.hunter@house. state.tx.us.