View from the floor: 35 minutes to go ... Credit: Photo by Richard Whittaker

Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, just read out a list of the bills to which members had registered objections: Remember, a bill that has an objection won’t come up out of order, and that means it will probably become eligible until too late for a vote or discussion. With 35 minutes left before the midnight deadline, the list gives an interesting insight into exactly what members are trying to kill. The list was:

HB 300 (TXDoT Sunset)

HB 1959 (Sunset Safety Net Bill)

HB 963 (criminal background checks for licensed occupations)

HB 3335 (water reclamation and supply corporations)

HB 1320 (cockfighting)

HB 2139 (victim-offender mediation)

SB 2080 (CHIP expansion)

SB 2440 (dissolution of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District)

There was an objection to SB 1970 (election and ballot reform) but the objection was withdrawn and the bill was quickly passed.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.