From the door of Rep. Chuck Hopson: Don't ask, because refusal offends Credit: Photo by Richard Whittaker

“No more homeless bills!” one staffer muttered today in the Capitol extension.

Don’t worry, it wasn’t some sudden legislative push against those of no fixed abode. Today is the 59th day of the session, meaning Friday the 13th is the final day for “filing bills and joint resolutions other than local bills, emergency appropriations, and bills that have been declared an emergency by the governor” (to quote the House and Senate rules.)

What that means is that today lobbyists and other associated issues advocates have been wandering from office to office, legislator to legislator, trying to find someone, anyone, to carry their pet bill for them before the filing deadline.

So what this means is that some legislators are now putting signs up on their doors that basically say, “No room on the agenda, come back next session.” Staff in several other offices confirmed they’ll be putting up their own anti-shingle in the morning.

This article appears in March 6 • 2009.

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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.