Bill Pargaman's Legislative Preview

Bill PargamanBill Pargaman, Chair of the Legislative Committee of the Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, has recently updated his preview of the upcoming Texas legislative session.

He discusses the legislative process, the impending codification of the Probate Code and the changes we can expect in probate, guardianship and trust law this year.

Session Begins January 11

The regular session of the 82nd Texas Legislature begins Tuesday, January 11, 2011.  The dominant issues this session promise to be the budget shortfall and redistricting.  Hopefully there will be some time given to other issues, like probate, guardianship and trust law legislation.

Sen. Chris Harris, the new chairman of the Jurisprudence CommitteeIn the Senate, Senator Chris Harris (R-Arlington) is the new chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee.  Most probate, guardianship and trust law legislation will go through the Jurisprudence Committee.  Other members of that committee are Senators Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston), John Carona (R-Dallas), Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock), Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Joan Huffman (R-Southside Place) and Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio).

The shape of the session in the House hasn't been determined.  At this writing (January 6, 2011), a speaker hasn't been chosen.  It is likely to take the new speaker weeks to make committee assignments.