TDLR - Credit Card Ruling in writing

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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING & REGULATION

Effective immediately licensees in the TOW/VSF program may charge consumers a credit card surcharge for those paying TOW/VSF costs with a credit card. This surcharge, also known as a credit card swipe fee, may not exceed the amount or percentage charged by a credit card issuer to use the card. The Department will provide additional guidance on this issue at a later date.

TDLR's Advisory Board Meeting 3/16/2021

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The next Towing and Storage Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. The agenda and staff reports (PDF) are available online. The meeting will be held via videoconference and will be viewable on TDLR’s YouTube channel

Credit Card Processing Update 3/8/21

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Credit Card Processing Fee Update

 

Southwest Tow Operators is pleased to announce the Towing and Storage Advisory Board will meet next Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 10:00 a.m to discuss guidance on towing and storage facilities being able to pass along credit card processing fees.  As you may recall, Southwest Tow Operators has diligently worked on your behalf on this and many other issues.  To learn more please click the following links agenda and staff reports (PDF).  The meeting will be held via videoconference and will be viewable on TDLR’s YouTube channel.

 

If you would like more information, please contact our office @ 972-247-9454

Governor Abbott's Executive Order

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Texas Independence Day has a new meaning this March 2nd.  Governor Abbott issued an Executive Order today and held a press conference in Lubbock to make the announcement.  Governor Abbott stated, “With the medical advancements of vaccines and antibody therapeutic drugs, Texas now has the tools to protect Texans from the virus.”   

 

Executive Order (GA-34)

 

Main Points from Governor Abbott’s Press Conference:

 

1. First and foremost the bottom line is this: mandates to wear masks, as well as capacity limitations on businesses will be terminated next Wednesday, March 10^th.
2. Texas is seeing the lowest hospitalizations in four months; far more Texans recovering from COVID-19 than contracting it.
3. Also highlighted positive vaccine progress, including:
   1. 5.7M vaccine shots have been given to Texans
   2. 216K shots given today alone
   3. 1M shots given per week
   4. 7M total shots given to Texans by this time next week
4. For all counties without high hospitalizations “there are no COVID-19-related operating limits for any business or other establishment,” and “individuals are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings over the nose and mouth wherever it is not feasible to maintain 6 feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household, but no person may be required by any jurisdiction to wear or to mandate the wearing of a face covering.”
5. “High hospitalizations” is defined as any Trauma Service Area with seven straight days of COVID-hospitalized patients in excess of 15% of that TSA’s hospital capacity.
6. In any county located within a Trauma Service Area (TSA) with high hospitalizations, there are no state-imposed COVID-19-related operating limits for any businesses/establishments nor any face-covering requirements, but, a county judge may institute COVID mitigation strategies to prevent the spread of the virus, so long as:
   1. Mitigation strategies may do not include enforcement of criminal or civil penalties,
   2. And do not limit business capacity to less than 50%
7. A current list of areas with high hospitalizations will be maintained at www.dshs.texas.gov/ga3031
8. Importantly, Gov. Abbott did not restrict private businesses from enforcing their own safety protocols as they see fit, including imposing face mask requirements.
9. Often discussed state entities such as public schools, jails/prisons, and assisted living facilities are directed to follow guidance from their state agency of oversight (e.g. TEA for schools).

 

 

Cheri Brimberry Huddleston

Legislative Consultant

 

 

Governor Abbott's State of the State Address

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Governor Abbott’s State of the State Address

Under normal circumstances, the House and the Senate will meet in a joint session to hear the Governor’s State of the State Address.  This year Governor Abbott delivered his address at the Visionary Fiber Technologies in Lockhart, Texas.  This was the first time since the 1980s that the a Governor did not deliver the speech from the Texas Capitol. 

 During Governor Abbott’s State of the State address, he declared five emergency items. 

 The emergency items are:

• Expanding broadband access;
• Passing laws that prevent cities from defunding the police;
• Fixing the "flawed bail system;" 
• Election integrity so Texans can have "trust and confidence in the outcome of elections;" and
• Coronavirus-related civil liberty protections for "individuals, businesses and health care providers that operated safely during the pandemic."

 By declaring these items as an emergency will allow the Legislature to take action on them within the first 60 days of the legislative session.  Abbott also noted other areas he believes should be priorities this legislative session, including continued investment in education and mental health support.

The full transcript of the governor’s address can be viewed here.

 

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan Releases Committee Assignments

 Last Thursday, Speaker Dade Phelan released his committee assignments.  The announcement came much earlier than anyone inside the Capitol arena expected. 

 Here is a breakdown of demographics.

 

• The House has 82 Republicans and 67 Democrats; House District 68 is vacant;
• 21 Republicans and 13 Democrats were selected as chairs, showing an approach toward bipartisanship in the House;
• 5 committee chairs and 14 vice-chairs are women, while 14 chairs and 21 vice-chairs are Black, Hispanic or Asian American; and
• 11 committee chairs are from rural areas and 24 committee chairs are from urban areas.

 View the full list of assignments by committee and by member.

 Cheri Brimberry Huddleston

Legislative Consultant