BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2333
	By: Hughes
	Administration
	5/31/2023
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently under Section 443.018(b), Government Code, the only dogs allowed in the Capitol for visitors are seeing-eye dogs. This excludes many people with service dogs that are needed, such as veterans, for medical reasons, and more.

S.B. 2333 updates the Government Code to allow service dogs in our Capitol.  

S.B. 2333 amends current law relating to rules permitting service dogs in the Capitol.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the State Preservation Board is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 443.018, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 443.018(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b) Requires that the rules adopted under Subsection (a) (relating to requiring the State Preservation Board (SPB) to adopt rules that regulate the actions of visitors in the Capitol or on the grounds of the Capitol) include rules that take certain actions, including providing that all pets except service dogs, rather than Seeing Eye dogs, are not permitted in the Capitol, and are required to be restrained at all times on a leash or similar device in the immediate control of the owner while on the grounds of the Capitol, except as approved by SPB.

SECTION 2. Requires SPB, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to update the rules required by Section 443.018, Government Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2023.