Legislation passed during the 2019 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature continue to take effect, with 24 new laws becoming effective on New Year’s Day 2020. Three of those bills were authored or sponsored by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, whose legislative district includes Starr County: • Senate Bill 346; • House Bill 69; and • House Bill 1885. Senate Bill 346, of which she was the primary author, significantly reforms Texas’ confusing system of court costs, fines and fees by consolidating some and eliminating unnecessary others. “The criminal court cost system in Texas has been difficult for defendants to navigate, for county and district clerks to ...