Legislature ‘15 15 new Texas laws you need to know

Body cameras for police officers. Help with hospital bills. A break for accidentally packing a gun at the airport. Those are just a few of the new state laws taking effect Tuesday. From big issues to small, lawmakers have tweaked Texas’ rules in hundreds of ways. Here are more than a dozen that Texans might notice:

Select a bill to learn more:

Body cams for police Guns at the airport Hospital patient “balance billing” Learning to handle dogs Have scissors, will travel Underage alcohol tasting No vaping for kids Help for nursing moms Beekeeping rules Suicide prevention College transfer Motorcycle lights Transportation policy, live and online Recycled drugs Do you have a warrant?

Bill Search By Jon McClure On Tuesday, 678 bills become state law. Use Bill Search to find the ones you care about or take a tour through the laws your legislators signed in your name. Click on a popular search term or type your own. Breast milk Firearm Trafficking Canine Fetal remains

By Brittney Martin

A new grant program will provide $10 million for departments aiming to add body cameras. Lawmakers hope it will help provide answers in controversial cases of officer shootings.

Read more: Program provides grants for officer body cameras

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By Tom Benning

A concealed handgun license holder can now avoid arrest on a third-degree felony charge for bringing a pistol into an airport’s secure zone.

Read more: A break for those who forget about a gun in carry-on bag at airport

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Paritosh Pathak a computer programmer holds a copy of his debt collection noticed he received at his home in Dallas. He was charged $635 for a doctorís visit after going to a Plano hospital emergency room that was "in network" with his employer's health insurance company. He had to pay the full amount, plus a $26 fee from a debt-collection agency. (David Woo/The Dallas Morning News)

By Robert T. Garrett

More hospital patients who receive a nasty surprise – big bills from out of network doctors at the hospital – will be eligible for state-led mediation. Under a new law, the trigger for such help will be a bill in excess of $500, not $1,000.

Read more: Hospital patients hit with surprise bills gain new leverage

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