State Bill would Shield Religious Texts from Debt Collection

The Texas legislature has its hands full, working through a list of potential new laws for the books.  Some, like a bill to require all drivers to use hands-free devices on their cell phones while driving, seek to protect Texans zipping around the Lonestar State.  However, the Yin to Texas’s safety Yang is a measure that would allow legally blind Texans to hunt with a laser sighting device.

Nestled in the list of laws up for debate are a couple that have a little more bearing on the accounts receivable management industry than blind guys with guns, talking on hands-free phones, driving for deer.

Texas is looking to pass restrictions on junk mail.  The bill would direct the attorney general’s office to compile a list of names and addresses of consumers who object to receiving certain types of unsolicited mail, similar, it would seem, to the current national “Do Not Call” registry.  Legislation like this could put a huge dent in the amount of mail credit card companies send out.

Where the legislation differs from the “Do Not Call” registry (besides the obvious phone/mail disconnect) is the $3-per-household charge it requires for registration.

A smaller, and, possibly, odder law on the roster is 80(R) HB 167: “A Bill to Be Entitled an Act related to exempting a religious bible from attachment, execution, or other seizure for the satisfaction of debts.”  (Full text here.)  Currently, Texas protects “current wages for personal services…professionally prescribed health aids…alimony, support, or separate maintenance” from seizure.  The new bill would amend that list, adding religious books to the protected items.