June 21, 2021 | Legislative – Veto Statement

Pursuant to Article IV, Section 14, of the Texas Constitution, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby disapprove of and veto Senate Bill No. 36 as passed by the Eighty-Seventh Texas Legislature, Regular Session, because of the following objections:

Hazing on campus is a serious problem that deserves serious attention, which is why I signed Senate Bill 38 into law last session.  This session’s Senate Bill 36 was a worthy effort to further clarify the anti-hazing statute, until the House sponsor added an unnecessary provision that would simply grow government by creating yet another new task force.  It is important to ensure that students receive mental-health services, and Texas’s existing agencies and institutions can already study the issues that would be addressed by this vast new bureaucratic entity.  Unfortunately, the Senate author’s good idea to clean up a statute has been undercut by the House sponsor.

Since the Eighty-Seventh Texas Legislature, Regular Session, by its adjournment has prevented the return of this bill, I am filing these objections in the office of the Secretary of State and giving notice thereof by this public proclamation according to the aforementioned constitutional provision.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have signed my name officially and caused the Seal of the State to be affixed hereto at Austin, this 18th day of June, 2021.

GREG ABBOTT
Governor of Texas