In an ongoing effort to curb the threat posed by so-called "dangerous dogs," San Antonio State Senator José Menéndez is doggedly fighting to revive the Ramon Najera Act. After a roundhouse veto by Gov. Greg Abbott last session, Menéndez alongside House Rep. Elizabeth Campos, is re-introducing the legislation, named for an 81-year-old veteran who was killed by a dog attack. KSAT reports that Menéndez is determined, saying, "We’re going to refile the bill because we think that these are the types of protections that the people in the whole state need."
This legislative push comes after a spate of dog attacks in San Antonio, with the most recent incident claiming the life of a one-year-old child. The Ramon Najera Act aims to allow for an easier process to anonymously report dangerous dogs and to increase penalties for repeat offenders. San Antonio lawmakers hope to directly tackle the specific challenges faced by their city. According to the San Antonio Report, Campos has conversed with Abbott about the bill, seeking to amend it to better define criminal penalties.
Under the proposed legislation, penalties would escalate, charging dog owners with a second-degree felony if their dangerous dog causes death. As a counter to previous vetoes, Abbott cited "overcriminalization," arguing that current laws already place significant penalties on dangerous dog attacks. The owners of the dogs responsible for Najera's death are each facing two felony charges as laid out in a statement obtained by the San Antonio Report.
The legislation, while targeting a serious public safety issue, has faced hurdles beyond the governor's office. Menéndez indicated a local focus, stating to the San Antonio Report, "Dallas and Houston were like, ‘We don’t want any part of it'." But for San Antonio, the law could provide tools necessary to combat this particular peril. Engaging in this legislative round two, Campos remains committed, vowing to continue to re-file the legislation until it’s passed. However, whether this bill will be able to cut through the special session's focus on school vouchers and border security is currently unclear.
