How seemingly little bills affect the lives of ordinary folks

DallasNews.com | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas Legislature: "For those who think that little of what the Legislature does affects the average guy, consider the following.

Texans can now attend the Luling Watermelon Thump – or any other festival in the state – and have a beer before noon on Sundays.

Motorists will have to slow down when rambling through the streets of Dallas and other big cities; and if they're teens driving while talking on cellphones, that could get them a ticket.

And Star Wars bootleggers beware: It's now a crime in Texas to record a movie while inside a theater."