Health & Science
Texas Is Latest State To Attack Surprise Medical Bills
Posted on · A new Texas law says hospitals and insurers will have to work it out when they can't agree on a price — instead of sending huge unexpected bills to patients.
Tag: 2019 Texas Legislature
News
Texas Lawmakers Gave More Flood Risk Disclosure Protection To Home Buyers, But Not Renters
Posted on · Landlords are not required to let prospective tenants know if the property has previously flooded.
Texas
Eminent Domain Reform Died In The Texas Legislature This Session
Posted on · Despite hundreds of hours of negotiations between Texas landowners and industry groups, legislation to address concerns over the eminent domain process could not be finalized, with lawmakers pledging to make it a top priority for future sessions.
Politics
Texas’ Legislative Leaders Say They Have A Deal On School Finance And Property Tax Reform
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced they have finalized the details of the three bills that will accomplish their top policy goals.
Texas
Texas House Passes Bill To Spend More Than $3 Billion To Help Pay For Flood Control Projects
Posted on · With the damage from Hurricane Harvey in mind, lawmakers approved two bills aimed at better preparing the state for natural disasters.
Politics
Texas House Votes To Raise Legal Smoking Age To 21
Posted on · The bill already passed the Senate but will require another vote in the upper chamber due to minor changes made in the House.
Politics
In A Surprising Turn, Texas House Opts To Delay Consideration Of Sales Tax Swap Legislation Until 2021
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott and other legislative leaders endorsed the sales tax increase, intended to help fund ongoing cuts to school district taxes. But it has been effectively killed this session.
Politics
Texas Senate Approves School Finance Reform Bill, But Opts Not To Fund It With A Sales Tax Hike
Posted on · The chambers will need to negotiate how to give teachers pay raises, whether to adjust how students take standardized tests and how to provide long-term property tax relief for Texans.
Texas
Texas Senate Passes School Safety Bill Intended To Prevent Mass Shootings
Posted on · Senate Bill 11 is authored by state Sen. Larry Taylor, whose district includes Santa Fe High School.
Texas
Texas House Votes To Legalize The Farming Of Industrial Hemp
Posted on · Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, but it contains low levels of the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. The House's bill will now go to the Senate.
Texas
Texas Senate Votes To Advance Property Tax Reform Bill, Avoids “Nuclear Option” Procedural Move
Posted on · After a key Republican holdout voted to bring the bill to the floor, the legislation passed 18-13.
Texas
Texas Senate Passes Two-Year Budget With Money For Property Tax Cuts — But No Plan For How To Spend It
Posted on · The Senate budget also includes a $6.3 billion boost for public schools, about $4 billion of which would increase teachers’ and librarians’ annual salaries by $5,000.
Energy & Environment
Environmental Advocates Demand Public Input On ITC Disaster Response
Posted on · They protested a state committee hearing that only included invited testimony from officials.
Texas
Santa Fe High School Families Testify Against Parole Eligibility Changes
Posted on · Under a new bill, juvenile offenders would not have to wait 40 years to be considered for parole.
In-Depth
Hemp Farms In Texas? Ag Commissioner Sid Miller Among Backers For Legalization
Posted on · State Senate Bill 116 would allow Texans to grow hemp — an offshoot of marijuana without the high.