News
New Texas Law Addresses Information Gap On Officer-Involved Shootings
Posted on · A new law will require police departments across Texas to closely track when officers use force. Critics say the data by itself can be misleading.
Tag: 84th legislative session
News
Texas Health And Human Services Commission Hears Medicaid Waiver Comments
Posted on · Texas lawmakers have refused to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, so they ask for a waiver.
News
Houston, Firefighters Back In Court After Legislature Doesn’t Back Pension Deal
Posted on · The fight over retirement benefits between the city of Houston and the firefighters' pension board continues after a bill to reach a compromise went nowhere in the Texas Legislature. A court has just made a decision in one of the two lawsuits they are involved in.
News
Legislators Spar Over New State Budget’s Effect On Houston
Posted on · Gun laws, border security and tax cuts were among the hot issues in the Texas Legislature this year. But funding for education, health and transportation will likely have the biggest impact on the daily life of Houstonians.
News
Video: Houston And The Lege – 84th Session Recap
Posted on · The Texas Tribune is livestreaming a review of the just-finished legislative session — and its impact on Houston.
Education News
Abbott Signs School Truancy Reform Into Law
Posted on · Schools will no longer send students who miss a lot of school to adult criminal court.
Education News
How Texas Could Change Its Approach To Truancy, Decriminalize Missing School
Posted on · Currently, Texas schools can send students who frequently miss school to adult criminal court.
News
Texas Governor Signs Sweeping Border Security Legislation
Posted on · Governor Greg Abbott visited Houston on Tuesday to sign legislation to strengthen border security.
News
Galveston Bay Oyster Shippers Accuse Competitor Of Harassment
Posted on · This year's Texas legislative session ended without addressing an ongoing dispute over oyster reefs in Galveston Bay. Now some oystermen say they're being harassed by a company that claims to have exclusive rights over a large part of the bay's reefs.
Education News
Lawmakers Approve New A-F Letter Grades For Texas Schools
Posted on · Supporters say that the new system will be more transparent for parents, but some education advocates worry it will penalize low-income schools.
News
Texas Legislature Again Says No To Medicaid Reform But Agrees To Spend More On Other Health Problems
Posted on · For the second time in two years, Texas lawmakers decided against expanding Medicaid to low-income uninsured adults. But the legislature did approve additional spending on some other critical health issues, including mental health programs, rural and safety-net hospitals, and medical residency programs that train future doctors.
News
New Texas Abortion Law Will Affect Most Vulnerable Teen Girls
Posted on · Abortion wasn't front and center during the 2015 legislative session, but Republicans did pass a set of regulations affecting teenage girls who want permission from a judge to obtain an abortion.
News
Texas Lawmakers Graded ‘B’ On Their Report Card
Posted on · State lawmakers are packing up their offices in the Texas Capitol and heading back home now that the legislative session is over. But how did they do?
News
How Did Houston’s Lawmakers Fare In Austin?
Posted on · Now that the session is over, News 88.7's Laura Isensee caught up with those lawmakers. They talk about their favorite bills that got passed ... and some disappointing failures in this audio postcard from Austin.
News
Would Another Round Of State Funding Help Ease Houston’s Traffic Congestion?
Posted on · Texas voters this November will be asked to decide on another proposed constitutional amendment to fund transportation. If it's approved, the measure could bring in over $2.5 billion a year to pay for highway projects.