Posted on · Governor Greg Abbott and other state leaders have engineered a temporary fix, but Abbott’s veto of the Legislature’s budget may have permanent ramifications for the balance of power in Texas politics.
Posted on · Texas Republicans pushed back forcefully, denying Democratic claims that the state election bill would suppress voting and discriminate against minority voters.
Posted on · In addition to the controversial voting bill, the agenda includes bail reform, restrictions on transgender youth sports participation, and funding for the Legislature itself.
Posted on · House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 6 would bar a defendant from being released on a personal recognizance bond if charged with committing a violent or sexual crime, or if charged with committing a crime while already out on bond.
Posted on · Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed funding for the Legislature to punish Democratic lawmakers for walking out during the regular session and killing two of the governor's top-priority bills.
Posted on · The 2022-2023 budget includes $34.2 billion for health and human services, second only to public education in appropriations.
Posted on · The Coalition for the Homeless warns House Bill 1925 could complicate efforts to find permanent housing for homeless Houstonians.
Posted on · Leading casualties of the regular session included the omnibus elections bill, bail reform, and the George Floyd Act. But Gov. Greg Abbott has promised special sessions that could revive some GOP priorities.
Posted on · The House and Senate still need to close a large gap between their competing bills over the next few days before the session ends, but advocates and opponents both say that’s likely to happen.
Posted on · Several successor bills to House Bill 88 have advanced to the Senate, but they do not include one significant part of the original bill – limiting qualified immunity for police officers.
Posted on · State Senator Joan Huffman substituted her own bill, Senate Bill 21, for House Bill 20 when it reached her committee – stripping out Democratic amendments
Posted on · County commissioners empowered the county attorney to bring a lawsuit against the state over House Bill 6, Senate Bill 7, or any other legislation that might restrict voting.
Posted on · Rep. Briscoe Cain’s version of Senate Bill 7 passed a party-line vote on second reading after harsh questioning by Democrats and parliamentary maneuvers that nearly derailed the bill.
Posted on · In a letter to the state’s Republican leaders, a coalition of voting rights and criminal justice organizations found 29 election bills that would add 87 new criminal penalties, 77% of them felonies.
Posted on · House Bill 20, which would tighten the state’s bail requirements, will come up for a vote on the Texas House floor on Monday.