Posted on · The action by the Texas Attorney General’s Office means cities and counties are immediately open to a myriad of legal challenges by trade groups seeking to overturn existing local ordinances.
Posted on · The Texas Supreme Court said Thursday the law will take effect despite a lower court’s finding that the act is unconstitutional.
Posted on · Attorneys for Houston and more than a dozen other cities argued House Bill 2127 was unconstitutionally vague and violated the Texas Constitution’s Home Rule provision. Judge Guerra Gamble of Travis County agreed.
Posted on · Following the passage of Senate Bill 1070, the Texas Secretary of State’s Office announced it would withdraw from the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), effective October 19.
Posted on · The House passed Senate Bills 2 and 3, providing property tax relief for homeowners and business properties and franchise tax relief for small business owners. The property tax cut, which must be approved by voters in November, would be the largest in Texas history.
Posted on · The agreement, which could pass the Legislature by the end of the week, includes a $100,000 homestead exemption and a pilot project to limit appraisal growth to 20% on non-homesteaded properties worth $5 million or less.
Posted on · The county is asking a court to stay Senate Bill 1750 before it can go into effect September 1. If the law is allowed to stand, Harris County will be forced to hand over control of elections to the county clerk with less than two months to go before early voting begins in the fall elections.
Posted on · House Bill 2127 would block cities and counties from regulating a wide range of subjects -- from the environment to labor codes -- without prior approval from the Legislature. It's set to go into effect September 1 unless a court intervenes.
Posted on · Senate leaders of both parties urged Speaker Dade Phelan to call the House back to Austin in time to get the package before voters this November.
Posted on · Sunday is the last day on which Governor Greg Abbott can sign or veto legislation passed in the regular session. When it comes to the budget, he also has last-minute editing powers.
Posted on · Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick kicked off a statewide speaking tour to pressure House Speaker Dade Phelan to enact a property tax relief plan that includes larger homestead exemptions.
Posted on · Among the bills lawmakers passed during the regular session are a measure that will abolish the Harris County Elections Administrator’s Office and another that will allow the Texas Secretary of State to impose “administrative oversight” of the county’s elections.
Posted on · The dream of passing a bill to improve access to state services for Texans who don’t speak English or Spanish was dashed. Woori Juntos activists fought until the end seeking at least a study of their ideas.
Posted on · House Bill 1243 would make voting illegally a second degree felony, on par with manslaughter and attempted murder, and would make attempting to vote illegally a state jail felony.
Posted on · The initial proposal, passed by the Senate last month, included language that would effectively terminate tenure offers across the state. But the version approved Monday by the House dropped the ban.