/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Alex-Samuels_TT.jpg)
Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
House Bill 1325 would legalize hemp and hemp-derived extracts like CBD oil as long as they contain no more than 0.3% of tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fabd817520ce2d8797e8c608ca187f05/01%20Charles%20Perry%20Senate%20Floor%20JF%20TT.jpg)
The measure aims to prohibit caller ID spoofing — when callers tamper with information transmitted to people’s phones to disguise their identities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/81a25b65c7283e62ea8dfb2e1e1f7a2b/Scam_Likely_Telemarketers_MG.jpg)
In a party-line vote, the upper chamber advanced a bill that would make it more difficult for cities and state agencies to remove or alter historical markers. The legislation comes amid a larger debate over whether to keep or remove Confederate monuments. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/478d1e30356645dbe1086da4b9efdfae/01_Confederate_Monuments_at_State_Capitol_MG_TT.jpg)
It was the second time in as many days that the lower chamber moved to increase which medical conditions allow Texans to use CBD oil for treatment. But both bills face an uphill battle in the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/03a7e5c49b144fff4d26db2e12488c5d/0002_Stephanie_Klick_Juan_Figueroa_May_5_TT.jpg)
The bill by state Rep. Eddie Lucio III, D-Brownsville, is one of two that aim to expand the scope of the narrow Compassionate Use Act and have gained traction this legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bebe302a7d4c10de351ad1c378a75b27/08_Marijuana_Plants_Texas_MKC_TT.jpg)
State Rep. Dade Phelan added the provision to a Senate bill that would bar cities from enacting rules on how businesses schedule their employees’ shifts. LGBTQ groups worried that without the language, businesses could pick which employees get certain benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6f930c2b79eca4a0732b9fcbb045cb8/02_State_Affairs_Committee_EW_TT.jpg)
While critics say fantasy sports sites are hubs for illegal online gambling, others contend the games are based on skill and are therefore legitimate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6541a82ad6b92d11c492b1392dec24e/Fan_Duel_Draft_Kings_Split.jpg)
Black students, who are already overrepresented in disciplinary referrals, say their fears come as lawmakers consider a slew of bills to expand the state's school marshal program in response to a deadly shooting last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b57c6d502cc4fa44bc2e6720f0d9358b/03_Marshall_Program_Amhir_and_Addison_JF_TT.jpg)
His comment comes the day after the Texas House gave preliminary approval to the bill in a 98-43 vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/66996b50392dd205d434d6c9f3a4ea6c/03_Patrick_Kolkhorst_Conroe_SB_678_MG.jpg)
The lower chamber gave initial approval to a bill creating a pretrial process to determine if a capital murder defendant is intellectually disabled — more than 15 years after the U.S. Supreme Court said executing such prisoners is cruel and unusual punishment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/047a2e4e6c7c769a4e22514c427d5be4/Senfronia_speech_BD_TT.jpg)