Past Contributions

• Wentworth Surprises Senate With Campus Carry

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 27, 2011

  State Sen. Jeff Wentworth surprised his colleagues and brought the Senate to a standstill today when he tried to tack his controversial campus carry bill onto another measure. Full Story 

• Guns on Campus Could Cost Colleges

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 27, 2011

  Allowing students to bring guns to college could cost universities a pretty penny in insurance premiums — one of the hitches that is keeping the campus-carry bill stalled in the Texas Senate. Full Story 

• Has Patient Privacy Bill Hit a Snag?

  By Emily Ramshaw and Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 26, 2011

  State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst’s bill to further protect Texans’ private medical information looks stuck; it’s been three weeks since it passed out of committee, and it hasn’t yet been set for a House vote. Full Story 

• "Daughters" Gets Early Victory in Fight Over Alamo

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 21, 2011

  The Daughters of the Republic of Texas would continue to be the caretakers of the Alamo, under a bill the House gave preliminary approval to this morning. Full Story 

• House Gives Initial OK to Craft Beer Bill

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 21, 2011

  The House has given an early OK to a bill that would allow craft breweries to charge admission for tours, and include up to two six-packs of beers to give to tourists at the end. Full Story 

• Puppy Mill Bill Bumped Off Fast Track

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 21, 2011

  For the second time, Rep. Senfronia Thompson's contentious "puppy mill" bill has been bumped from the fast track. It will now be subject to debate on the general House calendar. Full Story 

• Physical Therapists Fight Mandatory Referrals

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 20, 2011

  Physical therapists are pushing a bill to allow them to treat patients without a physician referral. The measure faces stiff opposition from physician groups, which say it could present a health risk to patients. Full Story 

• Small Brewers Ask Lawmakers to Open the Tap

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 19, 2011

  Craft beer brewers came back to the Capitol today to ask lawmakers to grant them another way to get their beers in the hands of customers. But the chairman of a House committee said they may have to wait until next year. Full Story 

• Senate Votes for "Transparent" TxDOT

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 18, 2011

  The Texas Department of Transportation Sunset bill that got caught up in the backlog of legislation last session passed the Senate today. Full Story 

• House Puppy Mill Bill Hits a Snag

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez April 14, 2011

  A bill that would regulate so-called puppy mills, and has dog breeders and animal rights groups at each other's throats, got derailed from the fast-track to passage in the Texas House today. Full Story