Charles Schwertner

The Senate has approved a measure that prohibits local and state government agencies from contracting with abortion providers and their affiliates. 

Full Story 

After a debate among lawmakers over the best way to regulate services like Uber and Lyft, the Texas Senate tentatively backed a proposal that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies.

Full Story 

A Senate committee heard testimony on three bills that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies.

Full Story 

Texas representatives have filed legislation to start an overhaul of the the state’s Child Protective Services, following a crisis that has left thousands of kids at risk.

Full Story 

Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee. 

Full Story 

Texas is one of about a dozen states without uniform ride-hailing standards. That could change after the 85th Legislative Session. This is part of our "State of Mind" video series looking at community concerns coming to the Capitol.

Full Story 

A measure filed Monday by state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, would beef up punishment for employers that hire undocumented workers and seek to do business with the state.

Full Story 

Less than 24 hours after an Austin vote on ride-hailing regulations, state lawmakers lined up to countermand efforts there that get in ride-hailers' way. Maybe they’re right. But politicians should overrule voters cautiously.

 

Full Story 

State Sen. Charles Schwertner said Sunday he would file legislation next year “designed to establish consistent and predictable statewide regulation of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft."

Full Story 

When former Gov. Rick Perry ordered state agencies to use E-Verify in 2014, his plan was criticized for not having an enforcement mechanism. But a senate bill designed to make Perry's mandate a bona fide law also lacks teeth.

Full Story 

A program created this year will help pay mental health professionals’ student loans if they practice in a medically needy area. The program seeks to alleviate the state’s shortage of mental health professionals, which watchdogs are calling a "public health emergency."

Full Story 

With the death of all legislation specifically aiming to re-regulate tuition costs at Texas' public universities, proponents of the idea see few avenues for implementing the idea this year. 

Full Story 

The Texas House on Monday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require state agencies and public universities to use the federal electronic employment system called E-Verify. 

 

Full Story 

Hundreds of Texas nursing homes have transferred their ownership to local government entities in order to secure more federal Medicaid funding. Critics of the arrangement say it shields negligent nursing homes from lawsuits.

Full Story 

The House-Senate budget conference committee adopted its compromise on health and human services funding Wednesday, pleasing fiscal conservatives and giving little cheer to advocates for the poor and disabled.

 

Full Story 

House and Senate leaders are in the midst of intense negotiations over a budget rider that could kill a proposed $12 billion bullet train project connecting Dallas and Houston.

Full Story 

House and Senate negotiators are down to one final challenge: working out the timing on their complicated tax cut dance.

Full Story 

At our 5/4 symposium on health care, state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, the chairman of the House Public Health Committee, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, the chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, talked about how the issue is playing out in the 84th session.

Full Story 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has named the Senate lineup of budget negotiators who will meet with House counterparts and hash out a final version of the two-year state budget.

 

Full Story 

Amid an ongoing scandal over how the state awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to a private company, the Texas Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would overhaul the state’s contracting processes.

 

Full Story