The executive director of Texas Gun Rights said Bonnen should apologize for how he characterized McNutt’s lobbying efforts for “constitutional carry” legislation that has since been declared dead in the lower chamber.
Texas Legislature 2019
The 86th Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to May 27. From the state budget to health care to education policy — and the politics behind it all — we focus on what Texans need to know about the biennial legislative session.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House votes to legalize the farming of industrial hemp
Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, but it contains low levels of the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. The House’s bill will now go to the Senate.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas removes thousands of children from Medicaid each month due to red tape, records show
Most states check once a year whether children on Medicaid still qualify for the program. Texas checks more often, using an automated system that critics say leads to kids losing coverage even though they’re still eligible.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Why cable companies and Texas cities are duking it out at the Capitol
Texas cities have been debating state lawmakers over property taxes, sick leave, scooter regulation and now, over whether the cities can charge cable TV companies for using public property to connect their networks.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Making friends and influencing people in the Texas Legislature
It’s hard to gather support for the state’s most persistent problems when you’re also pressing forward with issues that divide and anger Republicans and Democrats. It’s also business as usual in the Texas Legislature.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Hurricane Harvey destroyed every apartment in Rockport, Texas. Some residents are still waiting for help from lawmakers.
This is the first legislative session since the storm devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017. Several measures are afoot to aid in recovery and mitigate the effects of future disasters.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Conservative group Empower Texans sues lawmaker to gain state House media credentials
The group, which was granted credentials in the Senate but denied them in the House, argues that the lower chamber’s administration chairman engaged in “unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.”
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Texas Legislature 2019
Can Texas’ top three Republicans muster enough support to pass a sales tax swap?
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have already signaled opposition to the proposal from Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
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Texas Legislature 2019
A Texas sales tax increase would hit poor people the hardest
Top Republican leaders have proposed raising the sales tax and using the money to lower local property tax rates. Wealthier Texans and businesses would likely benefit, while poorer Texans would likely pay more.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Can Texas Republicans raise the sales tax without suffering a backlash?
Lawmakers have proposed swapping higher sales taxes for lower property taxes — but leaving the final decision to voters. They don’t have to do it that way, but it could move the blame from them — to the rest of us.