State lawmakers are now trying to change the way ERCOT is governed by requiring members to live in Texas and giving more board seats to political appointees — changes that experts say may do little to improve the power grid.
Texas Legislature 2021
The 87th Texas Legislature approved hundreds of new laws during its regular session that ended in May 2021, including a near-total ban on abortions. Lawmakers then returned to Austin for three special sessions aimed at passing additional conservative priorities. Although House Democrats fled the state for weeks, lawmakers eventually passed new voting restrictions. They also approved new political maps and a proposed constitutional amendment that could lower property tax bills.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas’ pandemic budget shortfall disappears, as latest forecast shows a surplus
The latest revenue estimate doesn’t take into account all of the federal relief that has been sent to Texas over the past year by Congress through pandemic relief packages. State lawmakers have wrestled with how and who has the authority to spend that money.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas House advances plan to subsidize power plant weatherization
With the clock on the Legislative session ticking down, the Texas House moved to help fund power plant upgrades for extreme weather.
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Texas Legislature 2021
“My name is Dan and I’m an alcoholic”: State Rep. Dan Huberty confronts addiction after DWI arrest
Huberty was arrested on April 23 in Montgomery County after he crashed his Corvette into a minivan and failed a sobriety test. He was driving home from the state Capitol.
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Texas Legislature 2021
The criminal penalty for possessing small amounts of marijuana would be reduced under a bill passed by the Texas House
The measure likely faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where two years ago Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick opposed similar legislation.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas House passes package of police reform bills, including measure requiring more substantive disciplinary action for police misconduct
The chamber approved three police reform measures that are part of a sweeping set of legislation following the in-custody murder of George Floyd last year.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Here’s how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing
Senate Bill 7 would create new restrictions on early voting, how voters can receive applications to vote by mail and the distribution of polling places in diverse, urban counties. Here’s our breakdown of the proposed changes.
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Texas Legislature 2021
In push for new Texas voting restrictions, House panel sets up GOP faceoff over which chamber’s legislation will advance
The House elections committee gutted the Senate’s priority voting bill and replaced it with language from the House’s preferred legislation, signaling a divide over which new restrictions will make it to the governor’s desk.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas House lifts its mask requirement for chamber and committees
The resolution was passed in a 99-46 vote. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still suggest that people wear masks in public places, especially indoors.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns advances to Texas Senate floor, where its fate remains uncertain
The bill would nix the requirement for most Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns. Texans would also no longer be required to receive training before carrying a handgun in public.