The Senate today approved creation of the Texas Energy Policy Council, which would be in charge of planning a long-term strategy for potential exploration and production of both renewable and nonrenewable energy.
82nd Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
Update: El Paso Hospitals May Be Allowed to Hire Docs
A bill passed by the Senate today would let the El Paso County Hospital District directly employ medical professionals to compensate for the severe shortage in the area.
Posted in
State Government
Small Brewers Ask Lawmakers to Open the Tap
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.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Passes Reforms on How Police May Restrain Mentally, Physically Disabled
Two bills passed the state Senate today that would change the way mentally and physically disabled people and children are restrained and cared for by law enforcement officers.
Posted in
Economy
Interactive: How Would You Close the State’s Budget Gap?
Solving the state’s 2012-13 budget woes is a hard job and perhaps the best way to show that is to let you decide for yourself how the $27 billion shortfall should be closed. Use our interactive budget shortfall app to see what you’re willing to give up to close the gap.
Posted in
Politics
Doggett Dismayed by Redistricting Plan
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, reacts to the proposed split of his current district.
Posted in
State Government
Guest Column: How to Bridge the Budget Gap
As the clock counts down to the end of the regular session on May 30, it’s fair to ask House and Senate leaders — and all members — to meet our needs, not our wants. Here’s how they can bridge the multi-billion-dollar gap between their budget plans without any new taxes.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Votes for “Transparent” TxDOT
The Texas Department of Transportation Sunset bill that got caught up in the backlog of legislation last session passed the Senate today.
Posted in
State Government
The Brief: April 18, 2011
State budget writers should be looking foward this week to finalize a budget that currently seeks to gut billions from current spending levels. But the fight coming doesn’t look like an easy one for either chamber.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Hamilton on Victoria’s efforts to divorce the University of Houston, Ramshaw on a disagreement between right-to-life groups over laws governing when life ends, E. Smith’s TribLive interview with Sen. Kel Seliger and Rep. Burt Solomons on redistricting, Aguilar’s interview with the mayor of Juárez, Tan on the continuing hunt for money to buy down budget cuts, Grissom on a psychologist who found more than a dozen inmates mentally competent to face the death penalty, Stiles and yours truly on the House redistricting maps and Galbraith on cutting or killing a tax break for high-cost natural gas producers: The best of our best content from April 11 to 15, 2011.
