It’s not the end of the session, but Tuesday marks the end of the line for a lot of legislation. And the fates of the items at the bottom of the House’s list could be determined by long debates on ethics, guns, abortion and state spending limits.
84th Legislative Session
Posted in
Higher Education
House to Take Up Campus Carry Ahead of Deadline
Supporters of campus carry will be fighting against the clock on Tuesday when the Texas House takes up previously delayed legislation requiring public universities and colleges to allow concealed handguns on their campuses.
Posted inState Government
House Enlarged Tax Relief Proposal’s Price Tag by $400 Million
The ball is in the Senate’s court on a major tax relief deal after the House unexpectedly increased the price tag by $400 million.
Posted in
Politics
Proposal Targets Residency Requirement for Statewide Elected Officials
Statewide elected officials would no longer be required to live in Austin under a constitutional amendment that could be headed to voters on a general election ballot. The House tentatively backed the measure on Monday.
Posted in
State Government
Video: Veterans’ Tuition Benefit Largely Unchanged in House
After months of debate over how to rein in the growing costs associated with the Hazlewood Act – the state’s tuition benefits program for veterans and their dependents – it appears as though it will largely stay the same.
Posted in
Economy
House Unanimously Backs Property Tax Break
In a 136-1 vote, the House favored Senate Bill 1, which would raise the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution in November.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Legislators Move Closer to Overhauling State’s Grand Jury System
The Texas House on Sunday gave final approval to an overhaul of the state’s grand juries, moving one step closer to getting rid of a controversial way of seating the panels.
Posted in
Politics
Inside Texas Politics: Waco Shootout and Secret Tapings
On this week’s edition of WFAA-TV’s Inside Texas Politics, talk turns to the shootout in Waco and its effect on the open carry debate and the not-so-secret tapings of state lawmakers.
Posted in
State Government
Key House Leader: Union Dues Bill is Dying
State Rep. Byron Cook confirmed that he does not plan to schedule a vote on legislation that would end automatic payroll deductions for union and non-union dues of most public employees.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Approves State Employee Pension Funding Plan
The Texas Senate on Friday voted to beef up the state’s underfunded retirement system for state employees by adding about $440 million to the program, a plan that has received mixed reviews from state employee advocacy groups.