A controversial property tax bill may not get a House vote for a few more days, as the legislative clock winds down and the lieutenant governor’s threats of a special session linger.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Economy
Plan to overhaul Texas Rainy Day Fund and boost returns losing steam
A proposal to dramatically reshape the state’s savings account to set aside more funds for tough economic times has effectively died in the final days of the legislative session.
Posted in
Higher Education
Author of effort to peel back Top 10 Percent Rule says his bill is dead
State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, says he doesn’t have enough votes to repeal or peel back the Top 10 Percent Rule for college admissions.
Posted in
Health care
Texas House passes child welfare reforms
The Texas House on Thursday passed a package of sweeping measures aimed at addressing a crisis in the state’s child welfare system.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Rick Perry throws support behind bills to reform criminal justice in Texas
In a Houston Chronicle op-ed, Perry endorsed two measures moving through the Texas Legislature: one that would seal certain offenders’ records and another that seeks to make the grand jury process more fair.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: Property tax relief doesn’t equal extra money in your pocket
There’s a simple test to tell you whether the promise of a tax cut is really a tax cut: Is there money in your hand?
Posted in
State Government
Texas lawmakers facing talk of a potential special session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says state lawmakers might be staying in Austin past May 29 if some key measures, including the “bathroom bill,” don’t pass the House.
Posted in
Public Education
Educators take issue with Senate plan for school assessment
Educators and advocates found it hard to concur on the Senate’s version of House Bill 22, either finding it too restrictive and tied to standardized tests or not quite strict enough.
Posted in
Public Education
House backs proposal requiring seat belts on school buses
The Texas House on Thursday tentatively backed legislation that would require three-point seat belts be installed on new school buses across the state.
Posted in
State Government
Senate budget writers approve bill to plug two-year-old funding holes
The Texas Senate Finance Committee has voted to spend about $800 million in state funds to cover a Medicaid shortfall in the current two-year budget.
