The Texas House backed a State Bar of Texas sunset bill with an amendment that critics say could allow for discrimination against LGBT Texans seeking legal assistance.
85th Legislative Session
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State Government
House panel approves bill requiring parental consent for minors to join unions
A bill that would require parental consent for minors to join a labor union could be headed to the full Texas House.
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Energy
In private meeting, Sid Miller says hog poison safeguard not “doable”
In a March 3 meeting with a constituent, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller suggested that his agency could change the label on a hog poison to eliminate important warnings and a requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned animals, which he said simply wasn’t “doable.”
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State Government
Analysis: How the Texas House’s slow play could play into Senate’s hands
The House left an important bill in a dangerous spot, lost it, and might have created an advantage for their institutional rivals on the other end of the Texas Capitol.
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Politics
Slideshow: “Mother’s Day Massacre” of bills in the Texas House
One night last week at the Texas Capitol, a group of Republican lawmakers announced a plan to kill a lot of bills. Observers on social media called it the “Mother’s Day Massacre.” Here is the long day in pictures.
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Criminal Justice
“Sandra Bland Act” doesn’t address cause of her arrest, family says
The legislation now mostly focuses on mental health issues and county jail operations.
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Criminal Justice
Reaching across the aisle, legislators target voter fraud at nursing homes
In a rare twist, Republicans and Democrats are jointly pushing an effort to crack down on voter fraud. The measure targets ballots cast at nursing homes, and it could make it easier for older Texans to vote.
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State Government
House GOP tensions come to a head with ‘Mother’s Day Massacre’
Long-simmering tensions among House Republicans boiled over Thursday night when the Freedom Caucus announced a plan to kill more than 100 bills.
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Economy
State employee health care fix could hurt Texas medical schools, critics say
Senators believe they have found a way to save $80 million on health care for state employees. But medical schools say the savings would come at their expense.
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State Government
Senate revives House version of ride-hailing bill, keeping “sex” amendment alive
A bill meant to regulate ride-hailing companies has now made its way to the Senate — and senators have revived controversial language that would define “sex” as “the physical condition of being male or female.”
