Big donors to Texas governors would be banned from appointments to state boards and commissions under legislation approved Saturday by the Texas House.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Politics
Bill to abolish “one-punch” voting approved in Texas House
House Bill 25, approved by the House on Saturday, could drastically change Texas politics considering straight-ticket ballots accounted for almost 64 percent of total votes cast in the state’s 10 largest counties in 2016.
Posted in
State Government
House defeats bill that would’ve allowed the expansion of toll road projects
The Texas House shot down House Bill 2861, a measure that would’ve allowed the Texas Department of Transportation to use tolls to fund the construction, renovation or widening of several highways.
Posted in
Transportation
Opponents of proposed Dallas-Houston bullet train push lawmakers to kill it
As the legislative session reaches its final weeks, opponents of a private firm’s plans to build a bullet train line between Dallas and Houston are urging lawmakers will pass one of several bills that would likely kill it.
Posted in
Economy
Hot or not, bill would simplify sales tax on baked goods (video)
A measure advancing in the Texas Legislature would make baked goods, regardless of their temperature when served, exempt from sales tax.
Posted in
Health care
Texas works to market health program without Planned Parenthood
The Healthy Texas Women Program is the state’s second attempt at reimagining how to provide health services for low-income women without organizations that provide abortions at some of their locations.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Think Texas has a weak governor? Not in the month of May
A Texas governor’s powers peak at the end of a legislative session, as deadline-haunted legislators begin to fear the threat of a veto from the state’s chief executive.
Posted in
State Government
Texas House OKs bill to discourage lawsuits over weather-related claims
The Texas House on Thursday tentatively approved a bill that would discourage home and business owners from seeking big payouts from insurance companies after hailstorms, floods and hurricanes — payouts their lawyers say are appropriate.
Posted in
State Government
Texas House passes Dallas pension overhaul with little debate
The bill sailed through the lower chamber with three amendments from a Dallas lawmaker, all of which garnered support from author State Rep. Dan Flynn.
Posted in
State Government
Lawsuit over sanctuary cities bill is just a matter of time, opponents say
Texas’ attorneys will be forced to defend Senate Bill 4, the controversial “sanctuary cities” bill in court, its opponents say.
