The effort to slow down the revolving door between the Legislature and the special-interest lobby has hit a major snag: a “cooling-off period” for legislators is gone from the bill.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Higher Education
Lawmakers want to rein in Texas universities — four years after gutting their oversight board
Some Texas lawmakers have complained that universities seem to be taking on ambitious projects that don’t serve the needs of the state. Lawmakers gave them that power back in 2013.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Legislating, from business class to coach
If you’re in favor, Texas lawmakers will meet with you and put your legislation on the fast track. Others have to wait, sometimes for weeks, for a chance to talk for a few minutes in a committee hearing room in the middle of the night.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House passes bill to raise age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18
The “Raise the Age” bill, would move 17-year-old offenders from the adult criminal justice system to its juvenile justice counterpart beginning 2021.
Posted in
Economy
Warren Buffett visits Capitol and “Buffett Bill” is born
The Texas Senate could soon debate the “Buffett Bill,” a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled.
Posted in
State Government
House Democrats disavow ride-hailing bill after addition of “sex” amendment
A group of House members removed their names as co-authors of a bill that would regulate ride-hailing companies because of an amendment that defines “sex” as the “physical condition of being male or female.”
Posted in
State Government
House lawmakers hear overnight testimony on alternative “bathroom bill”
If the hours of testimony against the measure are any indication, the House’s version of the “bathroom bill” will continue to face fierce opposition from LGBT advocates and the Texas business community.
Posted in
Health care
For troubled foster kids in Houston, sleeping in offices is “rock bottom”
No child is supposed to sleep or spend more than a few hours at the Harris County Youth Services Center’s Point of Entry in Houston. But Texas’ foster care placement crisis has forced some of the state’s most troubled teens to sleep in a place that isn’t equipped to care for them.
Posted in
Politics
Watch as House committee debates “bathroom bill” alternative
A House committee on Wednesday will debate a measure that could serve as an alternative to the Senate’s “bathroom bill.”
Posted in
Public Education
House gives preliminary approval to bill overhauling school finance system
In a preliminary vote, the House approved Rep. Dan Huberty’s bill to inject $1.6 billion into public schools and simplify complicated funding formulas. Legislators must still take a final vote on the bill.
