The Texas House State Affairs Committee is set to debate a bill that would gut funding from local and state entities that don’t enforce immigration laws.
85th Legislative Session
Posted inState Government
Texas House passes statewide ban on texting while driving
Members voted 113-32 to tentatively approve the legislation, which will get a final vote in the House before it can proceed to the Senate. A Senate committee has passed a similar measure.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas proposal would limit prosecutors in grand jury proceedings
Grand jury reform legislation would allow suspects’ attorneys to be present during questioning and would prevent prosecutors from going to another grand jury if the first one declines to indict – unless there’s new evidence.
Posted in
Energy
At Capitol, bill targeting plastic bag bans draws strong opposition
Ranchers, city officials and environmentalists testified on Tuesday against a bill that would prevent cities from banning plastic grocery bags or charging a fee for them.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Senate tentatively approves “bathroom bill”
After several hours of debate, the Texas Senate on Tuesday tentatively signed off on the “bathroom bill” on a 21-10 vote.
Posted in
Transportation
Senate panel considers bills that would draw Uber and Lyft back to Austin
A Senate committee heard testimony on three bills that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senators grill one another in tense hearing on property tax bill
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt’s attempt to limit when cities and counties can increase property tax collections without an election drew bipartisan opposition Tuesday. But many supporters also came to the bill’s defense.
Posted in
Transportation
Watch a hearing on bills aimed at drawing Uber and Lyft back to Austin
A Senate committee is scheduled to take up three bills Tuesday aimed at overriding local regulation of ride-hailing companies that prompted Uber and Lyft to leave Austin and other Texas cities last year.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Advocates hope to end policy in Texas of jailing poor for unpaid fines
Thousands of Texans are at risk of being arrested at any given moment for not paying fines often related to traffic offenses or other city ordinance violations, according to a recent report.
Posted in
Economy
Will Senate bill provide tax relief or hamstring local governments?
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt says Texans are tired of seeing their property tax bills increase dramatically year after year. But local government officials say his Senate Bill 2 would limit their abilities to raise necessary revenues.
