Houston-area Rep. Ron Reynolds, who’s been sued by the state after not filing a campaign finance report in a year, says he’s started a payment plan.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas counties see price tags on both sides of “sanctuary” debate
Texas counties are facing financial pressures on both sides of a highly politicized debate over their role in enforcing federal immigration laws. Just look at Dallas County.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Judge: Texas can’t kick Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled that Texas clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood can continue to care for patients under the state’s Medicaid program.
Posted in
State Government
Texas leaders won’t commit to more resources for sex-trafficking victims
The state’s top leaders have remained silent on whether they’ll provide more resources for sex-trafficking victims — or more funding for the crippled child welfare system that’s supposed to protect vulnerable kids.
Posted inState Government
House committee hears bills on child welfare
Advocates and families testified all day in front of House Human Services members as legislators buckled down to look at key bills that would overhaul how the state takes care of endangered children.
Posted in
Sold Out
Solutions: What Texas can do to help child sex-trafficking victims
Over the past week, we’ve exposed how Texas leaders who crusade against sex trafficking have done almost nothing to help child trafficking victims. We asked those closest to the issue how they would begin addressing the problem. Here’s what they said.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
How the Texas “bathroom bill” compares to North Carolina’s revised law
The Texas proposal shares elements of both the original North Carolina law as well as the revised version approved last week by the Tar Heel State’s lawmakers.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: A window into who Texas legislators’ favorite employees are
Lawmakers want to stop deducting dues for union and non-union employee associations from state paychecks — but only for the employees they disagree with.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Despite state budget woes, Republican lawmaker wants funds for death penalty attorneys
Rep. James White’s House Bill 1676 would create a state-funded office to represent death-sentenced inmates who can’t afford their own lawyer in their direct appeals to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
New Harris County policy reignites marijuana decriminalization debate
After Harris County’s move to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, Texas lawmakers disagree about whether local jurisdictions have the discretion to enact such policies.
