Texas lawmakers began this session’s abortion fights in earnest Wednesday during the first committee hearing on three abortion bills.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Politics
For Dawnna Dukes, a lukewarm welcome from Travis County delegation
Dukes’ presence in the House is a sensitive topic for her colleagues in the Travis County delegation because of the 12-term Democrat’s legal issues.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Lawmakers can turn to a bag of tricks to balance state budget
With an official forecast that less money will be available, the next state budget is tight. The finance folks are looking for money to make it balance, but don’t fret: They’ve got plenty of tax-avoiding, budget-balancing tricks in their bags.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Juvenile justice agency pushes back on claims of ineffectiveness
A Senate Finance committee workgroup has been tasked with exploring ways to improve the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as the agency defends itself from claims of inefficiency.
Posted in
Public Education
Study: A quarter of Texas public schools no longer teach sex ed
Nearly 60 percent of Texas public school districts used an abstinence-only sexual education curriculum, and a quarter taught no sex education at all, according to a study released Tuesday from the Texas Freedom Network.
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Politics
Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys among artists speaking out against Texas bathroom bill
Singers and actors including Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper and Alicia Keys have signed onto an open letter asking Texas lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 6 and other anti-LGBT legislation recently filed at the state legislature.
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Criminal Justice
Is an ICE detainer legal? Texas AG and immigration attorneys disagree
After Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton insisted in a letter last week that Texas’ anti-“sanctuary cities” bill would survive a legal challenge, immigration attorneys are trying to convince members of the Legislature that he’s wrong.
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Sold Out
When foster care couldn’t help this 16-year-old, she ran to a pimp
After her father raped her, Jean became one of the roughly 12,000 Texas kids in long-term foster care, a system that often leaves children more damaged than when they arrive. For Jean, selling sex seemed like a safer bet.
Posted in
Politics
Rainy Day Fund takes center stage at first House budget hearing
Budget writers in the Texas House are considering tapping the state’s savings account because they have a lot less money at their discretion this session.
Posted in
Transportation
With money tight, Texas budget writers eyeing billions approved by voters for roads
More than a year after Texas voters approved routing billions in state sales taxes to roads and bridges, some lawmakers are questioning whether the first payment of $5 billion should move forward as planned.
