The Senate State Affairs Committee addressed one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s four emergency items Thursday: passing a resolution showing the state backs an Article V convention.
Brian Birdwell
Posted in
Politics
Dan Patrick makes only one change atop Senate committees
Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee.
Posted inState Government
Senator Brian Birdwell Finally Gets Chance to Thank Man who Helped Him on 9/11
It’s been nearly 15 years since the lives of Texas state Sen. Brian Birdwell and Rob Maness, candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana, were thrust together for a few chaotic moments outside the Pentagon on 9/11.
Posted in
Higher Education
Video: Higher Ed and the 84th Legislature
At our 11/16 symposium on higher education, Matthew Watkins talked to state Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo; state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin; and Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes about how higher ed issues played in the 84th Legislature.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Patrick Directs Senators to Study Jail Safety, Police Safety
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick added police safety and jail safety issues, as well as sanctuary cities and veteran benefits to the Senate’s to-do list Friday ahead of the next scheduled legislative session in 2017.
Posted in
Higher Education
Bill to Rein In Hazlewood Costs Dies
Lawmakers said Saturday they were unable to reconcile House and Senate versions of a bill to tighten eligibility rules for a popular veterans’ tuition program.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Revised Campus Carry Bill Would Give Universities More Say
House and Senate negotiators are sending a version of “campus carry” back to their chambers that gives universities more say over where and how concealed handguns are permitted on campus.
Posted inState Government
Hazlewood Conundrum Lingers Into Weekend
Key lawmakers are still far from an agreement on the future of a popular college tuition program for Texas veterans and their children. If nothing is done, some lawmakers say, the program known as Hazlewood could financially cripple the state’s universities.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas House, Senate Make Progress on Border Security Legislation
The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn’t involve tax cuts.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 27, 2015
There was more fallout late last week from the Southern Methodist University-led research study that linked wastewater injection wells to a swarm of earthquakes near Reno and Azle in late 2013 and early 2014.