The lawmakers said they are acting in response to the death of former Houston resident George Floyd.
John Whitmire
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Texas 2020 Elections
Joe Biden wins endorsements from Beto O’Rourke, other former rivals in late Texas surge
The former vice president received big-name endorsements — including backing from former presidential candidates Beto O’Rourke, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar — as he campaigned in Dallas and Houston on the eve of Super Tuesday.
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Criminal Justice
As the Texas prison population shrinks, the state is closing two more lockups
The closures are expected in the coming months, as the state faces dangerous understaffing in its prisons.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Prison health care costs are higher than ever in Texas. Many point to an aging prison population.
Although there are fewer people in prison than there were a decade ago, costs have surged along with the share of inmates who are older — and sicker.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas prison guards to get a small raise, but some doubt it will help with chronic understaffing
The state’s two-year budget provided $84 million to increase salaries for correctional officers and other prison employees as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces nearly 4,000 empty guard positions.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Senate won’t pass bill to lower penalties for marijuana
His comment comes the day after the Texas House gave preliminary approval to the bill in a 98-43 vote.
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Health care
Texas could soon increase the legal age to buy tobacco, though active military members might be exempt
Senate Bill 21 passed Tuesday, raising the legal purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21. But its author amended the legislation to exclude active military from the age raise.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas senator proposes moving all youth in state lockups to shuttered adult jail
After shrinking the population at state-run juvenile lockups, state Sen. John Whitmire wants to move the remaining youth at five facilities to one recently closed adult jail.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Courts have called Texas bail practices unconstitutional. Will that push this year’s reform efforts to success?
Two years after a bail reform bill died in the Legislature, new bail legislation has other factors working in its favor.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proposes bail reform after death of DPS trooper
Abbott said he wanted to fix a flawed system in Texas that allowed the man suspected of killing a trooper last year to get out of jail on bond despite having been previously accused of assaulting a deputy.