Texas lawmakers made it legal to farm hemp and, incidentally, harder to prosecute people caught with small amounts of marijuana, which is still illegal. Now they’re bickering about whether that’s the fault of the new law or of local prosecutors.
Ken Paxton
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Criminal Justice
Judge dismisses part of Texas’ “sanctuary city” lawsuit against San Antonio
In its first enforcement action under a controversial new law, Texas sued San Antonio last year, alleging that the city had broken the law in December 2017.
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Health care
As Texas seeks to overturn Obamacare, attention focuses on a potential swing judge
Jennifer Walker Elrod, a federal appeals court judge appointed by George W. Bush, asked the majority of the questions in a two-hour session Tuesday on Texas’ lawsuit.
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Health care
Texas is going to court to end Obamacare. It hasn’t produced a plan to replace it.
During a legislative session focused on schools and taxes, Texas lawmakers did little to prepare for the possibility that Obamacare will be struck down in its entirety — even as the state leads the charge to have the law declared unconstitutional.
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Criminal Justice
Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remains threatened after court upholds prosecutor pay decision
Texas’ highest criminal court reiterated that a six-figure payment to the prosecutors fell outside legal limits. The prosecutors have indicated they may withdraw if they cannot be paid.
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Texas Voting Rights
Texas ditched its botched voter roll review but has signaled it hasn’t closed its criminal inquiry
State officials continue to deny public access to the list of 100,000 voters selected for citizenship checks, citing a section of state law that allows them to withhold the information if it’s part of a pending criminal review.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House passes bill to prohibit telemarketers from falsifying caller ID
The measure aims to prohibit caller ID spoofing — when callers tamper with information transmitted to people’s phones to disguise their identities.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas narrows law barring contractors from boycotting Israel
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill weeks after a federal judge blocked the existing state law in response to a lawsuit.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joins fight targeting Texas State Bar
The lawsuit has the potential to upend the structure of the entity responsible for regulating Texas’ legal profession. Critics suggest that Paxton’s involvement may be politically motivated.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House passes bill defining fantasy sports as legal game of skill
While critics say fantasy sports sites are hubs for illegal online gambling, others contend the games are based on skill and are therefore legitimate.
