![Evelyn Fulbright attended the Women's [In]Justice Day rally March 8 on the south steps of the Capitol.](https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/05_Women_Prisons_March_MG-1-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1)
Multiple bills filed this session aim to address deficiencies in women’s prisons.
Senfronia Thompson
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas still doesn’t have a law on intellectual disability and the death penalty. Will that change this year?
Nearly two decades after the U.S. Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional to execute those with intellectual disabilities, Texas still has no process on determining the condition — leaving life-and-death decisions in the hands of courts with very different methods.
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State Government
Abbott signs measure that tightens state law on child brides
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Thursday to prohibit people younger than 18 from marrying unless a judge consents. The measure also prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married.
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Criminal Justice
House votes to end jail time for being too poor to pay fines
Senate Bill 1913, by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would allow courts to ask defendants if they are too poor to pay for traffic tickets, fines for other low-level and fine-only offenses or court costs.
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Criminal Justice
Senate passes “second chances” bill for nonviolent offenders
The Texas Senate has approved its version of House Bill 3016, which would make it easier for people to apply for jobs if they have low-level offenses on their records. Such applicants would not be required to disclose their offenses.
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State Government
Thompson and White on CPS, public ed, mass incarceration (video)
Full video of Evan Smith’s 3/31 conversation with state Reps. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and James White, R-Hillister.
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Politics
Tens of thousands participate in Texas women’s marches
The day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, tens of thousands of Texans took part in marches across the state Saturday during Texas’ multiple iterations of the Women’s March on Washington.
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Politics
Miles Nominated to Replace Ellis for Houston Senate Seat
State Rep. Borris Miles of Houston has captured the Democratic nomination to replace state Sen. Rodney Ellis, putting him on track to win the seat in November.
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Politics
Analysis: Is a Move From the Texas House to the Senate a Clear Promotion?
Moving from the Texas House to the Texas Senate makes sense, but not for every politician: One current candidate for Senate — and a potential future one — each has more clout in the House than he or she would have in the Senate.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Attorney General Unveils Unit to Fight Human Trafficking
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday announced a new unit in his office dedicated to combating human trafficking.