Another major House deadline has gone by, ending that chamber’s consideration of major legislation filed by its own members. We’ve updated our House Bill tracker, showing which bills stalled in committee and which ones stalled in the full House.
Texas House of Representatives
Posted in
Economy
House Gives Early OK to Franchise Tax Measure
UPDATED: The House’s most sweeping attempt at tax reform this year passed on a preliminary vote on Tuesday after hours of at times acrimonious debate. House Bill 500 which would spend an estimated $667 million over the next biennium.
Posted in
Public Education
Senate’s High School Graduation Measure Differs From House Plan
The Senate version of House Bill 5, which it approved Monday, still allows students to complete diplomas in specialized areas, or “endorsements.” But it changes the courses required to graduate under those endorsements.
Posted in
Politics
Agenda Texas: What’s a Point of Order?
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: We look at the ways Texas lawmakers use legislative technicalities — or points of order — to derail legislation they don’t like.
Posted in
Economy
Video: Perry Talks About Priorities for Rest of Session
With less than a month remaining in the legislative session, Gov. Rick Perry met with the Texas House GOP Caucus and talked to reporters about his support for a bill that would draw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund for water infrastructure needs.
Posted in
Energy
Debate Over Water Bill Could Spur Bigger Fight
A bill that would draw $2 billion for water projects from the Rainy Day Fund is set to hit the House floor Monday afternoon. The debate could turn to focus on what it means to be a fiscal conservative in the Tea Party era.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House Backs $875 Million Budget Bill After Hot Debate
A debate in the Texas House on a supplemental budget bill Friday veered into debates on the Travis County district attorney’s drunken driving charge and the murder of two Kaufman County prosecutors.
Posted in
State Government
Labor Bill Spurs Gender Discrimination Debate in House
A debate over equal-pay legislation in the Texas House on Thursday sparked a suggestion that a vote against the labor bill would be a vote against equality for men and women.
Posted in
State Government
The Love-Hate Relationship With Transparency
One Texan’s transparency is another’s right to privacy, and people in politics generally find it easier to demand openness than to provide it.
Posted in
Bidness As Usual
Bill That Would End “Double Dipping” Gets Hearing
The obscure law that allows Gov. Rick Perry to collect both his pension and salary was the subject of a hearing Monday. A proposed bill would prevent future state officeholders from using the provision.
