The Senate voted 18-12 in favor of bill that would require an election if a local government entity wanted to increase some of its tax collections by 5 percent or more.
Texas Legislature
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State Government
Bill that would reduce handgun license fee headed to full Senate
A measure approved by a Senate committee would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry a handgun from $140 to $40 and the annual renewal fee from $70 to $40.
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Economy
House Democrats try again for a minimum wage hike
Though the proposals are unlikely to get very far, House Democrats are again pushing for a minimum wage increase in Texas.
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State Government
Stolen after Super Bowl in Houston, Tom Brady’s jersey recovered in Mexico
After being stolen from the Patriots’ locker room at NRG Stadium in Houston last month after the Super Bowl, quarterback Tom Brady’s jersey was traced to Mexico, according to officials involved in the investigation.
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State Government
Analysis: Cutting the Texas budget, even with money on hand
If Texas legislators cut the state budget this year, it won’t be because they didn’t have the money. It’ll be because they didn’t want to spend the money they have.
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Politics
In Texas House, uncertain fate of bathroom bill could reverberate
The Texas “bathroom bill” has made it to the House but chamber leaders are hinting that the controversial legislation may never reach the chamber’s floor for a vote.
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State Government
Texas lawmakers zero out budget for Abbott’s pre-K program (video)
In the Texas Political Roundup: Both the House and Senate budget plans have zeroed out the funding for Governor Greg Abbott’s early education grant program. Plus, the “bathroom bill” advances in the Senate. And one lawmaker files a bill that would penalize men for masturbating.
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Higher Education
Universities face funding cuts of 6 percent to 10 percent in Senate plan
In an attempt to make major changes in how higher education is funded, the Senate Finance Committee is proposing major cuts to each state university.
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Health care
Senate gives approval to two abortion-related bills
The upper chamber gave final passage to a bill that would ban what opponents call “partial-birth” abortions and put restrictions on donating fetal tissue, and initial approval to one that would ban doctors from performing dilation and evacuation abortions.
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Politics
Texas bullet train firm calls provision added to budget a “job killer”
Officials with Texas Central Partners, the private firm developing the Houston-Dallas high-speed rail line, said the rider added to the state senate’s proposed budget Wednesday would put their project at risk.
