Dallas to require employers to offer paid sick leave as Texas lawmakers debate banning such ordinances
The sick-leave ordinance was approved by a 10-4 vote despite efforts in the Texas Legislature and the courts to ban such rules. Full Story
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![Downtown Dallas on March 19, 2018.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to legalize the farming of industrial hemp
Hemp is a cousin of the marijuana plant, but it contains low levels of the psychoactive element in marijuana known as THC. The House's bill will now go to the Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville, on the House floor on April 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas removes thousands of children from Medicaid each month due to red tape, records show
Most states check once a year whether children on Medicaid still qualify for the program. Texas checks more often, using an automated system that critics say leads to kids losing coverage even though they're still eligible. Full Story
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![Yesenia Alvarado holds her daughter, Medicaid patient Melanie Almaraz, 2, while waiting to see Dr. Alberto Vasquez for treatment of a fever at Su Clinica Familiar in Harlingen, Texas on Jul. 9, 2013.]()
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Texas Senate passes legislation to prevent surprise medical bills with arbitration, mediation
Surprise medical bills happen when out-of-network health care providers and insurance companies can’t agree on the price of a medical treatment, leaving the patient to pick up the amount insurance won’t pay. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during a February 21, 2018 Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding.]()
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Texas House approves “born alive” abortion bill
The House tentatively signed off on a bill Tuesday that would grant legal protections to babies born after failed abortion attempts, though such instances are extremely rare. Full Story
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![Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano speaks at a press conference to announce the filing of the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act on March 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
For many Texas teachers, health insurance premiums are huge — but so are the hospital bills
It's not unusual for teachers to spend over $1,000 a month on health insurance. Full Story
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![Liz and Jeremiah Pena are educators in Birdville ISD in Haltom City and last year they estimated they paid over $11,000 in health insurance premiums alone. They think that the pay increases and per student increases included in House Bill 3 are a good thing but that it would have helped many educators like them more to focus on lowering TRS (Teacher Retirement System) insurance premiums. Photographed at Haltom High School where Liz Pena is Assistant Principal.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
This Republican Texas lawmaker halted a bill to outlaw abortion. He now faces security concerns, sheriff says.
State Rep. Jeff Leach said a bill that criminalizes abortion will not advance beyond the committee he chairs. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, on the House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![A student smokes a cigarette on the College of Communication plaza.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House signs off on medical schools for Sam Houston State, University of Houston
The schools still need approval from the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, on the House floor on April 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
“That bill has now been poisoned”: Business groups worry sick-leave proposal faces uphill battle
Some business groups who thought they had a slam dunk bill on employment benefits are now worried that LGBTQ opposition they tried to prevent could kill one of their priorities. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, lays out his bills during the Senate Education Committee meeting on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate moves to block local governments from partnering with abortion providers
Supporters say Senate Bill 22 would terminate "sweetheart rent deals," but abortion rights advocates say the legislation is the latest attempt in the legislature's years-long battle to reduce funding for abortion providers. Full Story
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![Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, answers questions about Senate Bill 6 on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas abortion bills pass committees, gaining momentum in Senate
Anti-abortion bills have gathered steam in the upper chamber — including a proposal to limit local funding for abortion providers and another to protect infants born alive after an abortion. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion advocates at the Rally for Life march in Austin on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House approves 2020-21 budget plan, with extra $9 billion for school finance, property tax relief
The House also signed off on a $9 billion supplemental budget that would withdraw $4.3 billion from the state savings account. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, the author of HB1 talks with Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the House Chamber on March 27, 2019, the day the House will take up HB1, the 2020-21 budget plan.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Everyone wants a piece of the Texas budget. It's hard to succeed when most of the money is accounted for.
Disability advocates want the Texas Legislature to invest in pay raises for home care workers. Even in a year of surplus, it's a difficult battle. Full Story
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![Susie Angel on the back patio of her home with her attendant Sandy White in Austin on Jan. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas investigating highly contagious whooping cough at state Capitol
Lawmakers were alerted that a page on the House floor had the infection, triggering discussions about vaccine policies in the state. Full Story
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![State Capitol on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers are prioritizing mental health for school safety. But advocates worry about stigma.
The newfound push this session around school safety and preventing mass shootings is reinvigorating ideas about mental health care for Texas children. But advocates often cringe when legislators make the argument that mental health care is the key to preventing mass shootings. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flowermound, introduces SB 3 on the Senate Floor on Mar. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Despite powerful supporters, medical cannabis proposals face obstacle in Dan Patrick
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's wariness of proposals to expand the state's narrow medical cannabis program may block any such bills from reaching the governor's desk this session. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Parliamentarian Karina Davis on on the Senate floor on Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
In Iowa, Beto O'Rourke works to find his footing on health care
O'Rourke has long said he wants health care to be affordable, high quality and universal — a goal that brought questions from voters during his first few days as a presidential candidate. Full Story
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![Democratic 2020 presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, 46, runs a St. Patrick's Day 5K race during a three-day road trip across Iowa, in North Liberty, Iowa on March 16, 2019.]()
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A federal safety net funds health care for uninsured Texans. Time is running short to negotiate its renewal.
A federal program known as the 1115 waiver helps pay for the costs of providing health care to the uninsured. Advocates want the Texas Legislature to order a renegotiation of the waiver, which partially expires in 2021. Full Story
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![Kristal Macaluso, phlebotomist at Western Hills Clinic, reorganized medical supplies, Monday March 11, 2019. The clinic is a part of Tarrant County MHMR and serves low income clients with behavioral health and substance abuse needs.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Property tax proposal piles one more worry on Texas' rural hospital districts
Hospital leaders say restrictions on their property tax revenue growth could force them to scale back services. Full Story
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![The wound care center at Eastland Memorial Hospital.]()
Credit: Gary Rhodes for The Texas Tribune