Wedged between the end of the regular 85th legislative session and a fast approaching special session, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed 50 bills Thursday — the most a governor has issued since 2007 — while also signing multiple high-profile bills lawmakers sent to his desk earlier this year.
State Government
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Posted inState Government
Texas congressman thanks Capitol police for saving lives (video)
A Texas congressman recalls the scene at a shooting in Washington, D.C. this week, a new poll finds Republicans in Texas think President Trump is doing a fine job and Gov. Greg Abbott hopes lawmakers will give local tree ordinances the ax.
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Lock the Vote
As court scoldings pile up, will Texas face a voting rights reckoning?
A barrage of court rulings has forced Texas leaders to confront whether they strayed too far in enacting voting laws found to have disproportionately burdened minorities.
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Public Education
Gov. Abbott signs bill that seeks to end “lunch shaming”
One of the most surprisingly contentious measures of the legislative session — ending “lunch shaming” for Texas public school students — was signed into law Thursday.
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State Government
Abbott vetoes 50 bills passed by Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed 50 bills that were passed during the regular legislative session, his office announced Thursday.
Posted inState Government
Texas Gov. Abbott signs “Sandra Bland Act” into law
The measure mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment and requires that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths.
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Politics
Texas may expand ballot access for elderly and voters with disabilities
A bill that cleared the Legislature aims to prevent voter fraud at nursing homes and widen ballot access for elderly Texans. Somehow, politics didn’t get in the way.
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State Government
Abbott OKs religious refusal of adoptions in Texas
Child welfare providers can use their “sincerely held religious beliefs” to decide what homes and services foster and adoptive children should receive.
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State Government
New law clears the way for driverless cars on Texas roads
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill backed by auto manufacturers that explicitly allows autonomous vehicles to operate on Texas roads without a driver inside.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Gov. Abbott signs bill to enforce reporting of police shootings
Starting in September, Texas law enforcement agencies could be fined $1,000 a day if they don’t report police shootings to the state in a timely manner.