This week, Secretary of State Hope Andrade conducted a lottery that determined the order of the 10 new proposals on the November ballot. Each amendment already won approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and now needs a nod from a majority of the voters. Here’s the rundown…
Transportation
Reporting on roads, transit, infrastructure, and policy shaping travel and mobility across the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Video: Alex Jones Storms the Capitol
Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol Wednesday over the Legislature’s failure to pass a bill criminalizing invasive airport pat downs. “Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!” he bellowed.
DPS Institutes Surcharge Breaks for the Poor
The Texas Department of Public Safety today announced the start of a program to help poor drivers pay off expensive surcharges and get their driver’s licenses back.
House Gives Early OK to “Choose Life” License Plate
A bill directing the Department of Motor Vehicles to create an anti-abortion license plate to raise money for crisis pregnancy centers got an early OK from the House โ and staved off a flurry of amendments from Democrats.
House Gives Early OK to TxDOT Sunset Bill
Consider it a do-over. The House today tentatively approved the Texas Department of Transportation Sunset bill, the measure that last year sent lawmakers into a surprise special session.
David Dewhurst: The TT Interview
With less than five weeks left to go in the session, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst sat down with the Tribune to talk about his future political plans, the status of the budget in the Senate and in the biennial parley between the Senate and the House, redistricting and the tug-of-war over the Rainy Day Fund.
Senate Votes for “Transparent” TxDOT
The Texas Department of Transportation Sunset bill that got caught up in the backlog of legislation last session passed the Senate today.
On the Records: Mapping Highway Speeds by State
The Texas House today passed a bill allowing Texas Department of Transportation to study whether to increase the speed limit on certain highways to 85 miles per hour. See how the state compares with this interactive map.
Interactive: U.S. Speed Limits by State
The Texas House today passed a bill allowing TxDOT to increase the speed limit on certain highways to 85 miles per hour. These interactive maps visualize the vehicle speed limits set by states on rural interstates, with darker shades representing higher speeds.
Legislators Consider Repealing Driver Fees
Lawmakers at the Capitol debate eliminating a surcharge on traffic tickets that has been riddled with problems almost since its inception.



