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Texas House Approves Enhanced ‘Junk Science Writ’ Following Roberson Controversy
The Texas House passed a bill this week aiming to improve access to relief for individuals whose convictions or sentences may have been undermined by evolving scientific understanding. House Bill (HB) 115 was presented to the lower chamber on Wednesday by bill author Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield). He explained that the Legislature had previously passed
Bill Decriminalizing Homosexual Conduct Passes Texas House
Legislation seeking to decriminalize homeosexual conduct in state code passed an initial vote in the Texas House on Thursday night with a degree of bipartisan support. Rep. Venton Jones (D-Dallas), a self-identified gay man, carried House Bill (HB) 1738 successfully through the lower chamber with bipartisan joint author support from Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) and
At a Premium: Texas Legislature Mulls Reforms to Cumbersome Insurance Industry
Among the weediest issues the Texas Legislature is attacking this session is insurance, an industry with ballooning premiums caused by general uncertainty on one end and certainty of payout on the other. “Insurance is the practice of assigning a dollar amount to risk,” state Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) told the House Insurance Committee in March.
Texas Senator Files Bill to Abolish Texas Lottery Commission, Transfer Operations
With less than 30 days left in the 89th Legislative Session, a Texas senator has introduced a new bill to address growing concerns regarding the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) by abolishing the agency and moving its operations to another department. Sen. Bob Hall (R-Edgewood) late Monday afternoon filed Senate Bill (SB) 3017, which would abolish
Texas House Passes Bill Eliminating STAAR Test
With near-unanimous agreement, the Texas House passed a bill to reform the state’s public school accountability system by eliminating the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test. “It’s gonna be a great day in the Texas house,” Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado) declared while laying out House Bill (HB) 4. × This page requires
Texas House Passes Bipartisan Reform to Affordable Housing Tax Exemption Program
The Texas House overwhelmingly passed reforms to a controversial affordable housing program over the weekend, with more than 100 members voting to crack down on alleged abuses of the system that critics say did little to provide reduced rents for low-income families. In a lopsided bipartisan vote of 113 to 15, members approved Rep. Gary
Texas House, Senate Pass Bipartisan Reform to Affordable Housing Tax Exemption Program
The Texas House overwhelmingly passed reforms to a controversial affordable housing program over the weekend, with more than 100 members voting to crack down on alleged abuses of the system that critics say did little to provide reduced rents for low-income families. In a lopsided bipartisan vote of 113 to 15, members approved Rep. Gary
Turkeys Get Major Conservation Support
Via its largest single annual investment in wild turkey research, the NWTF recently distributed $655,447 to nine wild turkey research projects for the organization’s 2024 allocation. Between NWTF funding and partner support, about $6 million will support the nine wild turkey research projects. “Thanks to our volunteers, partners and staff, our National RFP program has
Sand Eels For Specks
Spring marks the start of something special on the Texas Gulf Coast: reefs come alive, baitfish like sand eels swarm the shallows, and hungry speckled trout move in. Matching the hatch with soft plastic baits is key—and while traditional swimbaits work well, you might be surprised at what else gets bit. Here’s a breakdown of
Feds Boost Timber Harvest On National Forest Land
U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $23 million in grants to support transporting hazardous fuels – such as dead or downed trees – from national forests to processing facilities for timber harvest. Through the USDA Forest Service’s Hazardous Fuels Transportation Program, these grants will reduce the hazardous fuels that pose wildfire threats to communities, critical infrastructure
Prohibition on Local Taxpayer-Funded Gun ‘Buybacks’ Passes Texas House
Legislation banning counties or cities from funding or conducting gun “buyback” programs passed the Texas House on Tuesday afternoon, on the basis that it wastes taxpayer dollars and has proven ineffective in reducing crime. House Bill (HB) 3053 by Rep. Wesley Virdell (R-Brady) successfully made its way through the the lower chamber with 85 votes
Texas House Approves Bill Expanding State Medical Cannabis Program
This week, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at expanding and reforming the Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP) by broadening access to medical cannabis for Texans suffering from a wide range of qualifying conditions. Rep. Ken King (R-Canadian) laid out House Bill (HB) 46 on the floor, arguing the legislation is necessary
