Hill Country News 3160
Texas Senate Pairs Judicial Pay Increase with Increased Transparency, Accountability for Judges
The Texas Senate overwhelmingly approved a pay increase for judges across the state Thursday, but with added accountability and transparency requirements that include strengthening the state’s judicial oversight commission. Sen. Joan Huffman’s (R-Houston) Senate Bill (SB) 293 expands the definition of official misconduct to include judges and magistrates who engage in “persistent or willful” violations
Best Bet for Blackfin
Blackfin tuna tend to be on the small side compared to yellowfin tuna, but when you find one you often find droves and they just love hanging around offshore rigs. Added bonus: this is a “white meat” tuna, and its steaks are hard to beat on the grill. You’ll catch some by accident when trolling
Brackish Water Bass N’ Reds
Fish for long enough and you’ll see some pretty strange things, but one thing that happens with regularity but never fails to surprise me is when I’m fishing in a brackish creek or marsh for a salty species like redfish, and catch a largemouth bass right alongside of them. It’s always a fun surprise when
Patrick Adds ‘Life of the Mother’ Act, Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel Ban to Senate Priorities
Among Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top 40 priorities during Texas’ 89th Legislative Session are two abortion-related bills: the “Life of the Mother” Act clarifying the state’s current abortion laws and interpretation of its exceptions, and “Stopping Taxpayer-Funded Abortion Travel.” Patrick released the last 15 of his priorities of his agenda that includes a plethora of
Senate Priority Bill Would Create ‘Homeland Security Division’ Within Texas Department of Public Safety
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick released the second half of his priority bills for the upper chamber on Thursday, and included on the list is a piece of legislation to enhance coordination and operations related to homeland security, border security, and critical infrastructure protection. Senate Bill (SB) 36, authored by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), proposes
Texas House Mulls Wildfire Response Package After 2024 Panhandle Disaster
The Smokehouse Creek wildfire torched more than one million acres of Panhandle land one year ago, and now legislators have a package of reforms that hope to prevent that runaway blaze from happening again. In February 2024, warm temperatures, a dry spell, and high wind conditions combined to make much of the Panhandle a tinderbox.
Texas Bill Would Keep State National Guard From Active Combat Duty Without Congressional Authorization
Several state governments across the country have introduced legislation to prevent the deployment of National Guard troops in overseas conflicts, and now a Texas bill has been filed to do the same. House Bill 930, introduced by Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park), seeks to impose stricter requirements on the activation of the Texas National Guard
From Zero to 60: Texas Legislature Bill Filing Deadline Arrives
Texas’ 89th regular legislative session has seen 60 days pass since its start in January — swinging open the door for increased speed and ensuing chaos, as the window for bill filing closes and floor debates over legislation commence. The Texas Constitution, which entirely dictates the procedures of the legislative session and its calendar, permits
Texas House DOGE Committee Grills TASB on Profitable Purchasing Cooperative
Representatives from the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) purchasing cooperative grappled with answering questions during a Texas House committee hearing Wednesday, with some lawmakers lambasting the taxpayer-supported nonprofit over the group’s profits and lobbying efforts. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Releases Second List of Texas Senate Priorities
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released the second round of priority bills for the Texas Senate, featuring measures on issues such as banning lottery couriers, the Life of the Mother Act, and preventing squatting, among others. The list of bills includes: × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to
Border Security, Police Recruitment, Illegal Entry Penalties Discussed in Texas House Committee Hearing
Law enforcement, border security, and federal agency cooperation were all topics of discussion in the Texas House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing this week as lawmakers and witnesses discussed various bill proposals. Col. Ron VanderRoest of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department appeared before the committee to discuss the “two phases”
CCA-TX Approves $4.4 Million For Conservation
The CCA Texas State Board of Directors and the CCA Texas Management Committee recently approved $4,458,928 in funding for conservation efforts along the Texas coast. This funding will support a range of initiatives, including oyster license buyback, fish tagging research, habitat restoration, and coastal educational outreach programs. “We are thrilled to share this announcement and
