State 945
Texas Senate Passes Human Trafficking Victims Affirmative Defense Amid House Quorum Bust
Legislation establishing an affirmative defense to prosecution for human trafficking victims who may have committed crimes while in captivity unanimously passed the Texas Senate, where it will likely die before being re-filed during the next special session. Senate Bill (SB) 10 by state Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) creating an affirmative defense to the prosecution
George Strait’s Flood Relief Concert Delivers Critical Aid to Kerr County Families
A month and a half after historic deadly flash floods tore through the Hill Country in the early hours of Independence Day, the recovery effort in Kerr County now stretches for miles along the winding Highway River Road. To newcomers, the scene still looks like the height of ruin — mountains of debris piled on
Texas Democrats Respond to Friday Sine Die Threat, Say ‘What Happens Next’ is Up to Abbott
Texas House Democrats stated they will “never make quorum again” during the current special session, which state leaders plan to end on Friday, and said they will “issue” their “demands” for the second called session come Friday. “What happens next is entirely up to Greg Abbott,” the Texas House Democratic Caucus (HDC) Chairman Gene Wu
Texas Schools Prepare for New Cell Phone Ban, Navigating Enforcement and Pushback
All Texas school districts will begin enforcing the cell phone ban passed under House Bill (HB) 1481 starting on September 1. The law requires that all public and charter schools must “adopt, implement, and ensure the district or school complies with a written policy prohibiting a student from using a personal communication device while on school property
Texas Senate Passes Trio of Flood Disaster Response Bills
The Texas Senate charged ahead on Tuesday, passing their package of bills addressing disaster relief in response to the Independence Day floods in Central Texas. A trio of bills were taken up by the upper chamber on Monday, each addressing different concerns that were voiced during the multiple committee committee hearings that followed the devastating
Texas Senate Approves Bill Restricting Disclosure of Police Personnel Records
The Texas Senate has approved a bill that would exclude some portions of police personnel records, including unsubstantiated complaints, from disclosure in response to public information requests from media or the public. Filed by state Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford), Senate Bill (SB) 14 seeks to implement a “model policy” developed by the Texas Commission on
Chemical Abortion Drug Ban Passes Texas Senate as House Remains Without Quorum
Legislation restricting the production and distribution of chemical abortion pills in Texas through civil liability, additional powers granted to the state attorney general, and wrongful death claims passed the Texas Senate, where it will die unless a quorum is met in the House on Friday. Senate Bill (SB) 6, also known as the Woman and
Texas Legislature to Sine Die Friday Without Quorum, Abbott to Immediately Call Second Special Session
The Texas Legislature is barrelling toward an immediate second special session if no quorum is reached Friday, the state’s top Republican officials confirmed on Tuesday. The House gaveled in on Tuesday, only reaching 95 votes during the roll call, lacking a quorum for the fourth time since Monday last week; the de facto quorum count
Texas Supreme Court Sets ‘Expedited Briefing Schedule’ in Abbott-Wu House Seat Vacancy Case
The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) has responded to Gov. Greg Abbott’s writ of quo warranto petition against state Rep. Gene Wu (D-Houston) to have his House seat declared vacant, setting upcoming dates for briefs to be filed for either side in the case. Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a similar suit against 13 Democratic
BetoO’Rourke Funding Quorum-Breaking Texas Democrats Receives Brief Restraining Order from Paxton, Texas
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was granted a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke and his “Powered by People” organization hours after suing the latter for allegedly funding Texas House Democratic “runways.” Paxton launched an investigation on Wednesday into O’Rourke’s Political Action Committee, Powered by People, alleging that “public reports” indicated it
Paxton files a petition with the Texas Supreme Court to make 13 of the Democratic House Tickets unoccupied.
Attorney General Ken Paxton is now bringing more legal actions against 13 Democratic members who have fled to other states after the Texas House once more failed to quorum on Friday afternoon. Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City ), Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin ), Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin ), James Talarico (D-Austin ), Gene Wu (D-Houston ), Lulu Flores
After the second day of no Quorum, the Texas House Speaker Purchases Absent Democrats ‘ Finances to Lower.
Following the departure of the majority of the Democratic caucus from the position or hiding out within it to demolish a mid-decade legislative redistricting chart, the Texas House lacked a vote for the second day in a column. State Representative Mary González (D-Clint ) returned to the chamber on Friday while state representatives Terry Canales
