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Texas House Gives Initial Approval to Priority Nuclear Power Legislation
A proposal intended to jumpstart the development of nuclear power in Texas cleared the initial hurdle in the Texas House on Tuesday, opening the way for dealings with the Senate over the bill’s final outlook. House Bill (HB) 14 by state Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) would create the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office within the
Bill Criminalizing Abortion As Murder ‘Yanked’ From Texas House Committee Hearing
A bill that would provide equal protection under the law for preborn children by treating elective abortion as murder was “yanked” from its scheduled committee hearing the night before, for still unconfirmed reasons. House Bill (HB) 2197, also dubbed “abolition of abortion” legislation, closes a sole exception in Texas’ penal code that protects women who
Abbott’s School Choice Victory Starts Next Chapter in Texas House
Sixteen months separated Gov. Greg Abbott calling education savings accounts (ESA)-skeptical House Republicans into his office to show just how serious he was about passing a bill in the fourth special session of 2023, and his political long game finally paid off last week. Between the bookends was $12 million, a bloody campaign, and a
Senate Bill Would Prohibit Student Visa Holders from Supporting ‘Terrorist Activity’ at Texas Universities
Growing concerns about student protests and potentially illegal activity on Texas university campuses have prompted one state lawmaker to propose prohibiting university students and employees who hold non-immigrant visas from publicly supporting “terrorist activities” or persuading others to do so. Senate Bill (SB) 2233, authored by Rep. Adam Hinojosa (R-Corpus Christi), seeks to “enhance the
Texas Senate Approves Nearly $500 Million for Priority Film Incentive Program
After a star-studded Senate committee hearing featuring actor Matthew McConaughey, the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP) — promoting Texas as the “new Hollywood” — passed the upper chamber, and awaits its hearing in the House. Senate Bill (SB) 22, one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priorities for the 89th Legislative Session and carried
Patrick Recommends Senate Concur with House School Choice Bill Amendments
The next step in the legislative process for school choice in Texas has now been taken, with state leaders determining the advancement of the education savings account (ESA) bill that passed on the House floor last week. Following nearly 12 hours of debate, Senate Bill (SB) 2 passed with 86 of 150 members voting in
Tort Circuit: Business Community, Trial Lawyers Clash Over Tort Reform in Texas
There are age-old fights in Texas politics — urban versus rural, state versus local — and then there are those not quite at that level, but awfully close to it. One such conflict is between trial lawyers and the business community, with the Texas Legislature sandwiched in between. Tort reform efforts in Texas revved up
Here’s a List of How Texas House Representatives Voted on School Choice
The Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill (SB) 2 early Thursday morning, the marquee school choice bill creating an education savings accounts (ESA) program in Texas, after working through a plethora of amendments. The most notable of those came from Rep. James Talarico, who proposed that the ESA initiative be placed on the ballot
Texas Elected Officials React to House Passing School Choice Bill
Education savings accounts (ESA) passed after a “historic day on the House floor,” which was the first time the school choice proposal has passed in both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Gov. Greg Abbott called it “an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the
School Choice, Public Education Funding Bills Pass Initial Vote in Texas House
In what was described as a “historic day on the House floor,” the 89th Legislative Session’s marquee public school finance and school choice bills were passed on second reading. Prior to the day kicking off, Gov. Greg Abbott — who has pushed for school choice in Texas for years both with his political capital and
Texas Cyber Command Legislation Passes Texas House
Gov. Greg Abbott made the establishment of a Texas Cyber Command an emergency item during his State of the State address earlier this year. Now, the Texas House has presented a bill to coordinate online threats, develop strategies, and respond to cyberattacks against the state. House Bill (HB) 150, co-authored by a number of members
Texas House School Discipline Bill Passes After Debate Between Lawmakers
A bill intended to reform classroom policy and create greater capacity for school discipline was the subject of extended debate and sharp disagreement among lawmakers on Tuesday as both defenders and opponents of the legislation argued about the necessity of the proposal. House Bill (HB) 6, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), aims to amend
