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Texas House Advances Bill Requiring Schools to Teach History and ‘Atrocities’ of Communism
The Texas House passed a bill this week that will direct the State Board of Education (SBOE) to develop K-12 social studies standards that include education on the “history, tactics, and consequences of communism.” Senate Bill (SB) 24, authored by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), was laid out in the lower chamber by Rep. Jeff […]
U.S. House Passes ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ With $12 Billion Texas Border Wall Reimbursement
President Donald Trump’s federal domestic policy package he called the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the U.S. House early Thursday morning and included a $12 billion border security reimbursement for Texas. “This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!” Trump wrote. “Now, […]
U.S. House Advances Amendment to Repeal NFA Regulations on Firearm Suppressors
Gun rights activists saw one of their most significant legislative victories in recent years, after the U.S. House of Representatives passed federal budget legislation that included a last-minute amendment repealing the regulation of firearm suppressors under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The amendment, authored by Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), was included via the House rules […]
THC Product Ban Passes Texas House
A bill to ban certain consumable THC products from being sold in Texas produced heated debate, parliamentary maneuvers, and a bevy of amendments on Wednesday before being finally passed on the House floor. Senate Bill (SB) 3, otherwise known as “Banning THC in Texas,” became one of the most hotly contested pieces of legislation this […]
Texas House Approves ‘National Life Monument’ Statue on Capitol Grounds
The Texas House gave approval this week to the construction of a new monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol honoring “the miracle of life and the women at the center of that miracle.” × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it […]
Texas Legislature Strikes $8.5 Billion Deal on School Finance and Teacher Pay Raises
The Texas House and Senate reached a deal on an $8.5 billion school funding increase that will in part finance teacher pay raises after a night of negotiations between the leaders of the two chambers. The $8.5 billion deal is $800 million higher than what passed the House, and includes $3.7 billion specifically for teacher […]
‘Life of the Mother Act’ Clarifying Texas Abortion Law Exceptions Passes House
Highly-anticipated legislation clarifying the state’s abortion laws regarding life-of-the-mother exceptions was given initial passage by the Texas House. Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) took to the front mic on Wednesday afternoon where he laid out the Life of the Mother Act, Senate Bill (SB) 31 by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) — companion legislation to Geren’s […]
Texas Lawmakers Seek Increased Criminal Penalties for ‘Bid-Rigging’
State lawmakers are moving to increase penalties for criminal charges related to “bid-rigging” in response to multiple incidents in Texas jurisdictions, including several high-profile Harris County cases. In alleged bid-rigging cases, public officials are often indicted for Misuse of Official Information, which is a third-degree felony under Texas law. House Bill (HB) 2001 would create […]
Texas House Passes $140,000 Standard, $60,000 Elderly Homestead Exemption Increases
The second half of the 89th Legislative Session’s property tax deal cleared its secondary hurdle on Tuesday as the Texas House approved increases to both the standard and elderly homestead exemptions. Under the bills passed by the lower chamber, the standard homestead exemption would rise from $100,000 to $140,000, and the additional exemption for over-65 […]
Veterans, Parents, Liquor, and Beer: The Complicated Lobby Fight Over Texas’ Proposed THC Ban
The legislative fight over a prospective tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ban has made for strange lobbying bedfellows, uniting beer distributors, grassroots conservative groups, and law enforcement on one side, and veterans, cake shop entrepreneurs, progressive activists, and Libertarians on the other — with liquor stores somewhere in between. Six years ago, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill […]
Trump Signs Cruz’s ‘TAKE IT DOWN’ Act Banning ‘Revenge Porn’ Into Law
Federal legislation authored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) cracking down on “revenge pornography” content was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Monday afternoon. The “Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks” or “TAKE IT DOWN” Act criminalizes the non-consensual dissemination of intimate imagery, also requiring websites to […]
Texas Senate Passes ‘Uvalde Strong Act,’ Establishing Uniform On-Site Chain of Command for Active Shooter Response
The “Uvalde Strong Act” cleared the second of three hurdles toward becoming law on Monday when the Texas Senate passed it unanimously. House Bill (HB) 33, authored by state Rep. Don McLaughlin (R-Uvalde) and sponsored by state Sen. Pete Flores (R-Pleasanton), requires the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) to establish a uniform chain of […]
