Border security, tax relief and raises top list For the Texas House and Senate, there is not much daylight between each chamber’s priorities in this year’s legislative session. Leaders say the focus will be on property tax relief, border security and employee raises. Preliminary budgets from both chambers were releasedContinue Reading
Gary Borders/Texas Press Association Speaker open to resort-style casinos in state House Spaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, told The Dallas Morning News and other media outlets that he is open to bringing resort-style casinos to Texas. But don’t expect to find slot machines in 7-Eleven stores if casino gambling is legalized. “WhatContinue Reading
Abbott tests negative four days after testing positive Gov. Greg Abbott announced via Twitter Saturday that he is now testing negative for COVID-19, four days after testing positive though asymptomatic. “I am told that my infection was brief and mild because of the vaccination I received. I will continue toContinue Reading
Gary Borders/ Texas Press Association Nearly 60 Texas House Democrats left the state last Monday for Washington, D.C. in an effort to stop passage of a Republican-led elections bill. This in effect blocks all legislation since the House doesn’t have a quorum present. As the Austin American Statesman and otherContinue Reading
Gary Borders/Texas Press Association The Texas Legislature convened in special session last Thursday and GOP legislators introduced a fresh set of voting bills after Democrats blocked an earlier attempt during the regular session by walking out in May, preventing a quorum. HB3 and SB 1 don’t include some of theContinue Reading
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas urged Texans to cut back on power usage last week when an unusually large number of power plants shut down for unexpected repairs as temperatures soared. ERCOT officials announced Friday that Texans could resume normal levels of electricity use, however. ERCOT came under fireContinue Reading
Gary Borders/ Texas Press Association The Texas Legislature sent a $248 billion two-year state budget to Gov. Greg Abbott after the House approved the measure last Thursday.The 140-day legislative session ended at midnight May 31. Senate Bill 1 is $13.5 billion less than the previous biennial budget, with the differenceContinue Reading
by Gary Borders/ Texas Press Association Special session coming this fall Texas lawmakers will adjourn the regular session on Monday — Memorial Day — but Gov. Greg Abbott has already indicated he will call a special session in the fall to grapple with redistricting after detailed census results are finallyContinue Reading
Gary Borders/Texas Press Association State shows largest numerical population gain Texas stands to gain two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after results of the 2020 census released last week show the state had the largest numerical gain of any state since the 2010 census The population increased byContinue Reading
Gary Borders/Texas Press Association Early voting began Monday for May 1 elections in county, city and school district elections. Secretary of State Ruth R. Hughs encourages all eligible voters to take advantage of the early voting period, which runs through Tuesday, April 27. Texas voters can contact their respective countyContinue Reading
From Texas Press Association, Chris Cobler Texas House and Senate leaders appear to agree on their proposed budgets. Next, they just have to figure out how to cut $7.2 billion. Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, worked with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to propose a state budget of $119.7 billion inContinue Reading