Andrew Schneider

2 weeks ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Andrew Schneider

CenterPoint Energy has reached a deal with the state of Texas to absorb the cost of the 15 large, mobile generators it leased, valued at roughly $880 million. The move follows months of intense criticism and negotiation with lawmakers, after the generators proved useless to avert widespread power outages in the Houston area following Hurricane Beryl last year.

3 weeks ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Andrew Schneider

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that would require people to provide proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in state elections. Senate Bill 16 would effectively require the state to prepare two ballots, one for federal elections and one for state elections. It would also enact criminal penalties for knowingly registering to vote if a noncitizen or knowingly registering a noncitizen to vote.

3 weeks ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Andrew Schneider

The Texas Senate passed a bill late Tuesday that would let teachers pray or engage in religious speech in the classroom. It's the latest effort by Republican lawmakers in the state to use a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to expand the role of religion in public schools. Senate Bill 965 passed its final reading on a party-line vote in the Republican-led chamber. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.

3 weeks ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Andrew Schneider

Acting Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee is demanding Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, schedule an emergency special election in June to fill the seat for Texas’ vacant 18th Congressional District – a solidly Democratic, majority non-white district centered in Houston. Abbott let two key deadlines pass to put a special election on the May ballot to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

3 weeks ago | houstonpublicmedia.org | Andrew Schneider

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has until the end of the day Friday to call a special election to fill the Houston-based seat of the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner in time to get it on the ballot for the May uniform election. But he's not required to do so and has strong partisan reasons not to. The Texas Election Code requires the governor call a special election to fill a vacant office no less than 36 days before the next uniform election – in this case, May 3.