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4 weeks ago | 
tpr.org | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks |Lucio Vasquez
The day many watchers of Texas politics have been waiting for is here: The Texas House is currently debating Senate Bill 2 on the floor. If passed, the contentious proposal would create a $1 billion dollar Education Savings Account plan allowing parents to use public funds towards private school tuition. Past attempts to pass the controversial school voucher measure — a top priority for Gov.
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4 weeks ago | 
kut.org | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks |Lucio Vasquez
Read this story in English Después de más de 12 horas de debate, la Cámara de Representantes de Texas dio su aprobación inicial a dos de los proyectos de ley más vigilados de la sesión legislativa: un paquete de financiación de 7 mil 700 millones de dólares para las escuelas públicas y una propuesta muy disputada para crear una vía para que las familias utilicen los impuestos estatales para ayudar a enviar a sus hijos a escuelas privadas.
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4 weeks ago | 
dentonrc.com | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks |Lucio Vasquez
After more than 12 hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to two of the most closely-watched bills of the legislative session – a $7.7 billion public school funding package and a hotly contested proposal to create a pathway for families to use state tax dollars to help send their kids to private schools. The House vote on the latter, Senate Bill 2, marks a massive victory for top Texas Republicans, including Gov.
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1 month ago | 
houstonpublicmedia.org | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks |Lucio Vasquez
The day many watchers of Texas politics have been waiting for is here: The Texas House is currently debating Senate Bill 2 on the floor. If passed, the contentious proposal would create a $1 billion dollar Education Savings Account plan allowing parents to use public funds towards private school tuition. Past attempts to pass the controversial school voucher measure — a top priority for Gov.
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1 month ago | 
houstonpublicmedia.org | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks
State lawmakers in both the Texas House and Senate considered several bills Monday that would loosen regulations around firearms in Texas. A panel of House lawmakers heard testimony on more than a dozen proposals addressing everything from expanding where Texans could lawfully carry handguns to returning the right of gun ownership to individuals convicted of serious felonies.
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1 month ago | 
texasstandard.org | Nina Banks
Like McConaughey himself did earlier this week, Quaid has also testified before lawmakers in favor of state-backed film incentive programs. “I’d love to be able to work here, live here and see crew members who are able to do the same,” Quiad said to members of the Texas Senate Finance Committee last fall. “And really create something big here because that’s what Texas is — it’s big.”This legislative session, it looks like lawmakers are listening. Sen.
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1 month ago | 
kut.org | Nina Banks
After 33 years in the film industry, Matthew McConaughey told a panel of Texas lawmakers on Monday that one of his only regrets is not making more films in his home state. The actor and Austinite testified before the Texas Senate Finance Committee in favor of Senate Bill 22, which would inject $500 million into a film incentive fund every two years until 2035. The bill, authored by Sen.
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1 month ago | 
kut.org | Nina Banks
A bill that would ban the sale of THC products has passed the Texas Senate. Senate Bill 3, a priority item for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was approved in a 24-7 vote Wednesday afternoon, less than a week after unanimously passing out of the Senate State Affairs Committee. Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) authored the bill and said he is primarily concerned about synthetic THC products on the market. On the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon, Sen.
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2 months ago | 
houstonpublicmedia.org | Blaise Gainey |Nina Banks
In a standing-room-only hearing Tuesday full of emotional testimony, the Texas House Committee on Public Education discussed the chamber's Education Savings Account bill. If passed, the legislation would create a voucher-like plan where parents could use state tax dollars toward sending their kids to private schools. Passing the program has been a priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Texas Republicans since the Legislature last met in 2023.
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2 months ago | 
dentonrc.com | Nina Banks |Toluwani Osibamowo
Three proposals aimed at narrowing who can receive bail and controlling charitable bail organizations were passed by the Texas Senate on Wednesday, less than two weeks after they were filed. Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, authored the bills, which are a part of a greater package of bail legislation that includes two proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. Tightening up who Texas allows out on bail is a top priority for Republican leaders in the state this legislative session. Gov.
