Bill author Van Taylor said SB 19 was one for the history books. Others, including John Whitmire, disagreed.
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The workload in the chambers picks up on the budget, contracting reform and taxes.
Full StoryFor this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the odds of a special session this summer and for a Magic 8 Ball assessment of House-Senate relations.
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Key meetings and events for the coming week.
Full StoryGov. Greg Abbott showed up for jury duty on Monday, chatting with other potential jurors about the weather, parking woes and his puppy, Pancake. He waited about two hours before being told he was not selected.
The House approved a $4.9 billion tax relief package split between a first-ever reduction in the state sales tax rate and a reduction in the business franchise tax rate. Next up is an attempt to find a compromise on tax cuts with the Senate that is emphasizing property tax cuts over trimming sales tax revenue.
A panel of judges on the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on Tuesday in the legal challenge to Texas' voter ID law. Questions centered on whether the state intentionally discriminated against minorities with the law as well as state lawmakers' decision not to address criticisms of the law.
The Texas Senate approved a broad-based ethics bill this week, adding items during floor debate to strengthen legislation that had been significantly weakened in committee. One change garnering attention would require political candidates to take a drug test.
The Texas House has given initial approval to a major boost in transportation funding from sales taxes, setting the stage for a showdown with the Senate over the best way to pay for Texas roads.
The Senate Education Committee passed legislation on Thursday that would create a free, high-quality pre-K program for Texas. The action on the high-priority item for Abbott comes about a week after it came under criticism from an advisory panel of grassroots conservatives allied with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
The Senate this week approved a controversial bill authored by state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood that would make it harder for homeowners and companies to recover certain damages from their insurance companies.
A move by Houston Democratic state Sen. Rodney Ellis to repeal a program that requires drivers convicted of certain traffic offenses to pay annual surcharges to keep their driver's licenses received backing this week from a couple of Tea Party conservatives in the Senate — Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, and Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood.
S. Javaid Anwar of Midland was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Higher Education Coordinating Board for a term to expire on Aug. 31, 2015.
Veronica Muzquiz Edwards of San Antonio and Alan L. Tinsley of Madisonville was appointed by Abbott to the Texas State University Board of Regents. David Montage of Beaumont was reappointed to the board. Their terms expire Feb. 1, 2021.
Carey Patrick, Ronald Hopping and Rene Peña were appointed by Abbott to the Texas Optometry Board for terms to expire on Jan. 31, 2021. In addition, John Coble was named board chairman.
Patricia “Patti” James of Houston and Claude “C.D.” Siems of Houston were appointed by Abbott to the Private Security Board for terms to expire on Jan. 21, 2021. In addition, James was named board chairwoman.
Greg Compean of Richmond and Larry Allen of Mesquite were named by Abbott to the Texas Funeral Service Commission (TFSC) for terms to expire Feb. 1, 2021.
Cliff Thomas of Victoria and Elaine Mendoza of San Antonio were selected Thursday as chairman and vice chairwoman, respectively, of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Their terms run through Feb. 1, 2017. Thomas succeeds Phil Adams of Bryan-College Station as chairman.
Katharine Priddy McAden has been promoted to state director for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. She was operations director for Cruz's 2012 Senate before taking the job of deputy state director.
Deaths: Bruce Alger, 96, who when elected to represent a Dallas area congressional district in 1954 became the first Republican congressman from Texas in more than 20 years. He was known for extreme conservative views in his 10-year congressional career.
Nelson Salinas, 37, who was governmental affairs manager at the Texas Association of Business specializing in public and higher education issues. Prior to that, he served stints in the offices of state Reps. Dora Olivo, D-Rosenberg, Roberto Gutierrez, D-McAllen, and Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice.
Disclosure: The Texas State University System, the Texas A&M University System and the Texas Association of Business are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
