Bill Passes House, Senate Requiring $200/Year Fee From EV Drivers

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas electric vehicle drivers could soon be required to pay an annual $200 fee to register their cars. 

The state legislature last

 Thursday passed Senate Bill 505 with unanimous support, sending the bill to Gov. Gregg Abbott's desk for his signature, which would make it law in Texas.

Republican state Sen. Robert Nichols, who sponsored the legislation, said an additional electric vehicle fee is necessary because EV drivers don't pay gas taxes when they fuel their vehicles. And they are increasing in popularity on Texas roads.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

House Defeats Corporal Punishment Ban, Again

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas lawmakers have voted against a bill that would prohibit public school employees from using corporal punishment on students.

House Bill 772 received a 58-86 vote in the lower chamber. Rep. Alma Allen, a Houston Democrat and former public school educator, has carried a bill to eliminate the controversial practice in each biennial session for the past 18 years. The bill passed 5-2 out of the Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety earlier this month.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

House Passes Bill To Rehire Retain Teachers, Boost Training

[#TexasPolitics365]

As the state struggles with retaining teachers, the Texas House gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would boost training programs for aspiring teachers and offer other incentives with the hope of improving the odds that educators will stay longer in the profession.

House Bill 11, authored by Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, would allocate funds to help school districts pay for more teacher residencies, programs that place would-be teachers in classrooms with mentors for about a year, teaching them how to do the job before hiring as full-time educators the following year.

The bill passed with a 139-4 vote and will be voted on once more before heading to the Senate.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Make Schools Safer

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas House of Representatives on Monday initially passed broad, bipartisan legislation intended to make schools safer.

House Bill 3 dedicates new funding for districts to improve physical barriers and security technology, requires every district to place an armed guard on every campus, and gives theto Make z schools safer. state more oversight responsibility for safety protocol compliance. It passed the lower chamber 122-19. It now awaits a third and final vote in the House before heading to the Senate.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Passes Bill Requiring Crypto Assets To Have Reserves

The Texas House of Representatives has voted to pass a new bill that would require crypto exchange platforms operating in the state to prove they have reserves to back up their assets.

According to a new press release by The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain advocacy group, the Texas House of Representatives passed HB1666 on April 20th with the aim of rebuilding trust in the industry.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

House Passes Bill Expanding Medicare For New Moms

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas House advanced a bill Thursday that would allow low-income moms to stay on Medicaid for a full year after childbirth. The bill was preliminarily approved with bipartisan support in a 125-11 vote. All of the votes against the bill were from Republicans. It is expected to pass the House in a final vote on Friday.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

House Passes Bill Limiting Local Regulations

[#TexasPolitics365]

In a major escalation of Republicans’ efforts to weaken the state’s bluer cities and counties, lawmakers in the Texas Legislature are advancing a pair of bills that would seize control of local regulations.

A bill backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and business lobbying groups, House Bill 2127, would bar cities and counties from passing regulations — and overturn existing ones — that go further than state law in a broad swath of areas including labor, agriculture, natural resources and finance. It received initial approval Tuesday in the Texas House by a 92-55 vote but must come back before the chamber for a final vote.

(Full story HERE warning: bias)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas Senate Votes To Expand Mental Health Services

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas Senate passed a bill last Thursday that would create a $15 million “Innovation Grant” program designed to expand access to mental health services for children and families statewide.

Senate Bill 26, filed by state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will offer grants to health care providers and nonprofit groups who offer mental health treatment, especially those that work with children and their family members. The program would be overseen by Texas Health and Human Services.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Senate Passes Bill To Change Library Book Approval Process

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a bill that would significantly change the processes and procedures Texas’ school libraries have to follow.

Senate Bill 13, from Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, would let parents receive notice each time their children obtain school library materials, prohibit the acquisition or retention of harmful and indecent materials, and create local councils to help districts ensure community values are reflected in each school library catalog in the district. Members of the upper chamber approved the bill with a 18-12 vote. It now heads to the House.

(Full story HERE. (Warning: bias)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Votes To Stay On Daylight Savings Time - Forever

#texaspolitics365

The Texas House has taken sides in one of America’s most polarizing debates — whether to continue changing clocks twice a year, ditch daylight saving time altogether or stick with later daylight permanently.

The representatives’ overwhelming verdict: Stay on daylight saving time moving forward.

The chamber voted 136-5 on Tuesday to give initial approval to House Bill 1422, from Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online! 

Texas House Bans Discrimination Based On Hairstyle

[#TexasPolitics365]

A bill to ban race-based hair discrimination in Texas schools, workplaces and housing is one step closer to the governor's desk.

On Wednesday, the Texas House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 567, better known as the CROWN Act, with a 141-3 vote. It's a move inspired by the story of a Black high schooler from the Houston area who was threatened with discipline if he didn't cut his hair.

(Full story HERE.)

--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Approves Property Tax Relief; Patrick Says: Dead on Arrival In Senate

[#TexasPolitics365]

A defiant Texas House, led by a Dallas lawmaker, on Thursday advanced its plan to give homeowners property tax relief.

It did so even though Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, only hours earlier, declared the House’s version dead on arrival in the Senate.

(Full story HERE (pay wall)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Energy Plan Could Cost $8 Billion More Than Senate Said

[#TexasPolitics365]

A plan passed by the Texas Senate this week to finance the construction of natural gas power plants with public money could cost $18 billion, according to a document obtained by KUT via an open records request.

That puts the price tag of the so-called “Texas Energy Insurance Program” around $8 billion over what proponents had previously said and could complicate efforts to get the proposal passed by the state House of Representatives.

The group Conservatives For Energy Innovation tweeted on Saturday,  April 8 about the proposal: " This document dump by the @LCRA on Good Friday afternoon smacks of deliberate deceit.  But the bigger question is "Why would the Texas Senate want to hide the true cost of this plan from the public?"

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Subpoenas Issued By House Committee Investigating Slaton

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas House Committee on General Investigating issued four subpoenas Friday, though it did not say to whom or for what purpose.

It was this legislative session’s first meeting of the committee, which investigates wrongdoing in government including potential misconduct by members, since its inaugural housekeeping meeting at the beginning of March.

Since then, two House members have faced ethics questions, both related to their treatment of staff.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Two GOP Lawmakers Call For Rep. Slaton To Resign After Allegations

[#TexasPolitics365]

Two Republican state lawmakers have called for the resignation of Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, after The Texas Tribune reported that he is being investigated following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a Capitol intern.

“The past few days in the Texas House, screams of everything that’s wrong with a small segment of its elected officials. Unfortunately calling the behavior of [Slaton] ‘inappropriate’ is a gross understatement,” state Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, wrote on social media Tuesday morning. “He needs to resign.”

The resignation calls have come as Slaton has remained silent about the allegations beyond an initial statement from his lawyer decrying unspecified "outrageous claims." His usual political allies have also stayed quiet about the situation.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Rep. Slaton Retains Lawyer In Ethics Probe

[#TexasPolitics365]

State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, has retained a criminal-defense attorney amid a potential ethics investigation by a House committee.

The lawyer, Patrick Short, issued a statement Monday morning saying his firm “has been engaged by State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R-TX 2) in a matter relating to a possible complaint filed against him with the Texas House Committee on General Investigating.”

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House To Vote On Medical Marijuana Bill

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas House of Representatives will vote on a bill this week that would allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana to patients as an opioid alternative for chronic pain.

The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Stephanie Klick (R), would also replace the THC cap that was established under the state’s existing limited medical cannabis law.

After moving through the House Public Health Committee last month, the measure was brought before the Calendars Committee last Thursday, which has now scheduled it for floor debate and a vote today.

(Full story HERE
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Gov. Abbott Will Pardon Soldier Who Killed BLM Protester Who Threatened Him With Shotgun

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised Saturday to pardon a US Army sergeant a day after he was convicted of shooting a protester to death during a Black Lives Matter rally.

The Republican said Sgt. Daniel Perry, 35, was acting in his own defense when he repeatedly fired his handgun on 28-year-old Garrett Foster as he marched in the July 25, 2020 Austin demonstration after Foster aimed a Shotgun at him. 

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

AG Paxton Condemns DA Who Prosecuted Atmy Sgt. In Protester Shooting

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is lashing out at a "Soros-backed" prosecutor after a Travis County jury found Daniel Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant, guilty in the shooting death of Garrett Foster, an armed protester in Austin during anti-police "Black Lives Matter" demonstrations in the summer of 2020.

"This week has shown us how rogue prosecutors have weaponized the judicial system. They must be stopped!" said Paxton.

"When Garrett Foster pointed his AK-47 at Daniel Perry, Daniel had two tenths of a second to defend himself. He chose to live," Doug O’Connell, an attorney for Perry, perviously told Fox News, in a statement. 

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

McCaul Rips Biden Spox Kirby Comments About Afghan Withdrawal

[#TexasPolitics365]

The GOP chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday blasted the White House for dismissing the idea that the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was chaotic and shifting blame on the Trump administration for creating unfavorable conditions for the pullout.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), whose committee is leading a probe of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, ripped John Kirby, a White House spokesperson on national security issues, for his comments earlier in the day.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Blocks School Voucher Plan

[#TexasPolitics365]

At the Texas Capitol Thursday, state representatives approved an amendment banning the use of state funds in school voucher programs.

The vote comes the same day the state Senate passed Senate Bill 8, which creates education savings accounts, a top priority for both Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

The House voted 86-52 for the amendment against school vouchers after an unsuccessful effort by Republican leadership to table it.

24 Republicans joined Democrats to pass the amendment. Several Republicans voted to stay neutral, registering as "present, not voting."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Texas House Bans Death Penalty For The Severely Mentally Ill

[#TexasPolitics365]

 In a state where mental illness is prevalent on death row, the Texas House of Representatives has again passed a measure to bar the death penalty for some people with severe mental illnesses.

House Bill 727, by state Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, finally passed the chamber Wednesday on a 97-48 vote, a week after the measure was tentatively passed. The bill’s final version precludes the death penalty for defendants diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

State Senate Passes Ban on Trans Hormone Treatments For Minors

[#TexasPolitics365]

The Texas Senate has given gave initial approval to a bill that would ban puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors wanting to gender transition if they are not already receiving such treatments.  The bill now advances to the state House of Representatives.

(Full story HERE.) Warning: bias 
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

Senate Bill Would Require Parental Approval For Sexuality Education

[#TexasPolitics365]

A bill in the Texas State Senate would require parental approval for a student's participation in human sexuality instruction in public schools.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) Sen. Bryan Hughes (R- Mineola) and Sen. Drew Springer (R - Muenster) and is currently before the senate education committee. It has a companion bill in the state House of Representatives, HB 478, with multiple sponsors. 

In a message posted on Twitter, Campbell said of the bill, "parental rights don't have an expiration date."

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.

House Speaker Phelan Clashes With Lt. Gov. Patrick Over Property Tax Cut Plan

[#TexasPolitics365]

House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the two top Republicans in the Texas Legislature, have dug in their heels on how to reduce property owners’ tax burden — with dueling proposals on how to get it done and a path to a potential compromise unclear.

Patrick wants to raise the state’s homestead exemption — the dollar amount of a home’s value that can’t be taxed — on school district property taxes, with an additional boost for seniors. Phelan favors tightening the state’s “appraisal cap” on how much the value of a homeowner’s main residence taxed by school districts can rise each year. Each says the other’s proposal wouldn’t cut taxes meaningfully.

Patrick has been forceful in his opposition to Phelan’s appraisal cap proposal and drew a line in the sand this week, vowing not to compromise with the House on the idea.

(Full story HERE.)
--------------------------------------------------

** We are dedicated to bringing you Texas Politics, 365 days a year! Tips? texaspolitics365@gmail.com

Advertisement

For advertising opportunities, email us.