Water conveyance project draws bipartisan opposition
The Texas Senate is preparing to consider a bill that could pave the way for a water conveyance project. House Bill (HB) 3298 drew refreshing bipartisan opposition in the House before its passage last week
House gives final OK to ethics bill, setting up fight with Senate
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott's signature ethics bill easily cleared the Texas House Wednesday after lawmakers gutted a controversial provision to require consent to record conversations with lawmakers in the Capitol or in their district offices
Gun bills inch forward in Legislature
AUSTIN - Hold on to those holsters, Texans. It’s not legal to carry concealed handguns on college campuses or tote them openly throughout the state — at least not yet. Both the House and the Senate have approved two hotly debated measures to expand gun rights by letting licensed Texans openly carry holstered handguns statewide and bring concealed handguns on any college campus
Climate Change, a Factor in Texas Floods, Largely Ignored
Climate change is taking a toll on Texas, and the devastating floods that have killed at least 15 people and left 12 others missing across the state are some of the best evidence yet of that phenomenon, state climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon said in an interview Wednesday
House advances ethics reform bill
AUSTIN — The Texas House on Tuesday gave the initial green light to an overhauled version of Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature ethics bill for the session, approving controversial provisions to force disclosure of so-called dark money and to require consent before recording lawmakers in the Capitol
Dizzying moves by Texas House Dems endanger ‘campus carry,’ abortion measures
AUSTIN — House Republicans and Democrats clashed Tuesday over stalling tactics that endangered bills championed by staunch conservatives, such as a “campus carry” gun bill and a measure that would bar health insurers that sell policies in the Obamacare state marketplace from covering abortions
ANCHIA PASSES ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT EXONEREES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 26, 2015 Contact: Liz Zornes (512) 463-0746 ANCHIA PASSES ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION TO BENEFIT EXONEREES HB 638 will allow annuity payments for beneficiaries of exonerees (Austin) On Sunday, May 24th, thanks to the leadership of Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), the Texas Senate passed HB 638, a bi-partisan bill filed by Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) that would allow wrongfully convicted persons to elect to reduce their annuity payments in order to extend those payments or a portion of those payments to their surviving spouse or designated beneficiary upon their
Same-sex couple names on birth certificates faces deadline
Being a parent is one of the most personal and meaningful things anyone will do in their life, but who is listed on a adopted child’s birth certificate is up for debate at the state Capitol. A bill which would allow same-sex couples to put both of their names on a birth certificate
Overweight truck bill stalled in Texas House committee
A bill to update overweight limits of trucks unloading container ships in Texas ports is languishing in the House calendars committee, and is yet to be posted for discussion despite a Thursday deadline for second reading
Bill Allowing Gay Parents’ Names on Child’s Birth Certificate Moves Forward
When you come in this late in the session, it can be tough to make a mark, but Democrat Ina Minjarez's entrance after winning a special election has already helped one colleague pass a bill he's been trying to get approved for years. "Thankfully, we've had a new member sworn in, and she was kind enough to vote in favor of the bill and get it passed,” Democratic Rep. Rafael Anchia said