On Thursday, the Texas House of Representatives is set to consider its first calendar of bills since the conclusion of the 87th regular legislative session in May. Ever since July 13, the House has been barred from attending to legislative business due to a quorum...
In the final days of the regular legislative session, a handful of Senate bills designed to make Texas elections more secure and fight voter fraud are barely hanging on to life as House deadlines for action are fast approaching. To have a chance at passing, the bills...
As the legislature’s time in Austin draws to a close in less than three short weeks, lawmakers will have to act fast to pass a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying. Taxpayer-funded lobbying refers to cities, counties, and other local governments or taxing entities that...
With the major deadline for House bills quickly approaching a week from today, lawmakers in the Texas House are … taking the weekend off. That’s right. Even though this coming Thursday, May 9, is the last day a Texas House bill can be voted out before having the...
In a recent interview, liberal House Speaker Joe Straus was asked to respond to allegations from many, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that conservative bills went to House Calendars only to die without a vote. Citing the example of SB 1968 by State Sen. Joan Huffman...
Funny things can happen in the final days of the legislative session. Case in point: the effort of Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) to grant illegal immigrants the right to drive on Texas roads. Though Cook and Democrats teamed up to push the issue, the measure failed to...
