Abbott can also veto abill. This measure, which has failed in past sessions, would allow people to carry handguns in Texas without a concealed handgun license. Thousands more Texans will become eligible Wednesday for low-THC medical cannabis oil through the state's compassionate use program. by Andrew Zhang At least 4.8 million homes and businesses lost power and didnt know when it would return. Not every bill signed into law during the regular session will go into effect Sept. 1. The identity of the caller would remain confidential to all except those who work at DFPS. Join us Sept. 20-25 at the 2021 Texas Tribune Festival. Renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, have been under attack by some Texas Republicans since the storm occurred; many incorrectly said clean energy sources were the primary cause of the widespread power outages. The day was not observed in South Dakota . The House had advanced a $2 billion plan to help power companies pay for the upgrades, but the bill to create the fund with the state's rainy day fund dollars for the low-cost loans and grants stalled in the Senate and no language is included in Senate Bill 3 to create the fund. Since 2020, more than $4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds went directly to 10,790 Texas child care providers in 85% of Texas counties to help cover costs for an estimated 836,000 children, according to the federal Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Care. Read more, This measure would aim to incentivize the expansion of broadband internet access to areas across the state through the creation of the State Broadband Development Office, which would award grants, low-interest loans and other incentives to build out broadband access. The House budgets wish list included a $2.3 billion proposal to help revive the already fragile industry as federal aid mobilized by the pandemic expires later this year. This puts many student behavioral health programs at risk of shutting down. For the complete schedule, please visit the Majority Leader's site. The committee would use an "outside consulting firm" to select the eight members. AUSTIN, Texas Texas lawmakers won't gavel in for the new legislative session until January, but they got their first chance to file bills Monday. New state employee retirement accounts: SB 321 enrolls new state workers hired after Sept. 1, 2022, in a cash-balance plan, which deposits a percentage of a workers annual compensation in retirement accounts and is similar to a 401(k) retirement account. Democrats say they disenfranchise voters of color who drove the state's population growth. Do you value our journalism? Texas' new abortion law, which went into effect Wednesday after the U.S. Supreme Court did not weigh in, could prevent the vast majority of abortions in the state. Instead, the law allows private citizens to sue anyone who helps someone get an abortion. News. Texas' 2022-2023 budget: SB 1 provides nearly $250 billion for Texas, with notable funds going toward public higher education. In the first legislative session since the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 Uvalde students and two teachers, requests for dedicated mental health funding to school districts were ignored as lawmakers focused on community grants instead. That was changed, in part, after an outpouring of support from veterans who testified that everyone with PTSD should have the same access. The negotiated bill requires only gas facilities that are deemed "critical" by regulators to be able to withstand a weather emergency. 1. List of vetoed Texas bills | Texas legislative news | khou.com Texas Legislature | 2023 | 88th Legislature 2nd Special Session If your office is tracking a bill that you believe could affect the length of retention of your records and you do not see it on our list, please feel free to drop us a line (512-463-7610 or SLRMinfo@tsl.texas.gov) and let us know which bill so we can add it to our list. All three board members of the PUC resigned after the storm. The 2021 session of the Texas Legislature ended with some GOP priority bills failing. New Texas Laws in Effect September 1st At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. Read more, This measure would prohibit health care providers and physicians from performing gender-confirmation surgery or prescribing, administering or supplying puberty blockers or hormone treatment to anyone younger than 18. People protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday, June 29, 2023. Covering the bills of the day. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. The Texas bill exploded into the national spotlight after Democrats in the state legislature repeatedly blocked it by walking out of the state legislature, denying Republicans the ability to move forward with legislative business. This bill was a direct response to the handful of prosecutors in the states large, left-leaning counties who have said they wont pursue abortion-related charges. The talk of decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips was just that. Find a complete list of them here. The Supreme Court held by a vote of 8-1 that the states lacked . Next, bills went to Gov. Print this entry. A federal law that makes it a crime for a person to encourage illegal immigration does not violate constitutional free speech protections, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Friday in upholding the . It is the federal governments job to secure our border, but the Biden administration has failed to do its job, so Texas is stepping up to do what the federal government is supposed to do, Abbott said as he signed the bill in Fort Worth, surrounded by Lt. Gov. Read more, A conservative priority, this bill would ban local governments from using taxpayer dollars to lobby the state. The executive commissioner by rule shall ensure that a federally qualified health center or a rural health clinic may be reimbursed for the originating site facility fee or the distant site practitioner fee or . Meanwhile, Texas Democrats have returned to the state after leaving to protest a restrictive voting law. April 19, 2021 in News You Can Use. "I am pretty upset by this massive change," Cyrus Reed, president of the Lone Star chapter of the Sierra Club, tweeted early Sunday. Governor biographies & general resources, Texas History: Preserving Your Legislative Legacy, eightbills that passed during the 86th Legislature, Current Articles & Research Resources, June 29, 2023, Current Articles & Research Resources, June 22, 2023. More Than 650 Texas Laws Go Into Effect Sept. 1. Here Are 13 You Should What we know about the 5 teens who died in Fort Myers car accident The state's program, though, remains one of the most restrictive in the country. The compromise on Senate Bill 3 also includes requirements for state regulators to establish a process to designate natural gas facilities as "critical infrastructure" so that that electricity isnt disconnected during an emergency; many failed to do the registration paperwork, and as a result, some power plants couldnt get the fuel they needed to produce electricity. The Texas Military Department is also taking the lead on construction of temporary fencing. Heres a look at the status of 17 bills: The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. By Ja'han Jones. Texas house passes sweeping voting restrictions bill 6 bills to watch in the Texas Legislature in 2021 From marijuana and casino legalization to the George Floyd Act, here's what to watch Texas Capitol (Pixabay) The Texas Legislature convened. Legislators threw some additional support to new parents in the form of protections for pregnant and parenting college students and eight weeks of paid parental leave for state employees. Texas Senate passes more than 2 dozen bills Wednesday, including ban on Greg Abbott on Friday signed into law a nearly $2 billion border security funding bill that will nearly triple the amount the state spends on border defense in the next two-year budget cycle. This session, there were bills filed to expand Medicaid access but none made it to a vote. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Andrew Murr, the bills sponsor, said the measure would prevent fraud, increase voting access, and help protect ballot secrecy. Medicaid/Medicare Related Bills; Bill # Author: Status: Brief Description: Past Bills (2019) HB 4: State Rep. Four Price: PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/15/21, Effective immediately. Most-Viewed Bills - Congress.gov Resources These new laws, including the Heartbeat Bill, constitutional carry legislation, and laws that protect law enforcement, were passed during the 87th Legislative Session. The Texas House and Senate on Sunday approved sweeping legislation to overhaul the state's power grid following the disastrous and deadly winter storm in February that left more than 4.8. Sen. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso) passed his "Lie & Try" legislation, Senate Bill 162, in response to the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso that claimed 23 lives. But Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody of El Paso says the punishment is too severe. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. The low rate has been a problem for years, reducing treatment access for low-income Texans. Others owe massive debts to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. << June 2023 >>. While these school safety funds can also be used to support the creation or further expansion of student mental health programs, school administrators say the new safety requirements will eat up most of the provided cash. hide caption. Tracking Bills in the 2021 Legislative Session | The Texas Record Greg Abbott signed into law Tuesday a bill that imposes a raft of new restrictions on voting in one of the nation's fastest-growing and diversifying states. by James Barragn Updated: May 28, 2023 / 11:39 PM CDT AUSTIN (KXAN) The 88th legislative session has been a busy five months. New laws that will take effect in Texas in 2021 | khou.com Abbott also signed a bill restricting transgender student athletes from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity. The new law takes on critical race theory without ever naming it. But it wasnt the first time lawmakers targeted governmental efforts to rein in the pandemic that killed more than 92,000 Texans. Everyone deserves access to abortion." In a statement, President Joe Biden denounced the bill as "extreme", warning it would "significantly impair" access to abortion care, particularly for. Healthcare Access - 87th Texas Legislative Session - Michael & Susan hide caption. Active shooter alert system: HB 103 creates the Texas Active Shooter Alert System, which will notify Texans in the vicinity of an active shooting scene through their phones. First published on Fri 27 Aug 2021 00.34 EDT. Abbott signed Senate. Democrats condemned the legislation. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Power plants required to weatherize in Senate Bill 3, Proposal to help fund backup power at health care facilities stripped, Lawmakers approve plan for electric, power and gas companies to seek billions in rate-payer backed bonds, loans, Texans could be notified of future outages with emergency alerts, ERCOT board to be appointed by politicians under Senate Bill 2, $2 billion plan to help power companies pay, hundreds of public water systems in Texas were disrupted, many failed to do the registration paperwork, didnt provide accessible and life-saving updates, a change energy experts said would do little to improve the power grid, shift the financial burden of these costs, incorrectly said clean energy sources were the primary. These funds expire at the end of 2024 and little will be available to replace them. The federal health insurance program offered states the option to expand access in the 2014 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The victims had thought they were taking the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder drug Adderall. "This should be debated in public not snuck in a bill in the dead of night!". The walkout also killed a bill that would make changes to the bail system. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. House Bill 3908 will allow for fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness education in public schools. On Thursday, Abbott butted heads with the federal government over thousands of migrants mostly from Haiti waiting to enter the country under an international bridge in Del Rio. "My goal is to publish this list so that the veterans themselves can see what they would qualify for," Dominguez says. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Lawmakers are discussing other topics, including changes to the bail system and limits on transgender Texans from competing on school sports teams. Spectators listen in the gallery as the Texas house debates SB 1. Gov. A Republican lawmakers bill to help address the mental health workforce shortage was left to die in committee. POLITICS 2023 Texas Bill Tracker Your guide to upcoming laws and legislation. AUSTIN, Texas On Monday, Gov. Before the walkout, some Texas Republicans were declaring this session the most conservative in the states recent history after they passed bills allowing permitless carry of handguns and restricting abortion. Online ballot tracking system: HB 1382 creates an online tracking system for mail-in ballots and applications for mail-in ballots. Texas Gov. Recent Research Reports. Greg Abbott approved nine bills, including the student-athlete transgender bill and the new voting map Social studies curriculum changes: HB 3979 limits teachers from discussing current events and systemic racism in class. Of the Texas uninsured adults who could be covered with Medicaid expansion, nearly 8 in 10 are workers, in sectors like construction, food services and home health, said Anne Dunkelberg, senior fellow at Every Texan, a nonprofit policy institute. Low-income mothers in Texas won some health gains during this past legislative session, primarily through the expansion of postpartum Medicaid benefits, but overall state lawmakers kept their eyes and dollars focused on law tweaks and boosting dollars to existing health care programs instead of launching sweeping new initiatives. The lengthy debate on the bill and proposed amendments was mostly cordial on Thursday afternoon, but it was clear that tension lingered in the chamber, where Republicans recently authorized the arrest of House members who refused to come to the capitol, none were ultimately arrested. The state is one of 10 that have refused to expand Medicaid coverage to its residents after lawmakers in North Carolina reached a deal this year on expansion. The $1.88 billion spending bill, which passed as House Bill 9, supplements the $1.05 billion the state already allocated to border security in the spring. More than 100 people died. A historic heat wave in Texas is turning up the temperature on Gov. This bill, which has been sent to the governor, was the only contraception-related legislation to receive a hearing in both chambers. We dont want our schools to become the delivery system for our mental health system, Kolkhorst said during a House meeting last month. LRL Home - Points of Interest - Bills Effective, September 2020, posted by TexasLRL in HRO Website. Abbott also signed bills funding $3.3 billion for construction projects at higher education institutions through tuition revenue bonds and authorizing a ballot initiative that would raise the homestead exemption on schools property taxes to deliver savings to homeowners. The bill also came back with a series of additional voting rule changes, including a new ID requirement for mail-in ballots, that werent part of previous debates on the bill. Go behind the headlines with newly announced speakers at the 2023 Texas Tribune Festival, in downtown Austin from Sept. 21-23. The legislation now heads to Gov. But Abbott, a two-term Republican who is seeking reelection next year, has made border security and a plan to erect a wall his central focus this year as he has blamed President Joe Bidens administration for the increase of migrants this year. Officers who witness violations are required to report the incident. (modern). It also ensures that any firearm suppressor manufactured in Texas, and that remains in Texas, will not be subject to federal law or federal regulation. This is a substantial increase from the over $3 billion previously allocated to mental health. Lawmakers on Sunday approved House Bill 4492, a bill that sought to allow electric companies, including retail electric providers, to finance up to $2.1 billion for electricity that companies paid for but never received during the storm, as well as additional charges from the high wholesale power prices. "Anti-abortion protesters could use this law to harass clinics with endless lawsuits that consume their time and resources and could force them to shut down," Marc Hearron, the lead attorney for plaintiffs in the case, told reporters in July. Punishing cities who cut police budgets: If municipalities with a population of more than 250,000 reduce their police budget, HB 1900 allows the state to financially punish the cities by reducing sales tax revenues and preventing increases in property taxes. https://www.wsj.com/articles/states-to-learn-their-share-of-42-5-billion-in-federal-broadband-money-4585c53e. Lawmakers entered the session expecting to make major cuts, but financial forecasts have improved in recent months. A woman explains handgun merchandise to a customer during the Conservative Political Action Conference in July in Dallas. The Texas house of representatives has passed a sweeping elections bill that would prohibit 24-hour and drive-through voting, block election officials from sending out absentee ballot applications, set new restrictions on providing assistance to voters, impose new identification requirements on mail-in ballots, and give more leeway to partisan poll watchers at voting sites. by Stephen Simpson, Eleanor Klibanoff and Karen Brooks Harper AUSTIN, Texas On Monday, Gov. The legislature is currently in its second special session, which Abbott primarily called to advance the GOP-backed voting restrictions bill. The Senate unsuccessfully tried to shift the financial burden of these costs to wind and solar producers. The groups had wanted the creation and funding of a separate student mental health allotment during the session. Greg Abbott said Texas was stepping up to do the federal governments job after Bidens immigration policies had opened the floodgates to illegal immigration and crime. Dan Patrick and state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, the bills authors. While power was out, the Texas Division of Emergency Management didnt provide accessible and life-saving updates on outages and inclement weather. The legislation would create a statewide emergency system to alert Texans if power outages are expected and require power generation companies to better prepare their facilities to withstand extreme weather. The bill is the latest measure to not only reduce the workload volume of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, but also marks a sea change in the way Texas alerts officials to potential child abuse. Which states recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday? | Pew Read more, This measure would ban abortion in Texas if Roe v. Wade were overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Supporters of the legislation argue the enhanced penalties give law enforcement more tools to help address a growing crisis in the state by holding dealers accountable. The Texas Legislature is currently in its second special session, where lawmakers have been working on a number of bills deemed high priority by Gov. Brandon Bell/Getty Images The new Texas voting law includes these 7 major changes Do you value our journalism? Heres are the steps of the legislative process we tracked: Bills were proposed in the House or Senate and must have been approved by both chambers. Debate in the Senate seemingly killed House Bill 362, which would have removed fentanyl test strips from the states list of drug paraphernalia, letting people avoid a potential misdemeanor charge for possessing one. House Bill 957 (Oliverson/Springer) repeals the criminal offense of possessing, manufacturing, transporting, or repairing a firearm silencer. Still, there were several health care winners this legislative session. Greg Abbott. The funds for the next two years will allocate a little over $20 million for mental health services for veterans, $80 million to a grant program to reduce the recidivism rate among those with mental illness, a little over $54 million to community mental health grant programs and $300 million to maintain salary increases for front-line staff at mental health state hospitals. Eric Paul, 19, Jackson Eyre, 18, and Amanda Ferguson, 18, were her friends. Educators say most people including critics don't know what it is. Texas Gov. Abbott signs bill banning transgender athletes from The legislation would, however, direct electric providers to give customers information about how to register as "critical," a designation that is intended to ensure power is not cut to households that require electricity for live-saving medical devices. One bans Texas voters from registering using a post office box as their address, another allows the secretary of state to cut funds for voter registrars that fail to remove certain people from the rolls, and one more makes it harder to apply for a mail-in ballot for medical reasons. New & Noteworthy Books and Reports: June 2023, Bill Statistics, Two Weeks After Sine Die, June 12, 2023, Current Articles & Research Resources, June 8, 2023, Current Articles & Research Resources, June 1, 2023. And the new law also adds several misdemeanors to the list, including assault causing bodily injury, deadly conduct, terroristic threat and disorderly conduct with a firearm. Perhaps it goes without saying but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. Texas, Rural States Reap Big Grants From $42.5 Billion Broadband Fund Abbott line-item vetoed the part of the budget that funds the. The other priority was the successful extension of Medicaid coverage for moms, from two months to a year after childbirth. By the Austin Bureau Team | Jan.. New laws in Texas on Sept. 1: What you need to know - The Texas Tribune Abbotts office has said it identified 733 miles of border that may need some type of barrier. Permitless carry: House Bill 1927 allows Texans ages 21 and older to carry handguns without training or a license as long as they are not legally prevented from doing so.
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