This week, the Texas Senate voted in favor of a bill that would classify transgender youth healthcare as child abuse, making it illegal for parents and doctors to consent or administer transition-related care to children. When bill author Charles Perry introduced the...
Texas Legislature
back to archiveBriscoe Cain’s attempt to pass voter suppression bill backfires
Voting rights activists and organizers kicked into high gear this afternoon after State Rep. Briscoe Cain, the Chair of the Texas House Elections Committee, tried to quickly sneak through legislation that many are calling the worst attack on voting rights in Texas...
HillCo Partners lobbyist accused of allegedly giving a Capitol aide a “date rape” drug
On Saturday, The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed they were investigating an allegation against Texas lobbyist group HillCo Partners after one of their lobbyists was accused of giving a Texas Capitol aide a “date rape” drug. On Monday, over 30 Texas...
Bill criminalizing homelessness gets sent back to committee
On Monday, a Texas House bill that would have prohibited camping in public places — effectively criminalizing homelessness — was knocked back down to committee. HB 1925 was bumped back to the House State Affairs Committee shortly after Rep. Joe Deshotel...
Op-Ed: Texas is about to ban abortion. And Texas Republicans aren’t done yet.
Texas is about to ban abortion, and while they’re at it, they are emboldening rapists to sue their victim’s abortion providers and family members. SB 8, known as HB 1515 in the House, would ban abortion as early as 6-weeks gestation. Most abortions can’t even happen...
Texas House passes preliminary $246.8 billion state budget
After 175 amendments and more than 10 hours of debate on Thursday, Texas House lawmakers unanimously passed a preliminary $246.8 billion state budget for the next biennium. The approved budget bill will now return to the Senate, and then to a conference committee...
Marijuana bills are scheduled for a big week in the Texas House
In the first major movement this session for marijuana legislation, Texas state House lawmakers are holding public hearings this week for a dozen marijuana-related bills. The Public Health Committee is hearing a bill for medical cannabis research on Wednesday and the...
Texas Senate passes restrictive voting bill
Early Thursday, the Texas Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 7, one of the two most restrictive voting rights bills prioritized by Republicans this session. The bill passed in an 18-13 vote after several hours of debate. The vote was held along party lines, with all...
Texas Republicans take aim at local worker protections with major deregulation bill
Texas Republicans in the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce were giddy with excitement Tuesday afternoon over Senate Bill 14, a massive deregulation bill that would prohibit local governments from passing or enforcing laws that create basic protections for...