With the deadline for bill filing behind us, lawmakers this week largely focused on budgetary issues and considering legislation in committee. 7,281 bills were filed before the deadline this session, an increase of 627 over 2017. This week, the Senate passed SB 500, the supplemental appropriations bill, in part tapping the Rainy Day Fund to…
Harvey Recovery Press Conference. On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference call with the Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, announcing $652 million in additional federal funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery. The additional funds are allocated from the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery Program and add to the more than…
Lawmakers began to fill in the details for some of the session’s headline issues this week, including property tax reform, mental health, and regulation of paid sick leave. A special election moved to a run-off in San Antonio’s House District 125, while a run-off date was set for March 5th in Houston’s HD-145. Special Elections.…
Governor Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address on Tuesday, addressing a joint chamber of the Senate and the House. In his speech, he noted Texas’s recent successes, especially in energy production and economic measures like unemployment. Gov. Abbott also designated several emergency priorities for the session. Lawmakers normally may not pass bills…