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The Latest Breaking News from Joan Huffman

Texas Quietly Downsizes Border Security Spending

But outlays remain far above state funding prior to the Operation Lone Star era.

Texas Observer

In final act, Texas Legislature boosts judges’ pay and lawmaker pensions

House and Senate members agreed that judges needed a pay raise. But they spent the final hours of the legislative session debating whether Texas lawmakers should also benefit from the boost.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Legislature approves $338 billion two-year spending plan with a focus on property tax relief

A boost in public school spending, school vouchers, and money for water systems are other highlights of the state budget, which was bolstered by a $24 billion surplus.

The Texas Tribune

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Legislature to work out differences on bill limiting protests at public universities

The Senate on Thursday refused to agree to changes the House made to Senate Bill 2972 that made it less restrictive, prompting a conference committee.

The Texas Tribune

Undocumented Immigrants Accused of Crimes Face Same Bail Restrictions as Repeat Offenders Under Texas Bill Proposal

"Too many people have been murdered because of the broken bail system that we've had," said Governor Abbott of the legislation

Latin Times

In bail talks, lawmakers close in on Texas GOP goal of keeping defendants in jail

While Gov. Greg Abbott steps up his push for stricter bail rules, critics seek a balance between the rights of the accused and the goal of keeping dangerous defendants behind bars.

The Texas Tribune

Abbott’s Bail Agenda Could Swell Texas Jails, Test U.S. Constitution

Republicans want to double down on a system that can keep Texans in jail for years without a trial, while attacking bail funds that try to help.

Texas Observer

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With the border quiet, Texas ponders spending another $6.5 billion on border security

Some are questioning whether lawmakers should commit billions more to border security with illegal crossings dwindling and a Trump immigration crackdown.

The Texas Tribune

Texas bills requiring air-conditioned prisons languish despite temperatures being ruled unconstitutional

The five bills that would require complete air conditioning in state prisons haven’t had a hearing yet, and the money set for the upgrades falls short of the estimated cost.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate panel approves $500 million infusion for film incentives

Senate Bill 22 would more than double the amount of money Texas spends to lure film and television projects and has the backing of Texas movie stars including Matthew McConaughey.

The Texas Tribune

Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas Senate

Next step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fund

The legislation would require voters to approve the $3 billion start-up cost, and then the fund would be maintained at no more than $300 million annually.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI

At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate Approves Bill to Deny Bail to Undocumented Immigrants Charged With Felonies, Critics Call It 'Unconstitutional'

The Bail Project, a national organization that helps low-income defendants pay bail, said the bill is "based entirely on misinformation and false claims"

Latin Times

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The Texas Tribune

Texas Teacher Retirement System leader says Senate voucher proposal would not harm retirement funds

A recent budget analysis noted the Texas Senate’s voucher bill could affect the fund if it leads students and teachers to leave public schools.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate votes in favor of proposals to deny bail to certain accused violent criminals

The package was fast-tracked after Gov. Greg Abbott declared “bail reform” an emergency item. The bills now head to the House for consideration.

The Texas Tribune

Certain criminal suspects would be denied bail under changes OK'd by Texas Senate panel

The package of bills would tighten the state's bail laws to keep more people in jail — including undocumented immigrants — while their criminal cases are pending.

The Texas Tribune

Legislature considers paying much more for school safety

Texas law requires an armed officer at each school. Districts are asking lawmakers to pay the full yearly cost, which they say is $100 per student.

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The Texas Tribune

After teasing border security rollback, Texas plunges in deeper

Texas’ border spending exploded after Joe Biden’s election, then state leaders signaled a new willingness to reduce it when Trump won. That didn’t last long.

The Texas Tribune

Two more state employees fired after accessing Texans’ private information

So far, nine HHSC employees have been fired for accessing without a “business” purpose the private information of Texans seeking public assistance that includes Medicaid and food stamps.

The Texas Tribune

Could Texas do for Alzheimer’s research what it did for cancer?

Modeled after the state’s $6 billion cancer research fund, the dementia fund — a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — could pump hundreds of millions of dollars into Texas researchers.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate passes its own school safety funding bill, but little time remains to get it across the finish line

Senate Bill 5 would send an extra $800 million to public schools for security upgrades over the next two years. But the measure is at risk of becoming the latest casualty of the rift between the Texas House and Senate.

The Texas Tribune

Texas GOP lawmakers’ border and education wishlist would expand state budget by $2.7 billion — and counting

If bills now being considered pass, lawmakers will be left with $3.3 billion to take care of unforeseen costs over the next two years. Some experts worry that Texas can’t sustain its massive spending on the border and public education.

The Texas Tribune

GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes

“I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,” said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. “But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.”

The Texas Tribune

2021 statements about role of outside lawyer could play a part in Ken Paxton impeachment trial

Paxton’s top aide told senators that an agency-hired lawyer worked with the Travis County district attorney’s office to investigate a complaint by Nate Paul. County prosecutors dispute that.

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