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The Latest Breaking News from Joan Huffman

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

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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

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

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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.

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

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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.

The Texas Tribune

Mandatory 10-year sentences for some crimes involving guns revived by Texas Senate

The idea appeared to die in the Texas House over the weekend, but senators kept it alive by grafting the proposal on to another piece of legislation.

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The Texas Tribune

Texas may soon have a process to remove local prosecutors who won’t pursue abortion, election cases

The bill would allow for the removal of prosecutors who adopt any policy to not pursue certain crimes, including some low-level theft and drug charges. The Senate’s version will need to be reconciled with the House, which had carved out some exemptions.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate approves bill that would let prosecutors pursue murder charges in some fentanyl deaths

House Bill 6 has widespread bipartisan support and is one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities. The legislation now heads back to the lower chamber.

The Texas Tribune

Protesters decry stalled fentanyl test strip bill; Texas House passes get-tough criminal penalties

Stuck in committee, the test-strip legislation has support from Gov. Greg Abbott and bipartisan lawmakers, who see it as a way to save lives.

Salon

Texas bills aim to restore GOP dominance

Opponents argue the attempts are politically motivated and probably unconstitutional

The Texas Tribune

Bills to create new Texas courts would likely reverse Democratic gains, restore GOP dominance

Supporters say the proposals would increase efficiency and expertise, but opponents argue the attempts are political and probably unconstitutional.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate passes $308 billion budget plan, kicking off high-stakes negotiations with the House

There are $5 billion and several political wedges standing between the House and Senate plans, which now move into conference committee with less than five weeks before session ends.

The Texas Tribune

Senate budget panel approves $308 billion spending plan with new money for teachers, mental health, juvenile justice

The proposal for the 2024-25 budget cycle includes $142.1 billion in general revenue spending — about $5 billion higher than the proposal approved last week by the Texas House — at a time when lawmakers have a historic $32.7 billion surplus at their disposal this session.

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