The state is refueling a grant program that helps the state’s 15 military installations pay for facility upgrades. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Throughout August 2015, The Texas Tribune featured 31 ways Texans’ lives would change because of new laws on Sept. 1, the date many bills passed by the Legislature — including the budget — took effect.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Relaxed Food Stamp Rules to Help Felons
Starting Sept. 1, a new Texas law will allow people with felony drug convictions to qualify for food assistance, ending the lifetime ban they currently face. Supporters hope the change will reduce recidivism as it helps felons get back on their feet.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
A Funding Boost For Texas’ Parks
For years, the Legislature has been stockpiling hundreds of millions of dollars meant for Texas’ parks in order to artificially balance the budget. House Bill 158 scales that down. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
New Law Aims to Curb “Rolling Voting”
A soon-to-be law takes aim at “rolling voting,” the practice of moving voting machines around more than usual during certain elections. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
New Chapter Set to Begin for E-Verify Policy
On Sept. 1, all potential hires for any state agency or public university must have their work eligibility information run through E-Verify. If that sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Employee Outsourcing Firms Get Tax Break
A politically connected group of businesses will soon be getting a tax break, but all the other employers in Texas will have to pay for it through slightly higher unemployment insurance tax rates. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Texas to Crack Down on Synthetic Marijuana
Starting Sept. 1, a new law will ban 1,000 possible chemical compounds of synthetic marijuana and make it a lot harder for Texans to buy or sell the drug. This animation is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Budget Cuts Hit Film, Video Game Incentives
State lawmakers inflicted deep cuts on the incentive program Texas uses to lure film, television and video game productions to the state. Now, industry advocates say Texas-based productions — like the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights — will be scarcer. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Law Could Bring Remote Doctor Visits to Schools
A new law will allow physicians to get paid for seeing children over a sophisticated form of video chat, as long as the patient is at school and enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program for the poor and disabled. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
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31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Video: New Law to Provide Protections for Breast-Feeding Moms
As of Sept. 1, public employees — including state and county workers and public school teachers — will be guaranteed “reasonable accommodations” to pump breast milk in the workplace. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.