UPDATED: A measure targeting a Turkish charter school network was added to major legislation from Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick that would increase the number of publicly funded, privately operated schools as it passed the Texas House on Thursday, 105-34.
83rd Legislative Session
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Bidness As Usual
Irony Abounds in Debate Over Ethics Proposals
In this session’s ethics battles, watchdogs say there’s more contradiction than conviction.
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Health care
Budget Deal May Not Come Until Thursday
UPDATED: Budget negotiations stretched late into the evening on Wednesday, but lawmakers said privately they didn’t expect to announce a deal until Thursday.
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Transportation
Hope Remains for Partial Victory on Road Cash
With less than two weeks before the end of the 83rd legislative session, efforts to find more funding for the Texas Department of Transportation are sputtering.
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Energy
Pitts: Budget Leaders Close on School and Water Financing
State lawmakers would spend $3.2 billion for public education and $2 billion for water funding under plans being worked out by budget leaders, House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts said Tuesday.
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Health care
House Tentatively Approves “Scope-of-Practice” Bill
After a years-long fight for prescriptive authority, advanced practice nurses and physician assistants supervised by a physician may soon get authority to prescribe controlled substances, under a bill the House gave an early OK to Tuesday.
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State Government
Leaders Find Agreement on Budget’s Finer Points
State budget leaders adopted unified proposals for several areas of the budget on Monday morning but said they are still working on the two largest pieces: education and health and human services.
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Health care
Medical Association Backs Proposals to Cut Red Tape
The Texas Medical Association is pushing measures this legislative session to help modernize medical practices, such as collecting or verifying patient data by swiping a driver’s license.
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Public Education
In Education Reform Debate, One Group Standing Out This Session
Raise Your Hand Texas has been a key player this session, impacting bills like Sen. Dan Patrick’s charter school legislation. The advocacy organization’s influence in policy negotiations has won it both respect and exasperation in education circles.
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State Government
Agenda Texas: Bill Kill, Vol. 1
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Deadlines in the Texas House have come and gone. Now lawmakers are left to pick up the pieces for next session, or to find another way to get their bills passed.