A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state’s new immigration enforcement law.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
TribCast
Abbott v. Perry, school finance, impending Sine Die (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about Gov. Greg Abbott’s comparison of his accomplishments to former Gov. Rick Perry’s, whether school finance reform has a real shot in the special session, and how soon the Texas Legislature will adjourn — again.
Posted in
Public Education
Senate education chair: House school finance plan “not a long-term solution”
Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor said he would not accept the House’s proposal to put $1.8 billion into public schools, comparing it to driving a broken car into the ground.
Posted inState Government
New Texas law allows merchants to decline card purchases without ID
A law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will let store owners refuse to process credit or debit card transactions if the buyer won’t show ID. Some say the law won’t override contracts that currently bar merchants from doing so.
Posted in
State Government
Straus and Patrick meet as special session dwindles
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus had their first one-on-one meeting in months Monday afternoon.
Posted in
Public Education
House approves $1.8 billion package of school finance bills
The Texas House voted to approve a package of bills that would put $1.8 billion into public schools, increase funding for certain student groups and help out struggling small, rural schools.
Posted inState Government
Texas effort targeting union dues mirrors initiatives in other states
As Texas Republicans try again to pass a law barring certain public employees from using payroll deductions to pay their union or association dues, it is following the lead of several other states that have seen mixed results.
Posted in
Politics
Showdown shaping up in special session
Lawmakers have yet to send Gov. Greg Abbott a single bill to sign from the special session, and with less than two weeks left, it’s highly unlikely Abbott will get his entire 20-item agenda through the process.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: Texas House committee tries shock therapy on school finance
An eye-opening proposal to kill the local school property tax in order to force Texas lawmakers to build a new school finance system won unanimous approval Thursday from the House’s tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
Posted in
Economy
In Texas House, property tax proposals range from minor tweaks to abolishment
After a proposal to give a property tax exemption to Purple Heart recipients hit a snag on the House floor Monday, a committee considered a more radical idea: eliminating school district property taxes altogether.