Texas Republicans on Thursday unveiled Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on “biological sex.”
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Appeals court panel taking up provision in Texas border security law
On Wednesday the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals will hear arguments over whether an immigrant harboring provision lawmakers passed nearly two years ago should be implemented.
Posted in
Politics
Analysis: On transgender Texans and bathrooms, a call to stay calm
Some Texas lawmakers were in a hurry to require transgender Texans to use the restrooms that match the genders listed on their birth certificates. But the policy and politics are complicated enough to prompt the governor to tap the brakes.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Why rising property values don’t lower school taxes
Rising property values in Texas should have lowered school property tax rates. But they didn’t, and you can thank the folks who write the state budget for that.
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Bordering on Insecurity
In Texas, lawmakers don’t mess with employers of undocumented workers
For all their condemnations of illegal immigration, Texas lawmakers — Republican and Democratic — have shown little interest in cracking down on businesses that employ undocumented workers.
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Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott on proposed bathroom legislation: Wait and see
Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.
Posted in
Bordering on Insecurity
Legalizing marijuana might have negligible impact on border security
Supporters of legal marijuana say it would help ease problems with drug smuggling at the southern border, but experts say drug cartels would probably just switch to other products.
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Politics
Patrick’s bathroom priority is schools, incoming senator says
An incoming state senator suggested Thursday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will focus on schools, not businesses or sporting venues, with his “bathroom bill.”
Posted inState Government
Video: A conversation with Dawn Buckingham & Hugh Shine
Watch video of our conversation with state Sen.-elect Dawn Buckingham and state Rep.-elect Hugh Shine, at Temple College.
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Politics
A conversation with Campbell and Uresti (video)
Full video of the latest installment of our San Antonio and the Legislature series: a conversation about the 85th session with state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio.