The gavel has come down on the 88th regular legislative session, and we focus this week on what lawmakers accomplished on fostering transparency and accountability in law enforcement. Building confidence in law enforcement Lawmakers took important steps this legislative session toward improving public confidence in law enforcement with the passage of a package of reforms…
Lawmakers took important steps this legislative session toward improving public confidence in law enforcement with the passage of a package of reforms aimed at increasing transparency and accountability at the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the state agency responsible for licensing and certifying the nearly 115,000 peace officers, county jailers, telecommunicators and school marshals statewide….
The Texas House and Senate have passed the General Appropriations Act, House Bill 1, and the supplemental appropriations bill, Senate Bill 30. The state leveraged a historic budget surplus to invest into the future of Texas. Across many of these investments, the Legislature was resoundingly clear that the development of a long-term skilled workforce is…
The session’s most important legislation addressing broadband internet expansion to underserved areas of the state has passed the Legislature and is awaiting the governor’s signature. Here’s what you need to know about House Bill 9 and House Joint Resolution 125. HB 9 establishes the constitutionally dedicated Broadband Infrastructure Fund (BIF). An accompanying constitutional amendment authorizing…
The Texas Legislature has sent a comprehensive package of health care bills to the Governor for approval. Gathering near unanimous support, these legislative measures take an ambitious stride towards creating more competitive health care markets to tackle the increasing issue of health care affordability across the state. “Rising hospital and health care prices continue to…
And down the stretch they come… with lawmakers entering the final weekend, we focus on the session’s one indispensable bill, the budget. The Budget House Bill 1 — the general appropriations bill — authorizes the state’s expenditures for the 2024-25 fiscal biennium and is the only constitutionally-mandated legislation that lawmakers must pass. By the numbers,…