Tag: Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — State Representative Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) is pushing back against critics of a bill he filed that would make it a crime for bloggers and independent journalists to film or photograph police officers. After the bill, HB 2918, was filed, it was the target of criticism from both the right and the left. Villalba has conceded he will make some amendments, but has continued to aggressively defend the bill. This week, the bill was referred to a committee and set for public hearing on March 26.

Two patients who recently returned from the West African nation of Liberia are being actively monitored for possible Ebola exposure. The patients are a child and the child’s mother. Public Health officials say they will monitor the two patients for twenty-one days.

In a party at the Governor’s Mansion, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and First Lady Cecilia Abbott hosted Texas musicians, music industry representatives and vendors, SXSW attendees, elected officials, and other honored guests in an evening to celebrate Texas music. The

The State Bar of Texas has filed a formal accusation of misconduct against John H. Jackson, the former Navarro County Assistant District Attorney who convicted Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in February 2004 for the arson murder of his three young daughters. The Bar had been investigating Jackson for months, and he is accused of obstruction of justice, making false statements and concealing evidence favorable to Willingham’s defense. Pursuant to the disciplinary petition filed by the Texas Bar, Jackson has fifty days from the date of service of the petition to respond.

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Senate has officially passed SB 11, the “campus carry” legislation that would expand the state’s concealed handgun license (CHL) rights to allow CHL holders to also carry their guns into certain buildings on Texas’ public colleges and universities. The bill passed its third and final reading on Thursday in the Senate, a move that was cheered by Senate Republicans, who are hopeful that their colleagues in the House will pass the bill as well.

A bill filed by Texas State Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston) could prove to be the financial death penalty for many public sector labor unions across the state. The bill, SB 1968, was filed at the very end of the bill filing period for this Legislative Session last Friday, and would end the practice of automatic payroll deductions for labor union dues for the majority of public sector unions.

WASHINGTON, DC — The Sheriff of an Arizona county that shares a border with Mexico warned that terrorists could use “VIP” tunnels along the southwest border to enter the United States. Sheriff Mark Dannels of Cochise County, Arizona testified today before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

On Monday, the Texas House passed on second reading HB 10, an omnibus anti-human trafficking bill, with a unanimous, bipartisan vote. The bill still needs a third reading but is expected to easily pass Tuesday morning and will be the first bill passed by the House this Session.

The Texas Senate passed the “open carry” bill, SB 17, on second reading Monday evening after about three and a half hours of debate. The vote was on partisan lines, with the 20 Republican Senators voting in favor of the bill, and the 11 Democrats voting against it. The bill still needs to go to third reading before it will be deemed officially passed by the Senate.

This week, Governor Greg Abbott (R-Texas) reaffirmed his commitment to sign into law an open carry bill currently being considered by the Texas Legislature.

The Texas Young Republican Federation (TYRF) conducted a straw poll during February and March, and among potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates, the results show strongest support for Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), followed by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin).

Texas State House Representative Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth) is going forward with a Religious Freedoms measure apparently abandoned by Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas). Krause’s bill proposes a constitutional amendment which would bar counties, cities, and homeowners associations from interfering “in any way a person’s free exercise of religion.” The amendment is intended to address ordinances passed in Houston, San Antonio, and Plano that target business owners who exercise their religious beliefs about sexual orientation.

Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) told Breitbart Texas he expects franchise tax relief bills to pass in the Senate. Multiple bills proposing changes to Texas’ franchise tax have been filed in both chambers of the Texas Legislature, and multiple elected officials have told Breitbart Texas that they are hopeful that the 84th Legislative Session will see substantive changes to the tax, ultimately resulting in it being abolished. Creighton spoke to Breitbart Texas about a package of four bills that he had filed.

The State of Texas has formally assumed control of the Alamo, placing the day-to-day management of the historic site in San Antonio under the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The GLO will now solicit proposals for a new management company to assume those duties later this year. Previously, the Alamo had been managed by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), the volunteer organization that was responsible for securing the funds to preserve the Alamo in 1905. A law passed in 2011 transferred control to the GLO.

Texas State Representative Jason Villalba (R-Texas) has found himself at the center of controversy after filing a bill that would make it a crime for bloggers and independent journalists — as well as regular citizens — to film police officers. Despite the backlash from free speech advocates, Villalba is insisting that his bill “does not infringe on constitutional rights” or “limit liberty in any way.”

Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office (GLO) George P. Bush unveiled a redesigned website this week for the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), TexasVeterans.com, to streamline access to the information and benefits provided by the VLB to Texas veterans. The VLB was formed in 1946 and in his role as GLO Commissioner, Bush also serves as the VLB’s Chairman.

What started as a protest by pro-life Texas legislators on abortion provider Planned Parenthood’s Day at the Capitol revealed some tensions between Republican legislators as the 84th Legislative Session hits its stride.

In a special guest commentary for Forbes Opinion, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) touted his state’s continued economic strength, specifically highlighting Texas’ top ranking for capital investment projects.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) attended the Iowa Ag Summit over the weekend, along with several other prospective 2016 Republican presidential candidates, and was alone among attendees in his outright rejection of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the ethanol subsidies that have a significant impact on Iowa’s agricultural economy. Despite the risk of opposing the RFS at an event sponsored by the agriculture industry in a critical early primary state, Cruz was unequivocal in voicing his opposition to the RFS and the crowd applauded his comments.

A recent report by in the Dallas Morning News suggests that the historically strong ties between the State of Texas and Mexico may be under a considerable amount of strain. Despite the region’s powerhouse cross-border economy, recent decisions regarding illegal immigration and border security have left Mexico feeling rebuffed.

The population of Texas could double by 2050, says a new report released by the Office of the State Demographer. This would be the result if migration patterns continue at the same pace they have been growing during the 2000-2010 decade.

Out of the cities in the U.S. known for being technology hubs, Austin, Texas has the highest average salary for software developers and engineers, after making adjustments for taxes and differences in the cost of living.