state-government23.595 min read
Abbott Blocks State Funding for Flock Cameras Amid Privacy Concerns
1 month ago•Source: The Texas Tribune
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18.41 min•1 month ago
Illinois Sets Statewide Rules for High-Speed E-Bikes and Scooters
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 3484 to regulate micromobility devices, creating statewide rules for high-speed e-bikes and scooters along with electric bikes, motor bikes, unicycles and skateboards. The law establishes age minimums, speed limits (up to 28 mph for many devices), and road-use requirements; high-speed models must be registered, titled, insured and operated on roads, with penalties including fines and confiscation for violations. It also aims to standardize rules across communities to improve rider and pedestrian safety as these devices become more common, taking effect Jan. 1.
23.03 min•3 months ago
Schatzline exits Texas House to steer Abbott’s election policy push
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Abbott taps Huffines to run Texas comptroller for the year
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Texas Comptroller Hancock to Step Down After One Year at the Helm
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Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson to resign, ending a three-and-a-half-year tenure
Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced she will resign effective July 17, ending a 3.5-year tenure as the state’s top election official. Gov. Greg Abbott will nominate a successor “without delay,” though the reason for Nelson’s departure and potential candidates were not disclosed. Nelson’s tenure included overseeing seven statewide elections with 27 million ballots cast, and managing controversial data-sharing efforts with the DOJ and the SAVE database, which prompted lawsuits from voting-rights groups. Her time in office also coinced with the TEAM election-management overhaul, which officials say still needs fixes.
TX lawmakers push to drop fiber-optic rule for summer camps
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows urged lifting the state requirement that youth camps install end‑to‑end fiber-optic facilities to qualify for licensure, arguing other reliable connectivity could meet the rule’s goals after a lawsuit by 19 camps; the mandate was enacted following the July 4 Hill Country floods that killed campers, and critics say fiber costs can be prohibitive or impractical for rural camps, with lawmakers planning to revisit camp safety standards in 2027 while there was no immediate comment from the Department of State Health Services.
Camp Mystic director apologizes as Texas flood investigation unfolds
At a state House and Senate flood hearing, Camp Mystic director Edward Eastland apologized to families whose children died in last year’s flood, saying they tried their hardest and regretting not communicating sooner. Lawmakers heard harrowing accounts from grieving parents, assessed the camp’s preparedness and evacuation plans, and debated license renewal with the Texas Department of State Health Services, with some suggesting shutdown if deficiencies aren’t fixed. The testimony underscored the trauma for survivors and the political pressure surrounding Camp Mystic’s future.
Texas governor withholds millions to press cities on ICE policy
Gov. Greg Abbott warned Houston, Dallas and Austin that roughly $200 million in state public-safety funding could be cut unless their police policies fully cooperate with ICE, ranging from $110 million for Houston to about $2.5 million for Austin and $32+ million for Dallas plus World Cup funds. The move catalyzes pushback from city leaders and a Paxton-led investigation and lawsuit against Houston, as officials defend SB 4-compliant policies and emphasize public safety and constitutional rights. The dispute underscores tensions between state immigration enforcement and local policing policies.
Texas cities resist immigration crackdown as state threatens funding and probes local leaders
Houston's ordinance to curb police cooperation with ICE sparks a state funding cutoff threat and an AG investigation, illustrating how Texas cities are navigating the Trump-era immigration crackdown; Austin and other cities are crafting policies to protect residents while complying with Senate Bill 4 and balancing state leadership.
Md. Moves Glock-Switch Handgun Ban, Bill Heads to Governor
Maryland’s House and Senate approved a bill banning the sale of pistols that can be converted into machine guns with Glock switches, sending the measure to Gov. Wes Moore for signature. The ban targets semiautomatic pistols with a cruciform trigger bar and would bar future sales while exempting current owners, law enforcement, and military. California’s Glock ban is being challenged in court, and Maryland’s proposal is expected to face legal challenges from gun-rights groups if enacted; supporters say it moves the state closer to eliminating ‘weapons of war’ from the market.
Texas hemp groups sue to block smokeable-ban and licensing spike
Texas hemp industry leaders have sued the state to halt new regulations from the Department of State Health Services and the Health and Human Services Commission that ban natural smokeable hemp products and sharply raise licensing fees; they argue the agencies overstepped their authority by redefining hemp and by counting total THC (including THCA) for compliance, which would ban popular products like THCA flower and pre-rolled joints and jack up fees for facilities and retailers, while state officials cite youth-safety concerns and rising cannabis-poisoning calls as justification.
Texas Schools Ordered to Omit Cesar Chavez from Lessons
The Texas Education Agency directs all public schools to remove mentions of Cesar Chavez from lesson plans and to cancel or redirect Chavez Day events amid sexual abuse allegations; the move accompanies ongoing revisions to Texas social studies standards, with districts like Austin shifting observances to Dolores Huerta and Houston renaming Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day.
Abbott presses Corpus Christi over looming water crisis with threat of state takeover
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott criticized Corpus Christi leaders for delaying action on a looming water shortage and warned the state may intervene to ensure residents have reliable taps; the city has about $1 billion in supply projects coming online later this year or next, but ongoing industrial demand, drought and past planning missteps could trigger shortages within a year, prompting conservation measures and new desalination efforts that are years away.
Abbott, Patrick cruise to GOP primaries, shaping Texas reelection race
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick easily won their Republican primaries, keeping their bids for reelection alive; Democrat Gina Hinojosa captured the nomination to challenge Abbott, while Austin's Vikki Goodwin led the Democratic field for lieutenant governor. Abbott framed the race around conservative governance and tax restraint, with Patrick touting his leadership in the Texas Senate and alignment with Trump. Democrats hope the high-profile U.S. Senate contest could bolster turnout down the ticket.