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State Government

All articles tagged with #state government

state-government22 days ago•20 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#dan-patrick #dustin-burrows #fiber-optic-internet

state-government29 days ago•34 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#apology #camp-mystic #flood

politics1 month ago•2 min saved

Red-State AGs Join Court Bid to Shield Trump’s Mail-Voting Order

Twelve Republican attorneys general moved to intervene in a Democratic-led lawsuit challenging Trump's March 31 executive order on mail voting, arguing the order would actually bolster state authority by creating federal voter lists with DHS/SSA and restricting ballot delivery via the USPS. The judge’s decision on intervention is pending; notable signatories include Kris Kobach and Steve Marshall. The case is part of broader legal challenges to the EO, including a separate Massachusetts suit by voting-rights groups.

via Democracy Docket|

#elections #lawsuits #politics

state-government1 month ago•25 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#austin #dallas #greg-abbott

state-government1 month ago•34 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#austin #greg-abbott #houston

state-government1 month ago•55 min saved

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.

via thebanner.com|

#glock-switch #gun-control #maryland-general-assembly

state-government1 month ago•26 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#department-of-state-health-services #health-and-human-services-commission #hemp

state-government2 months ago•18 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#cesar-chavez #cesar-chavez-day #curriculum-standards

politics2 months ago•2 min saved

States press legal bid to restore climate protections scrapped by Trump

Twenty-three states led by California and New York filed a petition in the D.C. Circuit Court challenging President Trump’s repeal of the 2009 endangerment finding that underpins federal climate regulations, seeking to reinstate the finding and block the EPA’s rollback of tailpipe standards; several cities and counties joined the suit, with critics arguing the move would harm public health and environmental protections.

via Al Jazeera|

#climate-change #endangerment-finding #epa

state-government2 months ago•21 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#corpus-christi #desalination #greg-abbott

state-government2 months ago•22 min saved

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.

via The Texas Tribune|

#2026-elections #abbott #dan-patrick

state-government3 months ago•29 min saved

Texas Lt. Gov. presses to delay Camp Mystic reopening until flood probe concludes

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick urged the Texas Department of State Health Services to withhold Camp Mystic’s summer license renewal until a legislative inquiry into the July 4 Guadalupe River flood deaths is finished, amid a federal lawsuit accusing state officials of failing to enforce evacuation rules; Camp Mystic plans to reopen on a separate Cypress Lake property, prompting criticism from families and lawmakers about safety and regulatory oversight.

via The Texas Tribune|

#camp-mystic #department-of-state-health-services #evacuation-plans

higher-education3 months ago•25 min saved

UT System Sets Rules to Minimize 'Controversial' Topics in Courses

UT System Regents unanimously approved a rule requiring universities to ensure graduates can finish programs without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects,” and to have syllabi disclose covered topics with a mandate for a broad, balanced discussion. Critics warn the vague terms could push self-censorship and leave students less prepared for real-world work, and civil-rights advocates warn of potential legal challenges and bias against Black students and faculty. The policy does not ban topics like race or gender but increases oversight amid broader campus reforms and state guidance under Senate Bill 37 and related changes.

via The Texas Tribune|

#curriculum #higher-education #policy

state-government3 months ago•70 min saved

Maryland Moves to End Local ICE 287(g) Collaborations

Maryland’s Legislature approved emergency bills to bar local governments and police from partnering with ICE through the 287(g) program, which allows jail staff to check immigration status and detain noncitizens for up to 48 hours. The Senate passed the measure 32-12 and the House 99-40; eight counties already participate, with Wicomico County newly joining. Gov. Wes Moore has criticized ICE, and the 287(g) ban could take effect immediately if signed. A separate Senate measure banning law enforcement from wearing face coverings also passed, but faces potential constitutional challenges and would be a civil offense with a $1,500 fine.

via The Baltimore Banner|

#287g #ice #immigration

state-government3 months ago•23 min saved

Texas Education Agency warns districts could face state takeover over student walkouts

The Texas Education Agency issued guidance warning that districts could be taken over by the state, lose funding, or face other penalties if they facilitate student walkouts or “inappropriate political activism,” a response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive to have Education Commissioner Mike Morath investigate AISD protests. The guidance lists consequences such as unexcused absences, educator investigations, and potential replacement of elected school boards, as walkouts and related actions spanned multiple districts and drew political pressure from state leaders.

via The Texas Tribune|

#austin-isd #greg-abbott #mike-morath