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Texas Legislature

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Texas Comptroller Hancock to Step Down After One Year at the Helm
state-government12 days ago

Texas Comptroller Hancock to Step Down After One Year at the Helm

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock will resign at the end of July, a year after taking the job appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. Hancock oversaw the rollout of Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the state’s $1 billion school-choice program. He lost his bid for a full term to Don Huffines, who will face Democrat Sarah Eckhardt in November. Hancock remains confident the agency will continue to function smoothly and that Huffines will build on the ongoing work.

via The Texas Tribune|
#comptroller#don-huffines#education
Texas Panel Finds Camp Mystic Flood Gaps, Sets Course for 2027 Reforms
public-safety26 days ago

Texas Panel Finds Camp Mystic Flood Gaps, Sets Course for 2027 Reforms

A 115-page investigative report adopted by Texas Senate and House committees finds Camp Mystic had no written emergency plans, stalled evacuations, and chaotic incident management during last year’s July Fourth flood that killed 25 campers and two counselors; overall, more than 130 people died in the floods. The findings will guide policy changes for the 2027 legislative session, with lawmakers noting much was addressed by prior safety bills but promising further tweaks after hearings and ongoing reviews of staff training and emergency communications.

via KUT|
#camp-mystic#emergency-management#flood-preparedness
Goodwin Secures Democratic Nomination for Texas Lieutenant Governor, Faces Patrick
politics1 month ago

Goodwin Secures Democratic Nomination for Texas Lieutenant Governor, Faces Patrick

State Rep. Vikki Goodwin won the Democratic runoff to become the party's lieutenant governor nominee and will face Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in November; Goodwin pitched herself as a public schools advocate focusing on affordability, healthcare access and water infrastructure, while Patrick—an ally of Trump with a large fundraising lead—presides over a GOP-led Texas Senate, setting up a high-stakes general election in Austin.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#dan-patrick#lieutenant-governor
TX lawmakers push to drop fiber-optic rule for summer camps
state-government2 months ago

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
Camp Mystic director apologizes as Texas flood investigation unfolds
state-government2 months ago

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
Camp Mystic Flood: Lawmakers Hear Emergency-Prep Failures Fueled Tragedy
politics2 months ago

Camp Mystic Flood: Lawmakers Hear Emergency-Prep Failures Fueled Tragedy

Texas lawmakers heard from investigator Casey Garrett that Camp Mystic lacked adequate emergency training, evacuation plans, and safety equipment, contributing to the deaths during last summer's Guadalupe River flood; the testimony detailed chaotic evacuations and leadership failures by camp operator Dick Eastland, prompting calls for stricter safety rules and possible denial of the camp's operating license amid ongoing lawsuits and state investigations.

via The Texas Tribune|
#camp-mystic#emergency-preparedness#flood
Texas Legislature Wraps Up with Key Wins and Pending Decisions
politics1 year ago

Texas Legislature Wraps Up with Key Wins and Pending Decisions

The Texas legislature concluded its session with a $338 billion budget, implementing conservative policies including increased immigration enforcement cooperation, a historic school voucher program, and greater control over public universities, while also addressing infrastructure and property tax issues, though concerns remain about future budget shortfalls.

via The Washington Post|
#conservative-policies#immigration-enforcement#politics
Texas Legislature's 89th Session: Key Outcomes and Future Impacts
politics1 year ago

Texas Legislature's 89th Session: Key Outcomes and Future Impacts

Texas lawmakers concluded their 2025 session by passing conservative policies including private school vouchers, stricter bail laws, water infrastructure funding, and measures to promote Christianity in schools, while also addressing issues like online gambling and property taxes, with some bills facing legal challenges and opposition.

via The Texas Tribune|
#bail-laws#conservative-policies#education-reform
Texas Legislature's Failure to Address Education Issues Leaves Unresolved Problems Lingering
education2 years ago

Texas Legislature's Failure to Address Education Issues Leaves Unresolved Problems Lingering

The Texas Legislature's special session ended without passing a government subsidy program for private school tuition, marking the third time this year that the Texas House has blocked legislation for education savings accounts. Rural Republican House members, along with Democrats, opposed the school choice proposal. The lack of action has intensified internal strife within the state GOP and fueled a feud between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan. It remains uncertain whether Gov. Greg Abbott will call for a fifth special session or focus on unseating Republican incumbents who voted against the bill.

via The Dallas Morning News|
#education#education-savings-accounts#political-strife