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The Latest Breaking News from John Whitmire

Facing youth prison crisis, Texas lawmakers opt to build new facilities and funnel more kids to adult system

For more than a decade, Texas has been trying to slim down its youth prison system, which has been plagued by years of abuse scandals. This Legislature is reversing that course.

The Texas Tribune

Texas GOP close to eroding Dem power

Gov. Abbott and the bill's supporters have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations

Salon

Texas GOP’s broadest attempt yet to erode blue cities’ power gets one step closer to becoming law

Gov. Greg Abbott and other supporters of the bill have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations that they say hamper business owners and harm the state’s economy.

The Texas Tribune

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Senate budget panel approves $308 billion spending plan with new money for teachers, mental health, juvenile justice

The proposal for the 2024-25 budget cycle includes $142.1 billion in general revenue spending — about $5 billion higher than the proposal approved last week by the Texas House — at a time when lawmakers have a historic $32.7 billion surplus at their disposal this session.

The Texas Tribune

Former elections chief Chris Hollins drops bid for Houston mayor

Facing a crowded field, Hollins, who served briefly as Harris County clerk in 2020, announced Thursday he will instead run to be Houston’s chief financial officer.

The Texas Tribune

Bills advance to close loophole allowing some lawmakers to increase their pay to $140,000

Two bills that advanced in House and Senate committees on Wednesday both exempt any lawmaker who has already taken advantage of the benefit.

The Texas Tribune

U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor

Jackson Lee enters a mayoral contest that is already well underway. The early frontrunner is state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and his competitors include Chris Hollins, the former Harris County clerk, and Amanda Edwards, a former City Council member.

The Texas Tribune

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The top fundraisers in the Texas State Senate

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates may receive from individuals and organizations, how often they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political entities may contribute to campaigns.

Ballotpedia

Lawmakers could no longer “double dip” into pension funds under newly filed bill

State Sen. Joan Huffman filed a bill that would repeal a provision that allowed longtime lawmakers to increase their yearly take-home income by $140,000 by collecting pension payments without retiring.

The Texas Tribune

Why three longtime Texas lawmakers are now eligible for an extra $140,000 a year

A few of Texas’ most veteran lawmakers may have seen their part-time legislative compensation skyrocket from $7,200 to nearly $150,000 annually, thanks to a law passed quietly at the end of the 2021 legislative session.

The Texas Tribune

Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula

Senators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding.

The Texas Tribune

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says he’ll run for reelection in 2026, reversing previous plan to retire

Patrick made the comments at a daylong conference in Austin hosted by The Texan, a political news site started by former GOP state Sen. Konni Burton.

The Texas Tribune

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveils committee assignments with one Democratic chair

Conservative activists have pushed for legislative leaders to ban Democrats from leading committees.

The Texas Tribune

Texas senators draw lots to determine how long their terms will be

After redistricting, the state constitution requires senators to draw lots to determine which half of the chamber will have four-year terms and which will have two-year terms. This keeps Senate district elections staggered every two years for the rest of the decade.

The Texas Tribune

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Texas Observer

Texas Democrats After Beto

Joaquin Castro? Colin Allred? Lina Hidalgo? Clay Jenkins? Can anyone gain a political foothold in the GOP-controlled Lone Star State?

The Texas Tribune

By tradition, the minority party gets to chair some Texas House committees. Some in the GOP want to end that.

Republican critics say conservative priorities will always be hamstrung if Democrats, who are in the minority party, get a say in which legislation reaches the floor.

The Independent UK

Texas suspends inmate transports after escape left 5 dead

The Texas prison system says it's temporarily stopped transporting inmates as it investigates how a convicted murderer escaped from a transport bus last month, later killing a man and his four grandsons

Axios

Gonzalo Lopez's escape prompts Texas to pause inmate transports

Lopez, a convicted murderer, escaped from authorities last month while on a prison transport bus.

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Salon

Uvalde gunman legally bought AR rifles

Law enforcement provided more details on the shooting and refuted misinformation about the attack

Ballotpedia

Results in the five Texas Senate Democratic primaries with the most candidate fundraising

Democratic primary elections for 24 of 31 seats in the Texas State Senate took place on March 1, 2022. Of the 24 seats up for election in 2022, six had a primary election with more than one candidates.

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