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Updated: Members Not Returning, 86th Legislature

Jun 12

posted by TexasLRL in Members of the Legislature, 86th Session

In January, we compiled a list of members not returning to the 86th Texas Legislature. An updated list that includes the results of the recent primary runoffs is provided below. 21 members of the Texas House and 2 members of the Texas Senate will not return in 2019. To see a full list of members of the 85th Texas Legislature (2017), please go here. Note that regardless of election outcomes, all of these legislators will keep their respective seats until January 2019, unless they resign earlier.

 

Table: Members not returning to the 86th Texas Legislature

Rep. Roberto Alonzo Defeated in Democratic primary election, 3/6/2018
Rep. Diana Arévalo Defeated in Democratic primary election, 3/6/2018
Rep. Cindy Burkett Defeated in Republican primary election for Texas Senate, 3/6/2018
Rep. Byron Cook Retiring
Rep. Scott Cosper Defeated in Republican primary runoff election, 5/22/2018
Rep. Dawnna Dukes Defeated in Democratic primary election, 3/6/2018
Sen. Craig Estes Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/6/2018
Rep. Wayne Faircloth Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/6/2018
Rep. Pat Fallon Won Republican primary for Texas Senate, 3/6/2018
Rep. Helen Giddings Retiring
Rep. Larry Gonzales Resigned effective 6/7/2018
Rep. Lance Gooden Won Republican primary runoff for U.S. House of Representatives, 5/22/2018
Rep. Jason Isaac Defeated in Republican primary election for U.S. House of Representatives, 3/6/2018
Rep. Mark Keough Won Republican primary election for Montgomery County judge, 3/6/2018
Rep. Jodie Laubenberg Retiring
Rep. René Oliveira Defeated in Democratic primary runoff election, 5/22/2018
Rep. Larry Phillips Resigned effective 4/30/2018
Rep. Kevin Roberts Defeated in Republican primary runoff election for U.S. House of Representatives, 5/22/2018
Rep. Leighton Schubert Resigned effective 2/4/2018
Rep. Joe Straus Retiring
Sen. Van Taylor Won Republican primary election for U.S. House of Representatives, 3/6/2018
Rep. Tomas Uresti Defeated in Democratic primary election, 3/6/2018
Rep. Jason Villalba Defeated in Republican primary election, 3/6/2018

 

 

This entry was posted on June 12, 2018 at 2:30 PM and has received 3177 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, June 7

Jun 7

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Week in review, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community. 

  • Examine the current and projected financial status of social security. (Social Security Administration, June 5, 2018)
  • Consider whether pets have a positive impact on people's health. (NIH MedlinePlus, Spring 2018)
  • Read about the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission decision. (National Conference of State Legislatures, June 4, 2018)
  • Track an increase in federal criminal prosecutions for illegal border crossings. (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Syracuse University, June 4, 2018)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "Uncompensated care costs fell in nearly every state as ACA's major coverage provisions took effect." By Jessica Schubel and Matt Broaddus. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 23, 2018, pp. 1-9.
    Explains Medicaid expansion has helped lower uncompensated health care costs, benefiting patients, hospitals, and state budgets, and warns of the effect of proposed Medicaid work requirements. Charts uncompensated care costs and medically uninsured rates in the 50 states from 2013 to 2015.
  • "A state multi-sector framework for supporting children and youth with special health care needs." Child Trends, May 2018, pp. 1-26 (Note Length).
    Describes a four-part state framework for supporting children and youth with special health care needs from birth through age 17, including health, family support, education and employment, and law enforcement and juvenile justice.
  • "The future of tech startups: Into the danger zone." Economist, June 2nd-8th, 2018, pp. 55-57.
    Reports how the dominance of technology giants such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google has had a meaningful effect on entrepreneurial innovation, as the bigger firms can quickly launch competing services that put startups out of business.
  • "Justice: Data detectives." Economist Technology Quarterly, June 2nd, 2018, pp. 3-12.
    Examines the promise and dangers of new technologies that are transforming the way criminal justice systems operate, including street-level surveillance, electronic monitoring, and predictive policing and sentencing.
  • "Rural districts take a 24 percent hit in Algebra II enrollment." By Hector Bojorquez. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), May 2018, pp. 3-4.
    Discusses the findings of the IDRA Ready Texas Study, which examined the early effects of the new graduation requirements imposed by HB5, 83rd Legislature, Regular Session.
  • "State & local tax contributions of young undocumented immigrants." By Misha Hill and Meg Wiehe. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Updated April 2018, pp. 1-18.
    Examines state and local tax contributions of undocumented immigrants currently enrolled or eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
  • "The neurobiology of opioid addiction and the potential for prevention strategies." By Gary Peltz and Thomas C. Südhof. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), May 22/29, 2018, pp. 2071-2072.
    Calls for a public health prevention strategy to address the opioid crisis, rather than the current focus on the later stages of drug addiction.
  • "Focusing the lens on film credits." By Brett Johnson and Bruce Kessler. Journal of MultiState Taxation and Incentives, June 2018, pp. 33-35.
    Summarizes recent developments in film incentives programs in Louisiana, New York, California, and Georgia, including eligibility requirements and benefits, credit monetization, and state oversight.
  • "AARP in the states: Texas." National Institute on Retirement Security, April 2018, pp. 1-8.
    Presents infographic fact sheets on the Employees Retirement System of Texas and Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and highlights the economic impact of Texas public pensions.
  • "The teaching moment." By Rivka Galchen. New Yorker, June 4 & 11, 2018, pp. 38-43.
    Highlights the recent teacher walkout in Oklahoma and the failed attempt at winning legislative approval for additional education funding. Explains this failure has provoked people to get involved in local politics and to run for office.
  • "Abolish ICE." By Shikha Dalmia. Reason, July 2018, pp. 10-11.
    Reviews the history of deportation efforts back to the Clinton administration and the creation of Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] after 9/11. Argues that ICE and the deportation program should be abolished and the true hardcore criminals from other countries should be handled through regular law enforcement procedures.
  • "Speaking out: Four Price, State Representative, District 87." Texas Builder, May/June 2018, pp. 22-25.
    Interviews State Representative Four Price about the skilled labor shortage in Texas, workforce and job training programs, water and road infrastructure, and the state budget process.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on June 7, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1365 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of June 11, 2018

Jun 6

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

June 11

Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools & School Security

Charge: Infrastructure and design of Texas schools to reduce security threats, proposals to harden school facilities, including limiting access points, improving screening and detecting of weapons, retrofitting school facilities with improved locks, emergency alarm systems, and monitoring cameras

 

June 12

Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools & School Security

Charge: School security options and resources, including, but not limited to, the school marshal program, school police officers, armed school personnel, the Texas School Safety Center, and other training programs

This entry was posted on June 6, 2018 at 3:00 PM and has received 1094 views. Print this entry.

Resource Highlight: House Standing Committee Minutes Before 1973

Jun 5

posted by TexasLRL in Resource highlights, Committees, Legislative process

House and Senate committee minutes are a valuable resource for understanding the work that goes into crafting legislation. House standing committee minutes in the Legislative Reference Library collection from before 1973 have been scanned and are available in the LRL's committee minutes database. 

 

Scanned minutes, particularly from earlier sessions, may also include other committee documentation, including agendas, exhibits, hearing notices, press releases, rules, testimony, transcripts, and vote sheets. For example:

The LRL database also allows users access to committee documents from House, Senate, and Joint committees, 63rd–77th Legislatures (1973–2001), as well as to search for minutes from the 78th–85th Legislatures that are available through Texas Legislature Online.

 

The digitization of the Senate standing committee minutes prior to 1973 is in process.

 

Image: On April 9, 1969, several leaders from the Baylor College of Medicine, including Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, testified before the House and Senate's respective State Affairs committees, offering possible solutions for the state's physician shortage.

This entry was posted on June 5, 2018 at 2:30 PM and has received 3042 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, May 31

May 31

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Week in review, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community. 

  • Consider ways to combat elder financial exploitation. (National Conference of State Legislatures, May 2018)
  • Explore similarities and differences among rural, suburban, and urban areas. (Pew Research Center, May 22, 2018)
  • See how many Texas cities are among the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau, May 24, 2018)
  • Read about a federal ruling that could affect elected officials on social media. (Electronic Frontier Foundation, May 23, 2018)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "This little house could be a big deal for Austin." By Marissa Luck. Austin Business Journal, May 25, 2018, pp. 5-8.
    Considers the viability of a proposed 3-D home printing model and the impact on cities lacking affordable housing.
  • "Growing revenue: The economics of marijuana legalization." By Lisa McKinney. Capitol Ideas, March/April 2018, pp. 28-31.
    Suggests the tax revenue generated by marijuana legalization may not be the "golden goose" to solve state budget problems, despite marijuana being an estimated $10 billion industry in 2017. Discusses challenges faced by Colorado, Oregon, and Maine in the legalization and regulation process.
  • "States' complex Medicaid waivers will create costly bureaucracy and harm eligible beneficiaries." By Jennifer Wagner and Judith Solomon. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, May 23, 2018, pp. 1-16.
    Criticizes Medicaid eligibility restrictions such as increased work requirements, new premium requirements, and coverage "lockouts" in Medicaid demonstration projects, or section 1115 waivers, as proposed by several states listed in the appendix.
  • "Taking the hill." By Ann Scott Tyson. Christian Science Monitor, May 28, 2018, pp. 24-30.
    Acknowledges the nearly 400 veterans running for Congress as a promising political initiative that might help bridge the partisan divide and bolster confidence in Congress. Includes quotes from Texas state Senator Van Taylor, who is running to represent Texas' Third Congressional District.
  • "After a Texas college revoked scholarships for 61 Nepali students: 'Admissions hunger games'." By Eric Hoover. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 25, 2018, pp. A25-A27.
    Highlights the experiences of some of the 61 Nepali students who had scholarships rescinded by the University of Texas at Tyler. Focuses on their efforts to find acceptance at other institutions.
  • "Hack-proof." By Henry Kenyon. CQ Weekly, May 21, 2018, pp. 30-33.
    Investigates adopting blockchain technology as a means of protecting government records from hacking. Reports there are federal and state agencies already experimenting with using blockchain applications to combat their cybersecurity problems.
  • "Area's increasing income gap threatens region." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, May 18, 2018, pp. 20-25.
    Examines the widening gaps in wealth, educational attainment, access to housing, and other challenges connected to increasing population growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
  • "Increasing naloxone awareness and use: The role of health care practitioners." By Jerome M. Adams. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), May 22/29, 2018, pp. 2073-2074.
    Notes the significance of the Surgeon General's Advisory on Naloxone and Opioid Overdose, which explains the need to educate the public and develop policies on this medication that can reduce opioid overdose mortality.
  • "Texas showdown: Insurgent populists are facing off against establishment picks in May's high-stakes runoff." By D.D. Guttenplan. Nation, June 4/11, 2018, pp. 12-18.
    Profiles several Democratic candidates for Texas congressional districts.
  • "Conservation: Drought and supply limits drive sustainability initiatives." Opflow, March 2018, pp. 10-14.
    Discusses California American Water's recent experiences to provide some valuable lessons on how one water utility is dealing with extreme climate conditions.
  • "Bordernomics: Enhancing prosperity by increasing integration in the US-Mexico border region." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 1-3, 6-7.
    Presents part two of a special report describing the results of a study on the trade and economic activity between the United States and Mexico.
  • "Engage diverse stakeholders to strengthen policy." By Elizabeth Leisy Stosich and Soung Bae. Phi Delta Kappan, May 2018, pp. 8-12.
    Highlights the experiences of California, Iowa, New Hampshire, and Vermont in bringing diverse stakeholders into the process when developing school reform.
  • "First look at 2017 CO2 emission trends in U.S.: Electricity sector focus." By Daniel Klein. Public Utilities Fortnightly, May 2018, pp. 40-47.
    Analyzes two key energy-related carbon dioxide emission trends in the United States, as reported in the U.S. Energy Information Agency's March 2018 Monthly Energy Review. Report at: https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/archive/00351803.pdf
  • "'Assault weapons,' explained." By Jacob Sullum. Reason, June 2018, pp. 52-57.
    Explains that "assault weapons" account for a small percentage of firearms used in mass shootings and other gun violence. Discusses the difficulty in meaningfully defining an "assault weapon" and whether a ban would have a measurable impact on safety.
  • "Critical condition: Fall funding." By W. Scott Bailey. San Antonio Business Journal, May 18, 2018, pp. 14-16.
    Focuses on San Antonio as a recipient of grants from the National Institutes of Health [NIH]. Explains how NIH grants can be used to lure top talent and spur economic growth in Texas.
  • "Rebirth on campus." By Maya Rhodan. Time, June 4, 2018, pp. 58-61.
    Examines recent student activism on historically black college and university campuses. Attributes this activism to a number of factors, including the current White House administration.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

This entry was posted on May 31, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1971 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of June 4, 2018

May 31

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

June 4

Charge: Regulatory framework of groundwater conservation districts and river authorities

Charge: Agricultural fees

 

June 5

House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism (Brownsville)  

Charge 1 (Partial):  Economic, recreational, and biological impacts and needed repairs from Hurricane Harvey and the following areas and industries:

e. Travel and tourism

f. Recommendations for timely recovery from Harvey, and mitigation of future natural disasters

Charge 4: Monitor agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 85th Legislature:

  • Texas Historical Commission Programs
  • Texas Parks and Wildlife Border Operations

 

House Committee on Natural Resources (Palo Duro Canyon State Park)

Charge 3: Groundwater policy in Texas, including the following issues:

a. Progress and challenges in encouraging coordination and consistency in aquifer-wide management and permitting practices;

b. Developments in case law regarding groundwater ownership and regulation;

c. Potential improvements to the existing groundwater permitting process, including those contemplated in HB 31, 85th Legislature, R.S.;

d. The appropriate consideration of the service area of a water supplier when groundwater resources are allocated based on surface ownership;

e. The designation of brackish groundwater production zones and related research;

f. Groundwater data and science needs

 

Charge: Streamlining water permitting

Charge: Monitoring, including, but not limited to:

  • SB 1511 (prioritization in the regional water plan);

  • SB 1538 (Floodplain Management Account uses);

  • SB 864 (GCD application of state water);
  • HB 2004 (Texas economic development fund for TDA); and
  • HB 3433 (Adoption of rules affecting rural communities. Make recommendations for any legislative improvements needed to improve, enhance, or complete implementation including regional water planning, flood planning, and groundwater production.)

 

June 6

House Committee on County Affairs (Corpus Christi)

Charge 1: Emergency response activities and the relationship between state, counties, non-governmental organizations, and churches in preparing for and responding to Hurricane Harvey

Charge 2: Evaluate whether counties have the necessary ordinance-making and enforcement authority to deal with flood risk in unincorporated rural and suburban areas of Texas and to ensure that new development in unincorporated areas is not susceptible to flooding.

 
Top

 

June 7

Charge: Educator preparation programs

 

House Committee on Higher Education

Charge: Efforts of 2-year and 4-year institutions to implement innovative and non-traditional models of education delivery

This entry was posted on May 31, 2018 at 8:56 AM and has received 1768 views. Print this entry.

May 22, 2018 Primary Runoff Election Results

May 29

posted by TexasLRL in Members of the Legislature

Peruse the results of the May 22, 2018, primary runoff election for the Texas Legislature in our charts below (runoff results bolded), and see who will be on the ballot for the midterm election on November 6, 2018.

 

Senate

Democrat
Republican
2
Kendall Scudder
Bob Hall
3
Shirley Layton
Robert Nichols
5
Meg Walsh
Charles Schwertner
7
David Romero
Paul Bettencourt
8
Mark Phariss
Angela Paxton
9
Gwenn Burud
Kelly Hancock
10
Beverly Powell
Konni Burton
14
Kirk Watson
George W. Hindman
15
John Whitmire
Randy Orr
16
Nathan Johnson
Don Huffines
17
Rita Lucido
Joan Huffman
23
Royce West
---
25
Steven Kling
Donna Campbell
30
Kevin Lopez
Pat Fallon
31
---
Kel Seliger

 

House of Representatives

Democrat
Republican
1
---
Gary VanDeaver
2
Bill Brannon
Dan Flynn
3
Lisa Seger
Cecil Bell Jr
4
Eston Williams
Keith Bell
5
Bill Liebbe
Cole Hefner
6
---
Matt Schaefer
7
---
Jay Dean
8
Wesley D. Ratcliff
Cody Harris
9
---
Chris Paddie
10
Kimberly Emery
John Wray
11
Alec Johnson
Travis Clardy
12
Marianne Arnold
Kyle Kacal
13
Cecil Ray Webster, Sr.
Ben Leman
14
Josh Wilkinson
John Raney
15
Lorena Perez McGill
Steve Toth
16
Mike Midler
Will Metcalf
17
Michelle Ryan
John P. Cyrier
18
Fred Lemond
Ernest Bailes
19
Sherry Williams
James White
20
Stephen M. Wyman
Terry M. Wilson
21
---
Dade Phelan
22
Joe Deshotel
---
23
Amanda Jamrok
Mayes Middleton
24
John Y. Phelps
Greg Bonnen
25
---
Dennis Bonnen
26
L. Sarah DeMerchant
D.F. "Rick" Miller
27
Ron Reynolds
---
28
Meghan Scoggins
John Zerwas
29
James Presley
Ed Thompson
30
Robin Hayter
Geanie W. Morrison
31
Ryan Guillen
---
32
---
Todd Hunter
33
Laura Gunn
Justin Holland
34
Abel Herrero
Chris Hale
35
Oscar Longoria
---
36
Sergio Muñoz, Jr.
---
37
Alex Dominguez
---
38
Eddie Lucio III
---
39
Armando "Mando" Martínez
---
40
Terry Canales
---
41
Bobby Guerra
Hilda Garza DeShazo
42
Richard Peña Raymond
Luis De La Garza
43
Dee Ann Torres Miller
J.M. Lozano
44
John D. Rodgers
John Kuempel
45
Erin Zwiener
Ken Strange
46
Sheryl Cole
Gabriel Nila
47
Vikki Goodwin
Paul D. Workman
48
Donna Howard
---
49
Gina Hinojosa
Kyle Austin
50
Celia Israel
---
51
Eddie Rodriguez
---
52
James Talarico
Cynthia Flores
53
Stephanie Lochte Ertel
Andrew S. Murr
54
Kathy Richerson
Brad Buckley
55
---
Hugh D. Shine
56
Katherine Turner-Pearson
Charles "Doc" Anderson
57
Jason Rogers
Trent Ashby
58
---
DeWayne Burns
59
---
J.D. Sheffield
60
---
Mike Lang
61
---
Phil King
62
Valerie N. Hefner
Reggie Smith
63
Laura Haines
Tan Parker
64
Andrew Morris
Lynn Stucky
65
Michelle Beckley
Ron Simmons
66
Sharon Hirsch
Matt Shaheen
67
Sarah Depew
Jeff Leach
68
---
Drew Springer
69
---
James Frank
70
Julie Luton
Scott Sanford
71
Sam Hatton
Stan Lambert
72
---
Drew Darby
73
Stephanie Phillips
Kyle Biedermann
74
Poncho Nevárez
---
75
Mary E. Gonzalez
---
76
Cesar J. Blanco
---
77
Evelina "Lina" Ortega
---
78
Joe Moody
Jeffrey Lane
79
Joe C. Pickett
---
80
Tracy King
---
81
Armando Gamboa
Brooks Landgraf
82
Spencer Bounds
Tom Craddick
83
Drew Landry
Dustin Burrows
84
Samantha Carrillo Fields
John Frullo
85
Jennifer Cantu
Phil Stephenson
86
Mike Purcell
John Smithee
87
---
Four Price
88
Ezekiel Barron
Ken King
89
Ray Ash
Candy Noble
90
Ramon Romero Jr.
---
91
Jeromey Sims
Stephanie Klick
92
Steve Riddell
Jonathan Stickland
93
Nancy Bean
Matt Krause
94
Finnigan Jones
Tony Tinderholt
95
Nicole Collier
Stephen A. West
96
Ryan E. Ray
Bill Zedler
97
Beth Llewellyn McLaughlin
Craig Goldman
98
Mica J. Ringo
Giovanni Capriglione
99
Michael Stackhouse
Charlie Geren
100
Eric Johnson
---
101
Chris Turner
---
102
Ana-Maria Ramos
Linda Koop
103
Rafael M. Anchia
Jerry Fortenberry
104
Jessica Gonzalez
---
105
Thresa "Terry" Meza
Rodney Anderson
106
Ramona Thompson
Jared Patterson
107
Victoria Neave
Deanna Maria Metzger
108
Joanna Cattanach
Morgan Meyer
109
Carl Sherman
---
110
Toni Rose
---
111
Yvonne Davis
---
112
Brandy K. Chambers
Angie Chen Button
113
Rhetta Andrews Bowers
Jonathan Boos
114
John Turner
Lisa Luby Ryan
115
Julie Johnson
Matt Rinaldi
116
Trey Martinez Fischer
Fernando Padron
117
Philip Cortez
Michael Berlanga
118
Leo Pacheco
John Lujan
119
Roland Gutierrez
---
120
Barbara Gervin-Hawkins
Ronald Payne
121
Celina D. Montoya
Steve Allison
122
Claire Barnett
Lyle Larson
123
Diego Bernal
---
124
Ina Minjarez
Johnny S. Arredondo
125
Justin Rodriguez
---
126
Natali Hurtado
E. Sam Harless
127
---
Dan Huberty
128
---
Briscoe Cain
129
Alexander Jonathan Karjeker
Dennis Paul
130
Fred Infortunio
Tom Oliverson
131
Alma A. Allen
Syed S. Ali
132
Gina Calanni
Mike Schofield
133
Marty Schexnayder
Jim Murphy
134
Allison Lami Sawyer
Sarah Davis
135
Jon E. Rosenthal
Gary Elkins
136
John H. Bucy III
Tony Dale
137
Gene Wu
---
138
Adam Milasincic
Dwayne Bohac
139
Jarvis D. Johnson
---
140
Armando Lucio Walle
---
141
Senfronia Thompson
---
142
Harold V. Dutton Jr.
---
143
Ana Hernandez
---
144
Mary Ann Perez
Ruben Villarreal
145
Carol Alvarado
---
146
Shawn Nicole Thierry
---
147
Garnet F. Coleman
Thomas Wang
148
Jessica Cristina Farrar
Ryan T. McConnico
149
Hubert Vo
---
150
Michael Shawn Kelly
Valoree Swanson

 

--- indicates that the party did not run a candidate in that district

This entry was posted on May 29, 2018 at 11:31 AM and has received 1782 views. Print this entry.

Current Articles & Research Resources, May 24

May 24

posted by TexasLRL in Current Articles, Week in review, Research Resources

In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community. 

  • Review election night returns for the primary runoff races. (Texas Secretary of State, May 23, 2018)
  • Consider the difficulties faced by those who are working but struggling to afford a middle-class lifestyle. (CNN Money, May 18, 2018)
  • Examine incidents of gun violence in schools going back to 1999. (The Washington Post, May 20, 2018)
  • Explore publications and resources related to school bus safety. (National Conference of State Legislatures, May 18, 2018)

Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.

  • "The birth of the new American aristocracy." By Matthew Stewart. Atlantic Monthly, June 2018, pp. 48-63.
    Explores the "meritocratic class" in America, or the 9.9 percent of the population poised between the top 0.1 percent and the bottom 90 percent. Explains the factors that define this group and have led to its existence in a time of rising inequality and falling social mobility.
  • "Why NFIB is fighting Austin's sick-leave mandate." By Will Newtown. Austin Business Journal, May 18, 2018, pp. 27.
    Explains the National Federation of Independent Business' [NFIB] position on regulatory mandates imposed by local governments.
    Related document at: http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=293797
  • "Building resilience." By Lisa McKinney. Capitol Ideas, March/April 2018, pp. 42-45.
    Highlights the necessity of infrastructure planning for states as an investment in emergency preparedness, after the record-high cost of United States weather and climate disasters in 2017. Estimates Hurricane Harvey is the most costly hurricane in United States history, at $125 billion.
  • "Facing rising corrections costs, states are course correcting." By Katie Albis. Captiol Ideas, March/April 2018, p. 34-35.
    Notes states spent $57 billion on corrections in 2016, including prison operations, probation and parole systems, alternatives to incarceration, and juvenile justice programs. Quotes Bryan Collier, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
  • "Pre-K punishment under spotlight in federal data." By Christina A. Samuels and Alex Harwin. Education Week, May 16, 2018, pp. 1, 20.
    Reports the federal government now requires compilation of data on the physical punishment of preschoolers in public schools.
  • "Schools play catch up to rise in student vaping." Education Week, May 9, 2018, pp. 1, 14.
    Attributes an increase of vaping in schools to a lack of regulation and the Juul device, which allows students to easily conceal their vaping habit.
  • "Black workers in right-to-work [RTW] states tend to have lower wages than in Missouri and other non-RTW states." By Valerie Wilson and Julia Wolfe, EPI Fact Sheet, May 15, 2018, pp. 1-4.
    Points out the negative association between wages and right-to-work laws, which affect both union and non-union workers.
    Related document at: http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/right-to-work-laws-and-bills.aspx
  • "State employees: Turnover rises in hot economy." By Jackie Benton and Bruce Wright. Fiscal Notes, May 2018, pp. 6-10.
    Notes Texas state government currently has the highest state employee turnover rate of the last five years, 18.6 percent in fiscal year 2017. Highlights the turnover crisis in correctional officers at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
  • "Transportation infrastructure: Keeping Texas moving." By Kevin McPherson, Jessica Donald and Bruce Wright. Fiscal Notes, May 2018, pp. 1, 3-5.
    Identifies Texas transportation funding needs for roads and highways, freight rail, transit, aviation, and ports through 2040, according to TxDOT's Texas Transportation Plan 2040. Report at: https://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/division/transportation-planning/statewide-plan/plan.html
  • "How tariffs hurt Texas companies and why they must be used cautiously." By Kevin Brady. Houston Business Journal, May 10, 2018, pp. 34.
    Discusses how increased tariffs on China are affecting Texas companies.
  • "Degenerate federalism." By Chris Pope. National Review, May 28, 2018, pp. 29-30, 32.
    Argues the major responsibilities of state governments, such as education and Medicaid, have become opportunities to claim federal funds and therefore shift costs to federal taxpayers. Proposes transforming matching fund programs to block grants to eliminate the incentive for states to inflate their expenditures.
  • "The wages of death." By Wesley Smith. National Review, May 28, 2018, pp. 16-18.
    Criticizes the expansion of assisted suicide and euthanasia laws. Claims that restrictions and strict guidelines do not guard against abuse.
  • "Power of the prosecutor." By Maya Wiley. New Republic, June 2018, pp. 9-10.
    Examines how prosecutors are reforming the criminal justice system from within instead of through the traditional legislative route. Discusses the sweeping drug policy reforms recently implemented in Philadelphia and former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins' establishment of the country's first Conviction Integrity Unit.
  • "The rise of the victims' rights movement." By Jill Lepore.New Yorker , May 21, 2018, pp. 48-50, 52-55.
    Examines the victims'-rights movement and its impact on the criminal justice system. Reviews the laws and court cases that have increased victims' input in criminal trials.
  • "How the politicization of history education led to Michigan's fall." By Gordon P. Andrews and Wilson J. Warren. Phi Delta Kappan, May 2018, pp. 19-24.
    Argues the decline in Michigan's public education system occurred in part due to power shifting from educators to a few state officials with limited or no experience in schools.
  • "When cancer was conquerable." By Sarah Constantin. Reason, June 2018, pp. 34-38.
    Proposes bringing back the sense of urgency found in early cancer chemotherapy research by streamlining regulatory processes, getting new drugs to doctors faster, and basing FDA approval on a drug's safety rather than its efficacy.
  • "How earthquakes are induced." By Thibault Candela, et al. Science, May 11, 2018, pp. 598-600.
    Considers conditions in the Earth's crust that determine whether and how human activities can induce earthquakes.
  • "Oversold?" By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, May 2018, pp. 32-34.
    Explores progress and setbacks in the first few months of legally dispensing cannabis oil to Texans with epilepsy.

The Legislative Reference Library compiles this weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. Professional librarians review and select articles from more than 300 periodicals, including public policy journals, specialized industry periodicals, news magazines, and state agency publications. Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles using our online form.

 

 

This entry was posted on May 24, 2018 at 3:15 PM and has received 1755 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of May 28, 2018

May 23

posted by TexasLRL in 85th Session, Interim hearings

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.

 

May 29

Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Aging

Topic: Brain health

 

May 31

Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (Pharr) 

Charge: Housing affordability, effect of local government

This entry was posted on May 23, 2018 at 10:00 AM and has received 1540 views. Print this entry.

Resource Highlight: Deceptive Trade Practices Act Collection

May 22

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On May 15, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Purdue Pharma for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) involving the company’s prescription opioids. 

 

Addressing the marketing of prescription opioid drugs is just one instance of the DTPA at work...and the Legislative Reference Library has a wealth of information about the Act. The 63rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session, created the DTPA in 1973 through HB 417 and its companion bill SB 75. In 2004, Joe K. Longley and Philip K. Maxwell donated documents to the LRL relating to the DTPA and its private remedies amendments.

 

In 2016, the DTPA collection was enhanced by the addition of the Mark L. Kincaid Papers. Kincaid, who was known as "The Policyholder's Lawyer," had a reputation for crafting public policy for the protection of insurance policy holders who had little or no ability to prevent abuses in the claims process. His records showcase efforts to curb tort reform and document the intent behind key legislation, and to monitor and influence changes to the DTPA.

 

Explore the LRL's Deceptive Trade Practices Act collection to view legislative drafts, transcripts of hearings, correspondence, news clippings, talking points, and other commentary, to gain a better understanding of the Act's legislative intent and history. You can search for specific keywords, types of documents, and by date ranges and/or bill numbers, or you can simply browse the collection.

 

This entry was posted on May 22, 2018 at 3:00 PM and has received 1595 views. Print this entry.

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