In this weekly post, we feature helpful research tools and recent articles of interest to the legislative community.
- Compare citation in lieu of arrest policies among the states. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 18, 2019)
- Track cases of EV-D68 and its association with acute flaccid myelitis. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, March 29, 2019)
- Consider whether automakers should be held accountable for auto accidents. (Regulation, Spring 2019)
- Read about the gender wage gap by occupation. (Institute for Women's Policy Research, April 2019)
Members of the Texas legislative community may request the articles below here or by calling 512-463-1252.
- "A jolt to the system." By Mary Ellen McIntire. CQ Weekly, March 25, 2019, pp. 14-18, 20, 22-23.
Discusses how "Medicare for All" or a single-payer health care system could affect health care and the economy in the United States. Suggests health care will be a significant but divisive issue in the 2020 elections. - "New frontier in old war." By Sandhya Raman. CQ Weekly, March 4, 2019, pp. 23-26.
Addresses medication abortions and the conflicts surrounding access to the procedure. Discusses pending litigation that could change the future of medication abortion. - "Cyberdefense for Texas state government: Public data systems, infrastructure under attack." By Jackie Benton. Fiscal Notes, March 2019, pp. 7-10.
Reviews the tougher cybersecurity requirements and the state's implementation of the Texas Cybersecurity Act (HB8, 85th Legislature, R.S.) and the Texas Cybercrime Act (HB9, 85th Legislature, R.S.) and cybersecurity appropriations in the 2018-19 state budget. Interviews Representative Giovanni Capriglione. - "Texas cybersecurity: Protecting data systems: Texans lose big to cybercrime." By Courtney King. Fiscal Notes, March 2019, pp. 1, 3-6.
Charts annual costs of cybercrime by industry sector and compares Texas to other states in terms of cybercrime victims and financial losses. Describes cybersecurity efforts in Texas and the labor shortage of information security analysts. - "Texas brew." By Marcie Richter. Fort Worth Business Press, March 25-31, 2019, pp. 12-13.
Addresses efforts by craft spirits distilleries and breweries to lift restrictive laws relating to the sale of products to-go. Argues changes are necessary in order for these smaller craft businesses to succeed. - "2018 in review: Remote vendor nexus." By Steve Oldroyd and Todd Faciana. Journal of State Taxation, Spring 2019, pp. 21-26.
Reviews sales-and-use tax developments of 2018 that affect remote vendors, including the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair. - "Warning: The plastic crisis is about to get worse: Fracking triggered a production boom – with toxic consequences." By Zoe Carpenter. Nation, April 1, 2019, pp. 12-17, 26.
Discusses expansion of plastics production and the petrochemical industry in the United States, including new and expanded facilities, pipelines, and shipping infrastructure. Highlights a dispute about Exxon's site for Project Yosemite on farmland north of Corpus Christi and citizen concerns in Portland, Texas. Mentions Governor Greg Abbott. - "A low cost LEGO house decree!" By Michael Hendrix. National Review, March 25, 2019, pp. 22-23.
Considers modular construction as a way to alleviate the housing shortage by cutting construction time in half and reducing costs by up to 20 percent. Describes modular construction as offsite manufacturing of prefabricated units that are later assembled on-site. - "Scoot over: Get ready for rental mopeds." By Eric Boehm. Reason, May 2019, p. 17.
Identifies rental mopeds as the next feature in the "micromobility" trend hitting cities. Suggests mopeds have advantages over scooters such as better visibility for other motorists, seating for two riders, higher speeds, and storage compartments for helmets. - "Gun-rights counties vow to resist new restrictions." By Matt Vasilogambros. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), April 2, 2019, pp. 1-7.
Reports more than two hundred counties are pushing back against state legislatures — refusing to enforce new state laws that restrict gun access. - "STAAR wars." By Mimi Swartz. Texas Monthly, April 2019, pp. 50-60.
Profiles educators and education advocates and their concerns with the readability level of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness [STAAR] test. Includes past efforts to study and reevaluate the reading section of the test. - "Black market wildlife." By Russell Roe. Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, April 2019, pp. 32-37.
Investigates the illegal wildlife trade in Texas. Examines how illegally taken and smuggled wildlife can affect Texas' ecosystems.
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.
