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

• Consider the safety of food packaging. (Consumer Reports, March 24, 2022)
• Search for which corporations have violated rules and broken laws. (Good Jobs First, ©2022)
• Review which states offer protections for monarch butterflies. (Stateline, March 28, 2022)
• Find out ways to share large files online. (Popular Science, March 26, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 31, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 568 views. Print this entry.

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas.

March 31, 2022
House Committee on House Administration
The committee will consider:

• An interim budget for the Select Committee on Health Care Reform.
• A budget for the Criminal Justice Reform, Interim Study.

This entry was posted on March 25, 2022 at 9:30 AM and has received 535 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore partisan polarization in today's U.S. Congress. (Pew Research Center, March 10, 2022)
• Submit damage reports from recent wildfires and tornadoes. (Texas Division of Emergency Management, accessed March 23, 2022)
• Find out how to block spam calls and text messages. (Wired, March 12, 2022)
• Review the spring weather and climate outlook for the U.S. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, March 17, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 24, 2022 at 3:25 PM and has received 478 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our March 2022 New & Noteworthy list.

Check out and delivery of New & Noteworthy titles is available to legislative staff in Capitol and District offices. To arrange check out and delivery of any of these items, you can submit an online request through the New & Noteworthy page on our website, contact the library at 512-463-1252.

In honor of Women's History Month, we are highlighting books about women's history in Texas.

1. Women's Suffrage in Texas: Struggle, the Story: Successes, Notable Firsts: Senators, Women of the Texas Senate
By Texas Senate
Reflects on the legislative efforts, struggle for suffrage, and achievements of women in Texas in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment. Provides brief biographies of significant women in Texas, including former and current Texas Senators. Notes that since the first woman was elected to a statewide office a century ago, Texas women have served at every level of state and local government.
Texas Senate, 2019, 63 pages
L1803.8 W842 2019

 

 

2. Women in Texas History
By Angela Boswell
Provides a chronological overview of women's history in Texas, from Native American Texas to the end of the twentieth century. Considers physical, geographic, legal, political, social, and cultural factors that challenged and shaped Texas women's roles in creating the state of Texas. Highlights women in politics, including former Governor Ann Richards and state legislators such as former Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison, former U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan, U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, former Representative Irma Rangel, Representative Senfronia Thompson, and other political female "firsts."
Texas A&M University Press, 2018, 345 pages
305.409764 B657W 2018

 

 

3. Texas Women First: Leading Ladies of Lone Star History
By Sherrie S. McLeRoy
Celebrates the contributions and achievements of a mix of unconventional, trailblazing women in the Lone Star state. Profiles famous and not so famous women who broke barriers in areas as diverse as aeronautics, government, arts and entertainment, business, education, medicine, law, military, and social justice. Highlights memorable "firsts" accomplished by Texas women including former Representative Frances 'Sissy' Farenthold, and former Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison.
The History Press, 2015, 188 pages
979 M154T 2015

 

 

4. Texas Women: Their Histories, Their Lives
By Elizabeth Hayes Turner, Stephanie Cole, and Rebecca Sharpless, editors
Compiles a collection of biographies and essays of Texas women showing the racial, class, and religious diversity of the Lone Star State, from the Spanish colonial era to the twenty-first century. Explores the lives of Native American, European, African American, and Hispanic women and their impact on Texas. Focuses on a range of topics, including the influence of Spanish law, slavery, higher education, equal rights, civil rights, politics, business, ranching, and the arts. Provides essays on Oveta Culp Hobby and former U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan.
The University of Georgia Press, 2015, 526 pages
305.409764 T852T 2015

 

 

5. Texas Dames: Sassy and Savvy Women Throughout Lone Star History
By Carmen Goldthwaite
Highlights the stories of 53 Texas women and their accomplishments from early Tejas to the mid-twentieth century. Details how these courageous "Dames" broke both gender and racial barriers in education, ministry, business, entertainment, athletics, medicine, and politics to become the "firsts" in their fields. Includes former Representative Edith Eunice Wilmans.
The History Press, 2012, 157 pages
976.4 G58T 2012

 

 

6. Texas Through Women's Eyes: The Twentieth-Century Experience
By Judith N. McArthur and Harold L. Smith
Offers an overview of women's achievements in Texas throughout the twentieth century with a focus on rural, working-class, and minority women. Discusses women's roles in working for social and political reform, the right to vote, better opportunities in education and the workforce, and civil rights. Provides a selection of primary documents including letters, memoirs, and oral histories.
University of Texas Press, 2010, 295 pages
305.4209764 M127T 2010

 

 

7. Black Women in Texas History
By Bruce A. Glasrud and Merline Pitre, editors.
Explores how African American women have affected the culture and history of Texas while also showing how they have been shaped by the larger culture. Compiles essays written by era experts to provide a survey of African American women's experiences through time and themes, including slavery and freedom, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Era, and more. Argues that often-disenfranchised black women actively pursued ways to make their voices heard and build community. Highlights former U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan.
Texas A&M University Press, 2008, 248 pages
325.26 B64W 2008

 

 

8. Capitol Women: Texas Female Legislators, 1923-1999
By Nancy Baker Jones and Ruthe Winegarten
Examines the Texas Legislature through the experiences and history of the women who have served or are currently serving as legislators from January 1923 to January 1999. Includes 4 essays for cultural context and profiles on all 86 women who have served in that window of time through 58 chronologically arranged biographies, and 28 “snapshots.
University of Texas Press, 2000, 328 pages
328.764 J722C

 

This entry was posted on March 21, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 775 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the family budget map and calculator. (Economic Policy Institute, March 2022)
• Consider whether navigation tools suggest the safest routes for driving trips. (Texas A&M University Engineering, February 21, 2022)
• Find data related to bridges maintained by TxDOT. (Texas Department of Transportation, updated March 15, 2022)
• Track testing locations of automated driving systems. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, accessed March 16, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 17, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 573 views. Print this entry.

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.

March 21
House Committee on Human Services
Consider Department of Family and Protective Services, Department of Public Safety, and Health and Human Services Commission actions related to security and safety of Texas youth in state-licensed facilities, the efficacy of investigative and regulatory processes, and what further action can be taken to ensure child safety.

• Letter to Governor Abbott (Re: investigation into reports of sex trafficking at the shelter The Refuge in Bastrop), Director Steven McCraw, Department of Public Safety, March 16, 2022, accessed from "Texas Rangers Confirm Investigation Into Nude Photos of Children at Bastrop Shelter But Find 'No Evidence' of Sex Abuse," Texas Tribune, March 16, 2022
• Foster and Licensed Facility Placements Resource Guide, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Updated January 2022
• Children Without Placement, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, September 2021
• Child Protective Services (Website), Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Receive an update on the ongoing lawsuit and its impact on foster care capacity and other impacts on the child welfare system.

• M.D. v. Greg Abbott (No. 2:11-cv-00084), U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Corpus Christi Division, Court Listener, Last updated March 17, 2022
• HHSC/DFPS Response to the Report of the Expert Panel on Recommendations for Improving Texas' Safe Placement and Services for Children, Youth and Families, Texas Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Court Listener, February 14, 2022
• Recommendations for Improving Texas' Safe Placement and Services for Children, Youth and Families: Report of the Expert Panel Appointed Under the Collaboration Agreement of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the M.D. v. Abbott Plaintiffs, Casey Family Programs, Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Independent Consultant, January 10, 2022
• Compliance Status Report: M.D., bnf Stukenberg, et al. v. Abbott, et al., Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, January 2022
• Foster Care Litigation (Reports and court orders), Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Review implementation of child welfare legislation passed by the 87th Legislature.

• Child Care Regulation Provider Letter (Implementation of HB 525, 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021), Texas Health and Human Services Commission, February 2, 2022
• Foster Care Rate Modernization: Semi-Annual Progress Report, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, February 2022
• Quarterly Report, Office of Community Based-Care Transition Implementation Status, December 1, 2021, Revised as of January 3, 2022
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Reports and Presentations, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
• Rider-Related Reports (87th Texas Legislature), Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

This entry was posted on March 17, 2022 at 2:15 PM and has received 474 views. Print this entry.

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

• Find state legislation and resolutions that would adopt Daylight Saving Time year-round if Congress were to allow it. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 8, 2022)
• Review guidance related to network infrastructure security. (National Security Agency, March 2022)
• Explore oil and gas production data by county. (Railroad Commission of Texas, updated February 2022)
• Consider the frequency of tax audits on low-income wage earners. (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, March 8, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 10, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 939 views. Print this entry.

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.

• March 8
  • Senate Committee on Border Security
• March 9
  • Senate Committee on Business and Commerce

March 8
Senate Committee on Border Security
To consider and adopt the Committee rules and conduct any other organizational business deemed necessary by the Chair.
To receive an overview of Operation Lone Star, specifically, the legal, operational, and financial parameters facing the state in addressing the declared disaster at the Texas-Mexico border.

• "Governor Abbott, DPS, Texas National Guard Mark One Year Anniversary of Operation Lone Star" (Press Release), Office of the Texas Governor, March 4, 2022
• Southwest Land Border Encounters (Interactive demographic charts), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Last Modified February 18, 2022
• "Governor Abbott Opens Operation Lone Star Jail Booking Facility in Jim Hogg County" (Press Release), Office of the Texas Governor, February 8, 2022
• Letter from State Representatives Alma Allen, Rafael Anchía, et al., to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, U.S. Department of Justice, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Operation Lone Star), January 26, 2022
• Border Crisis (Information Packet), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, January 24, 2022
• Summary of Appropriations for the 2022 – 2023 Biennium, Regular Session, Second Called Session, and Third Called Session (Border security funding – Operation Lone Star), Legislative Budget Board, January 2022
• "Governor Abbott Announces an Additional $38.4 Million in Funding for Operation Lone Star" (Press Release), Office of the Texas Governor, December 20, 2021
• Texas Border Crime and Other Criminal Activity Report, Texas Department of Public Safety, May 30, 2021
• Texas Border Security Statistics, Texas Department of Public Safety
• Border Crisis Update, Office of the Texas Governor

March 9
Senate Committee on Business and Commerce
Review of actions taken by ERCOT, the PUC, and other entities to ensure reliability of the electric grid during the 2021-2022 Winter Season.
Implementation of SB 3 and related legislation, including ongoing rulemaking and proposed changes to the ERCOT market design.

• Severe Cold Weather Events & Critical Infrastructure in Texas (Blog – Links to resources on the response of ERCOT, the PUC, and other state and federal agencies), Legislative Reference Library, February 17, 2022
• Brazos Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. v. Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (No. 21-03863), U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (Court Listener)

This entry was posted on March 7, 2022 at 8:30 AM and has received 657 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore how much revenue the states get from taxes, the federal government, and other sources. (Pew Charitable Trusts, February 24, 2022)
• Consider how ambient air quality was affected after high-profile emergency events such as Winter Storm Uri. (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, January 28, 2022)
• Review information about Russia's nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons policies. (Congressional Research Service, March 1, 2022)
• Read about the powdered infant formula recall. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, February 28, 2022)

Librarians review and select articles from more than 1,000 print and online sources to compile a weekly annotated list of Current Articles of interest to the legislative community. View this week's Current Articles.

Members of the Texas legislative community may request articles by using our online form or by calling 512-463-1252.

This entry was posted on March 3, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 625 views. Print this entry.