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Week in Review, August 13th

Aug 13

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Examine climate risks Texas and the southeastern U.S. may face. (Risky Business Project, July 2015)
  • Read about Google tracking air quality via its Street View cars. (Gizmag, July 30, 2015)
  • Consider the fate of statuary on the University of Texas at Austin campus. (UT News, August 10, 2015)
  • Review statistics related to guns and see how the U.S. compares to other countries. (Economist, August 10, 2015)
 
 

This entry was posted on August 13, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 1306 views. Print this entry.

Constitutional Amendment Election, November 2015

Aug 7

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation

On November 3, 2015, voters will have a chance to consider seven constitutional amendments proposed by the 84th Legislature. The proposed amendments cover a wide range of topics, including property taxes, transportation, state official residency requirements, and more.
 
For background and analysis of the ballot propositions, see the House Research Organization's Constitutional Amendments Proposed for Nov. 2015 Ballot, and the Texas Legislative Council's Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments.
 
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and it's still growing. The Constitution is changed through amendments, which are proposed by the Texas Legislature and accepted or rejected by the voters.
 
Since the current Texas Constitution was adopted in 1876, over 480 amendments have been accepted.  
 
Constitutional Amendments Proposed for the November 3, 2015 ballot
84th R.S.
Prop. 1
The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption, and prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.
84th R.S.
Prop. 2
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.
84th R.S.
Prop. 3
The constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital.
84th R.S.
Prop. 4
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles.
84th R.S.
Prop. 5
The constitutional amendment to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance.
84th R.S.
Prop. 6
The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation
84th R.S.
Prop. 7
The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.
 

 

This entry was posted on August 7, 2015 at 3:29 PM and has received 7255 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, August 6th

Aug 6

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Read about Texans who lack health insurance coverage. (Rice University's Baker Institute / Episcopal Health Foundation, July 2015)
  • Examine the relationship between health insurance coverage and income security. (The Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2015)
  • Compare the effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners on health. (National Geographic, August 3, 2015)
  • Consider recent changes to states' minimum wage laws. (Economic Policy Institute, July 24, 2015)
  • Trace the decline in newspaper industry jobs since 1990. (Poynter, July 30, 2015)
  • Track injuries state by state. (Trust for America's Health, June 2015)
 

This entry was posted on August 6, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 1182 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings – Week of August 10, 2015

Aug 4

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings – Week of August 10th

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.

 

August 11th

House Committee on Transportation

Topic: Update from the Department of Motor Vehicles on legislation passed in 84th or related issues

Topic: Utility relocation issues on state right-of-way construction and maintenance projects

Topic: Update on HB 1 from the 3rd called Special Session of the 83rd Legislative Session

 

Topic: Update on any proposed policy changes or revisions to the Unified Transportation Program (UTP)

Topic: Update on toll collection issues, contracts, and third party monitoring

Topic: Update on development of the ten year plans for Metropolitan Planning Organizations

 

This entry was posted on August 4, 2015 at 10:25 AM and has received 1699 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, July 30th

Jul 30

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
 
 

This entry was posted on July 30, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 1011 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, July 23rd

Jul 23

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
 

This entry was posted on July 23, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 1031 views. Print this entry.

Interim Hearings - Week of July 27, 2015

Jul 22

posted by TexasLRL in Interim hearings, 84th Session

Interim Hearings – Week of July 27th

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.

 

July 29th

Senate Committee on Health & Human Services

Charge: Examine the business practices and regulatory structure of Planned Parenthood affiliates in Texas, and investigate whether state or federal laws are being broken by Planned Parenthood and/or its affiliates in Texas in regards to the donation and/or sale of fetal tissue. Consider recommendations to strengthen regulations on abortion providers, including further restrictions on the sale of fetal tissue by these entities.

July 30th

House Committee on County Affairs

Topic: Jail standards, procedures with regards to potentially mentally ill persons in county jails, as well as issues stemming from interactions between the general public and peace officers.

 

 

This entry was posted on July 22, 2015 at 9:22 AM and has received 2167 views. Print this entry.

New Report: Sunset Commission Final Results, 2014-15

Jul 20

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Sunset review, Legislative process

The Sunset Commission’s last report of the 2014–2015 cycle, Final Results of Sunset Reviews, is now available on the Sunset Advisory Commission's website. 
 
"This comprehensive report briefly summarizes the final results of each Sunset review, including both legislative actions and nonstatutory management directives. Despite the failure of four bills, the 84th Legislature adopted 72 percent of the Commission’s 185 recommendations through Sunset legislation or other related legislation. The legislation is estimated to have a positive fiscal impact of some $38 million."
- Ken Levine, Director of the Sunset Advisory Commission
 
A diagram of how the Sunset process works is available via the Sunset Advisory Commission's website.  
 
 
 
 
 
Cover image by Pixabay user gsbarber.
 

This entry was posted on July 20, 2015 at 3:22 PM and has received 2581 views. Print this entry.

Week in Review, July 16th

Jul 16

posted by TexasLRL in Week in review

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.
  • Consider issues related to the proper care of unaccompanied alien children in federal custody. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, July 2015)
  • Review the effects of drought in the West and ways to manage water supplies in times of drought. (Western Governors' Association, June 2015)
  • Explore resources related to aging. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, accessed July 15, 2015)
  • Read about the NSA collecting telecommunications content of non-target Americans. (The Washington Post, July 5, 2015)
  • Looks at graphs representing the living arrangements of adults. (U.S. Census Bureau, accessed July 15, 2015)
  • Check out newly-developed athletic shoe technology for people with disabilities. (Huffington Post, July 14, 2015)
 
 

This entry was posted on July 16, 2015 at 3:15 PM and has received 1076 views. Print this entry.

Signed Copies of Bills from the 84th R.S.

Jul 15

posted by TexasLRL in Legislation, Legislative process

Signed copies of bills from the 84th and 83rd Legislatures, with session law chapter numbers, are made available online on the Secretary of State's Bills and Resolutions page.
 
You can determine whether a bill sent to the Governor was signed or filed without signature by checking the bill in the Texas Legislature Online. If the bill passed but was filed without signature, you will see the action "Filed without the Governor's signature."
 
Signed copies from the 78th - 83rd Legislatures are available online at the University of North Texas Laws and Resolutions Archive.
 
For questions about bill/chapter numbers for bills from the 84th R.S., please contact the Secretary of State's office at (512) 463-5561.
 

This entry was posted on July 15, 2015 at 2:30 PM and has received 1209 views. Print this entry.

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