• 20.03.43 / "Immediate and robust policy response needed in face of grave risks to the economy." By Sharon Parrott, et al. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, March 19, 2020, pp. 1-19.
  Outlines policy proposals to mitigate the decline in economic activity during the spread of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Summarizes provisions in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act of interest to states, including increased federal share of Medicaid funding, new paid sick leave, new flexibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and state unemployment insurance. Argues additional policy responses to address the broader economic consequences are necessary.
• 20.03.44 / "Coronavirus: What child welfare systems need to think about." By John Kelly and Kim Hansel. Chronicle of Social Change, March 11, 2020, pp. 1-8.
  Discusses the effect of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19, on foster care and child welfare agencies, including the effects on child maltreatment investigations, nutrition, visitation and reunification, and other child welfare services.
• 20.03.45 / "Climate change: Green Texas." Economist, March 14th-20th, 2020, pp. 20-21.
  Examines factors advancing the renewable energy boom in several oil-producing states. Questions whether the shift to greener energy will change attitudes towards climate change.
• 20.03.46 / "Oil prices: Scorched earth." Economist, March 14th-20th, 2020, pp. 58-59.
  Considers the economic impact of an oil-price war, compounded by a viral pandemic, on shale oil and gas states, such as Texas, and on the American shale oil and gas industry.
• 20.03.47 / "House coronavirus bill would direct billions to schools, fund remote learning." By Andrew Ujifusa. Education Week, March 23, 2020, pp. 1-2.
  Breaks down $50 billion in emergency funding proposed by the United States House of Representatives to stabilize states' education budgets in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Includes a fact sheet about the education provisions of the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act, along with the text of the bill.
• 20.03.48 / "Governors' top education priorities in 2020 state of the state addresses." By Brian Kelley and Erin Whinnery. Internet Resource, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-10.
  Highlights trends in public education policy accomplishments and proposals featured in 43 governors' State of the State addresses delivered in 2020.
• 20.03.49 / "How to protect the 2020 vote from the coronavirus." By Wendy R. Weiser and Max Feldman. Internet Resource, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-10.
  Recommends strategies for conducting free, fair, accessible, and secure elections considering the new challenges to election administration as a result of the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. Offers suggestions related to polling place modification, expanded early voting, voting by mail, voter registration modification, including expanding online registration, and voter education.
• 20.03.50 / "Paid sick leave is much less common for lower-wage workers in private industry." By Gary Claxton and Larry Levitt. Internet Resource, March 2020, pp. 1-4.
  Observes that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to employers' sick leave policies. Points out that lower-wage workers are much more likely to lack access to paid sick leave, and are also more likely to be in positions requiring considerable interaction with the general public.
• 20.03.51 / "Schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: How emergency education savings accounts can meet the needs of every American child." By Lindsey M. Burke. Internet Resource, March 20, 2020, pp. 1-7.
  Suggests Education Savings Accounts [ESAs] could ease the transition of children learning from home as a result of the coronavirus disase, COVID-19, by providing parents resources to pay for education-related services and products. Recommends an ESA be established for each student with a prorated percentage of what each state would have spend on education.
• 20.03.52 / "The effects of hospital consolidation in Colorado." By Jared Gaby-Biegel. Issue Brief (Center for Economic and Policy Research), March 2020, pp. 1-17.
  Examines the impact of hospital consolidation on residents across all regions of Colorado. Points out important lessons policymakers can learn from Colorado's experience when crafting future health care reforms.
• 20.03.53 / "Discussing the ABCs of health security — antibiotic resistance, biothreats, and coronavirus" By Angel N. Desai. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), March 10, 2020, pp. 912-914.
  Interviews health security expert Dr. Tom Inglesby of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, on topics including infections disease outbreaks (highlighting COVID-19), biothreats, and government and public health infrastructure preparedness.
• 20.03.54 / "Innovation and 'new energy'." By Mark P. Mills. National Review, March 23, 2020, pp. 39-40.
  Argues comparisons of the digital technology revolution to the potential of a clean energy "revolution" are faulty because the same scale of growth cannot be reached with the energy technology and mining capabilities available today. Explains "clean technologies" such as batteries, windmills, and solar panels would require a hugh increase in the tonnage of minerals currently extracted.
• 20.03.55 / "How COVID-19 could impact Texas' economy and real estate markets." By James P. Gaines, et al. Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, March 16, 2020, pp. 1-2.
  Briefly discusses the possible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on oil prices, housing markets, and commercial real estate.
• 20.03.56 / "State legislative responses to COVID-19." By Katherine Loughead, et al. Tax Foundation, Updated March 23, 2020, p. 1.
  Tracks state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of budet and tax policy. Includes legislative meeting and adjournment dates, possible schedule adjustments being contemplated or made in response to the pandemic, the status of the state's budget, and the state's rainy day fund [RDF] balance as a percentage of the prior year's general fund budget. Updated periodically.
• 20.03.57 / "Oil and gas matters." By Bernard F. Clark and Ellen Conley. Texas Bar Journal, March 2020, pp. 156-158.
  Discusses the protection of oil and gas interests, first purchaser statutes, and the In re SemCrude, L.P. decisions related to the security interest of producers in bankruptcy estates. Compares the Texas First Purchaser Statute which predates SemCrude, and Oklahoma's Oil and Gas Owners' Lien Acts of 1988 and 2010. Argues Oklahoma's amended statute better protects producers' claims.
• 20.03.58 / "The PMP requirement begins." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, March 2020, pp. 29-30.
  Points out that legislation is now in effect requiring physicians to check PMP Aware, the state's prescription monitoring program, before prescribing opioids. Notes that Representative J.D. Sheffield passed HB3284, 86th Legislature, to delay the effective date of the mandate and ensure smoother integration of systems.
• 20.03.59 / "As the first coronavirus vaccine human trials begin, manufacturer is already preparing to scale production to millions." By Alice Park. Time, March 23, 2020 pp. 1-3.
  Reports on a study of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine being conducted by Moderna Therapeutics. Notes the vaccine testing will take at least a year to complete but valuable information regarding how the immune system can combat the virus can be obtained sooner.

• Consider state action related to unregulated water wells. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 2020)
• Review Governor Abbott's People 2020 Report to the of Texas. (Office of the Texas Governor, March 9, 2020)
• Read about legal considerations regarding authority to quarantine communities. (Health Affairs, March 10, 2020)
• Explore the use of child safety seats in rideshare vehicles. (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, February 25, 2020)

• See which states are considering or have enacted legislation related to Daylight Saving Time. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 4, 2020)
• Review federal and state laws that may have an impact on workplace leave for individuals affected by the coronavirus. (Congressional Research Service, March 6, 2020)
• Read about the 39-state investigation of Juul Labs. (Attorney General of Texas, February 25, 2020)
• Note that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 6, 2020)

• 20.03.01 / "Will the ERA cross the finish line?" By Stacy Teicher Khadaroo. Christian Science Monitor, February 24, 2020, p. 15.
  Discusses the legal situation regarding ratification by the 38th state of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) including the effect of final ratifications happening after a Congressional deadline. Considers whether the amendment is still needed and explains potential opposition to it.
• 20.03.02 / "Students say Republicans have made it harder for them to vote in some states." By Danielle McLean. Chronicle of Higher Education, February 28, 2020, pp. 18-19.
  Examines how students at various college campuses believe they have been the victim of voter suppression attempts. Includes a discussion of Abilene Christian University students and the effect of a law passed by the Texas Legislature (HB1888, 86th Legislature) banning early voting locations that do not remain open through the entirety of early voting.
• 20.03.03 / "Business and the next recession: Downturn, disrupted." Economist, February 22nd-28th, 2020, pp. 61-63.
  Reports the impact of the next recession will be affected by economic changes since the 2007 recession: the dominance of the digital world, the social context shift, and too much corporate debt.
• 20.03.04 / "Church-run charter schools? Court arguments stir discussion." By Evie Blad. Education Week, February 12, 2020, pp. 6-7.
  Addresses the possibility of church-run charter schools presented during oral arguments for the United States Supreme Court case Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue on January 29, 2020, a case that challenges the barring of public tax credits for religious schools.
• 20.03.05 / "New funding for early education: New law increases funding for Texas' youngest students." By Peggy Fikac. Fiscal Notes, February 2020, pp. 1, 3-5.
  Highlights the state's new investment in early childhood education in HB3, 86th Legislature, through the $835 million Early Education Allotment. Looks at how the new funding will assist economically disadvantaged students and pre-Kindergarten in Texas.
• 20.03.06 / "Health policy brief: Precarious work schedules and population health." By Kristen Harknett and Daniel Schneider. Internet Resource, February 2020, pp. 1-6.
  Asserts that unstable and unpredictable work schedules are correlated with poor health outcomes for adults, challenges with child care arrangements, and behavioral problems in young children. Notes that several cities and one state have passed laws to regulate scheduling practices.
• 20.03.07 / "When state policy makes national politics: The case of 'Obamacare' marketplace implementation." By Samuel Trachtman. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law, February 2020, pp. 111-141. (Note length)
  Examines how state-level implementation of the Affordable Care Act can affect the national-level political implications of the law. Concludes that state legislators often implement federal law in ways that benefit their political parties more than their constituents.
• 20.03.08 / "Rural America doesn't have to starve to death." By Nick Shaxson. Nation, March 2/9, 2020, pp. 12-17.
  Contrasts increased farming wealth in United States agribusiness with a financial "hollowing" and increased poverty of small rural farming communities. Includes the economic impact of concentrated animal feeding operations [CAFOs], also known as factory farms.
• 20.03.09 / "Beneficial electrification test to assess benefits and costs: To achieve widespread decarbonization." By M. Sami Khawaja, et al. Public Utilities Fortnightly, February 10, 2020, pp. 24-29, 51.
  Considers using a benefit cost analysis [BCA] framework to evaluate electrification investments.
• 20.03.10 / "Massage parlor panic." By Elizabeth Nolan Brown. Reason, March 2020, pp. 17-24.
  Discusses the growing focus on human trafficking in terms of raids and stings directed at massage parlors. Argues little evidence of human trafficking has been found in these cases. Concludes these efforts become immigration stings that target Asian women, thereby doing more harm than help to these "victims."
• 20.03.11 / "What's killing the monarchs?" By Gabriel Popkin. Scientific American, March 2020, pp. 17-24.
  Covers different theories about why the monarch butterfly population is declining and how scientists are trying to determine the cause or causes.
• 20.03.12 / "Stop milking it, dairy farmers tell plant-based competitors." By Marsha Mercer. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), March 2, 2020, pp. 1-5.
  Discusses the debate over labeling regulations for plant-based milk and food products. Points out states that have introduced milk labeling bills.
• 20.03.13 / "Not seeing eye to eye." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, February 2020, pp. 25-27.
  Debates the legislative intent of the Texas Optometry Act (SB781, 61st Legislature, R.S.) regarding a Texas Optometry Board rule preventing physicians from employing optometrists while leasing their office space from an optician.
• 20.03.14 / "Preserving 'do no harm'." By Joey Berlin. Texas Medicine, February 2020, pp. 22-23.
  Summarizes the judicial history of Kelly v. Houston Methodist Hospital, which is attempting to overturn a provision of the Texas Advance Directives Act (SB1260, 76th Legislature).
• 20.03.15 / "The changing landscape of the Texas Citizens Participation Act." By Laura Lee Prather and Robert T. Sherwin. Texas Tech Law Review, Winter 2020, pp. 163-198. (Note length)
  Discusses how HB2730, 86th Legislature, amended the Texas Citizens Participation Act (TCPA), which allows defendants the ability to file a motion to dismiss a legal action, including a SLAPP [Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation] suit, if it is based on the right of free speech, right to petition, or right of association. Examines how these changes will affect pending issues within Texas courts of appeals, including awarding sanctions and the TCPA's applicability to trade secret cases, attorney discipline cases, and employment disputes. Identifies remaining open questions related to pre-suit requests for discovery and the new definitions of "matter of public concern" and "right of association."
• 20.03.16 / "Battle for the ballot." By Vera Bergengruen. Time, March 2/9, 2020, p. 76.
  Reports that this year, 29 states have introduced legislation that will expand voting rights while 15 states have filed bills making it harder to vote. Includes discussion of voter registration in Texas.

• Find out what you need to bring to the polls in order to vote. (Texas Secretary of State, February 24, 2020)
• Track COVID-19 cases on a global scale. (Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, updated February 11, 2020)
• Explore the Smithsonian's repository of 2-and 3-dimensional images released into the public domain. (Smithsonian Magazine, February 25, 2020)
• Search the Purple Book, the FDA's database of FDA-approved biological products. (United States Food and Drug Administration, accessed February 26, 2020)

• 20.02.24  /  "Innocence detectives." By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, February 17, 2020, pp. 22-28.
  Profiles the House of Renewed Hope, a Dallas nonprofit organization run by Christopher Scott and Steven Phillips, two men exonerated for crimes they did not commit after spending a combined 37 years in prison. Highlights their work to exonerate other prisoners.
• 20.02.25  /  "At Texas State, the culture war comes to campus." By Michael Vasquez. Chronicle of Higher Education, February 14, 2020, pp. A8-A12, A14.
  Discusses recent disruptive events at Texas State University as a sign of the increasingly sharp racial and political divisions in the country. Highlights controversies between a conservative student and Kelly Stone, a lecturer in a sexuality class, who ultimately lost her teaching position. Mentions Stone is now running for a spot on the Texas Railroad Commission.
• 20.02.26  /  "This university's board has the power to fire anyone — 'even down to the janitor'." By Lindsay Ellis. Chronicle of Higher Education, February 14, 2020, pp. A18-A19.
  Highlights the Texas Southern University Board of Regents' recent bylaws change, which gives them power to fire any university employee, and the board's action to place President Austin A. Lane on administrative leave while they review potential improprieties in admissions. Comments the bylaws change could run afoul of accreditation standards and is not considered a "best practice" for boards.
• 20.02.27  /  "The border of business." By Jessica Corso. Dallas Business Journal, February 14, 2020, pp. 24-25.
  Discusses how the North American Free Trade Agreement [NAFTA]'s renegotiation as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement [USMCA] could impact Texas businesses.
• 20.02.28  /  "The economics of migration: Delayed reaction." Economist, February 15th-21st, 2020, pp. 19-20.
  Examines whether a decline in America's immigrant population is connected to the nearly ten percent increase in wages of people without a high school diploma.
• 20.02.29  /  "Hospital use declines after implementation of Virginia Medicaid's addiction and recovery treatment services." By Andrew J. Barnes, et al. Health Affairs, February 2020, pp. 238-246.
  Considers the effects of Virginia's application of a Section 1115 waiver to reforming its Medicaid substance use disorder [SUD] treatment services. Found that treatment for opioid use disorder [OUD] increased, while emergency department and inpatient hospital use decreased among Medicaid beneficiaries with OUD.
• 20.02.30  /  "Explaining Texas v. U.S.: A guide to the case challenging the ACA." By MaryBeth Musumeci. Internet Resource, January 2020, pp. 1-10.
  Addresses common questions about Texas v. U.S. and the status of the Affordable Care Act. Includes infographic timelines, a map indicating states' positions on the litigation, and flowchart of potential outcomes.
• 20.02.31  /  "Revisiting the proposal for a wealth tax." By Jack Salmon and Veronique de Rugy. Policy Brief (Mercatus Center, George Mason University), February 7, 2020, pp. 1-13.
  Discusses the political debate about implementing a progressive wealth tax. Evaluates the potential outcomes of such a policy if implemented in the United States.
• 20.02.32  /  "Affordable utility service: Advice to regulators." By Kenneth Costello. Public Utilities Fortnightly, February 1, 2020, pp. 78-81.
  Discusses different kinds of energy assistance used to address affordability problems and how effective the assistance is.
• 20.02.33  /  "Navigable Waters Protection Rule to replace WOTUS." By Jessica Domel. Texas Agriculture, February 7, 2020, p. 12.
  Compares the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule [NWPR] with the 2015 Waters of the United States [WOTUS] rule. Proposes the NWPR will reduce regulatory uncertainty and limit federal control under the Clean Water Act.
• 20.02.34  /  "Clearing the haze." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, February 2020, pp. 16-21.
  Considers the problem of e-cigarettes and EVALI [e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury], particularly as they relate to teenagers' rising use of vaping products. Notes that vaping is subject to SB21, 86th Legislature, which forbids the sale of tobacco or vaping products to anyone under 21.
• 20.02.35  /  "News from America's best medical society." By Joey Berlin, Steve Levine, and David Doolittle. Texas Medicine, February 2020, pp. 10, 12, 14.
  Highlights current policy issues of interest to Texas physicians, including the Texas Department of Insurance's emergency rule regarding surprise billing and SB1264, 86th Legislature; federal legislation on surprise billing; and extending postpartum Medicaid coverage.

• Explore trends in workforce development. (National Conference of State Legislatures, February 4, 2020)
• Read about identity and community in Black Americans. (Pew Research Center, February 5, 2020)
• Review President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2021. (The White House, February 10, 2020)
• Consider ways to prevent children from accessing adults' prescription medication. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 12, 2020)

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

• See how states are planning for more extreme weather events and natural disasters. (Stateline, January 29, 2020)
• Explore the differences among Americans relating to their preferred news sources. (Pew Research Center, January 24, 2020)
• Read about federal funding for women's health services in Texas. (Texas Health and Human Services Commission, January 24, 2020)
• Consider how Americans like to spend their spare time. (Gallup, January 24, 2020)

• Explore trends in criminal justice reforms by state. (The Sentencing Project, January 2020)
• See maps of where Americans are least active. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 16, 2020)
• Find out if you are registered to vote before the deadline for registering to vote in the March primary election. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed January 22, 2020)
• Review the Administrative Law Handbook 2020. (Texas Attorney General, 2020)