As the 88th Legislature draws to a close, a series of end-of-session deadlines begin to take effect. Below is a list of deadlines that occur next week:

• Wednesday, May 17: Deadline for the House to distribute its last House Local and Consent Calendar with local House bills (HBs).
• Friday, May 19: Last day for the House to consider local House bills on Local and Consent Calendar on second and third reading.
  First day the Senate can consider bills and resolutions the first day they are posted on the Senate Notice of Intent Calendar.
• Saturday, May 20: Last day for House committees to report Senate bills (SBs) and Senate joint resolutions (SJRs).
• Sunday, May 21: Deadline for the House to distribute its last House Daily Calendar with Senate bills and Senate joint resolutions.

House and Senate calendars are available on the Texas Legislature Online.

Bill statistics for the period of November 14, 2022 — May 5, 2023, are below.

Last week's bill statistics:

• Bill Statistics & Upcoming Deadlines, May 1, 2023

This entry was posted on May 8, 2023 at 4:30 PM and has received 969 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the Health Costs, Coverage and Delivery State Legislation database. (National Conference of State Legislatures, updated April 21, 2023)
• Consider how graphic paper shortages are affecting the mail. (Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service, April 20, 2023)
• Discover how much privacy you have in your car, by VIN. (Privacy4Cars, accessed May 3, 2023)
• Read about how state legislatures and regulators are addressing concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) systems. (State Net Insights, April 21, 2023)

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 May 4, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 629 views. Print this entry.

As the 88th Legislature draws to a close, a series of end-of-session deadlines begin to take effect. Below is a list of deadlines that occur next week:

• Monday, May 8: Last day for House committees to report House bills (HBs) and House joint resolutions (HJRs).
• Tuesday, May 9: Deadline for the House to distribute the last House Daily Calendar with House bills and House joint resolutions.
• Wednesday, May 10: Deadline for the House to distribute the last House Local and Consent Calendar with consent House bills.
• Thursday, May 11: Last day for the House to consider House bills and House joint resolutions on second reading on the House Daily or Supplemental Calendar.
• Friday, May 12: Last day for the House to consider consent House bills on second and third reading on the Local and Consent Calendar and all third reading House bills or House joint resolutions on the House Supplemental Calendar.

House and Senate calendars are available on Texas Legislature Online.

Bill statistics for the period of November 14, 2022 — April 28, 2023, are below.

This entry was posted on May 2, 2023 at 10:15 AM and has received 1127 views. Print this entry.

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

• Consider findings of a survey related to teens and social media. (Pew Research Center, April 24, 2023)
• Explore traffic count maps. (Texas Department of Transportation, accessed April 25, 2023)
• Review food safety tips related to outdoor grilling. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, last reviewed March 28, 2023)
• Read about the Municipal Drinking Water Database. (PLOS Water, April 10, 2023)

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 April 27, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 349 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore TEA’s 2021 snapshot. (Texas Education Agency, accessed April 19, 2023)
• Track reports of artificial intelligence (AI) incidents resulting in negative consequences. (Responsible AI Collaborative, accessed April 19, 2023)
• Consider how Americans are using podcasts as a source of news. (Pew Research Center, April 18, 2023)
• Read about financial disclosure requirements applicable to U.S. Supreme Court Justices. (Congressional Research Service, April 14, 2023)
• Check to see if you have been involved in a data breach. (ZDNET, April 15, 2023)

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 April 20, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 482 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore maps that show how cities allocate real estate to parking lots. (Parking Reform Network, accessed April 13, 2023)
• Find millions of open access images. (Smithsonian Institution, accessed April 13, 2023)
• Consider how behavioral advertising impacts consumers. (SSRN, March 23, 2023)
• Read about rural doctor shortages across America. (KFF Health News, April 11, 2023)

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 April 13, 2023 at 3:14 PM and has received 413 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our April 2023 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 or contact the library at 512-463-1252.

1. Major Issues of the 87th Legislature
By House Research Organization
Presents a selection of bills, arranged by subject, from the 87th Legislature that became law and some that did not. Includes bills from the regular and three called special sessions. Provides summaries of the legislation and arguments offered for and against each measure as it was debated.
House Research Organization, 2023, 165 pages
L1801.9 ST94 87-7

 

 

2. Sharpening the Legal Mind: How to Think Like a Lawyer
By William Powers Jr.
Explains how lawyers analyze the cases and controversies that come before the courts. Presents an introduction to the academic study of the law, including the philosophy of law and the intellectual history of legal thought. Addresses the relationship of legislatures to judges and the courts.
University of Texas Press, 2023, 224 pages
349.7309 P888SH 2023

 

 

3. Tax Exemptions and Tax Incidence: A Report to the Governor and the 88th Legislature
By Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Addresses Texas tax exemptions available to payers of sales, franchise, motor vehicle sales, oil production, and natural gas production taxes, as well as property taxes levied by Texas school districts. Provides estimates of the value of each exemption, exclusion, discount, deduction, special accounting method, credit, refund, and special appraisal, based on revenue projections derived from the updated 2022-23 Certification Revenue Estimate report.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2023, 77 pages
C2600.8 T199 2023

 

 

4. Topics for the 88th Legislature
By House Research Organization
Highlights prominent issues lawmakers may consider during the 88th Texas Legislature. Summarizes a variety of topics including property tax relief, border security initiatives, school choice, rural health care, and how to allocate an expected budget surplus.
House Research Organization, 2023, 12 pages
L1801.9 ST94 88-1

 

 

5. Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking
By Mehdi Hasan
Discusses the art of rhetoric and argumentation. Provides advice on understanding audiences, debate basics, and persuading opponents. Presents strategies for how to win an argument and how to avoid potential pitfalls. Analyzes real-life examples of arguments ranging from everyday discussions to televised political debates, breaking down what did and did not work.
Henry Holt and Company, 2023, 317 pages
303.342 H344W 2023

 

 

6. Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politics
By Jacob M. Grumbach
Describes American federalism in context with the current political landscape of shifting policymaking to the state level within the political parties and activist groups. Argues that this shift and an increase in party polarization has resulted in policy differences between states in areas such as health care, reproductive rights, and climate change. Contends the foundations of democracy are backsliding after examining new data on state policy, public opinion, and campaign finance.
Princeton University Press, 2022, 261 pages
320.973 G887L 2022

 

 

7. The U.S. Criminal Justice System in the Pandemic Era and Beyond: Taking Stock of Efforts to Maintain Safety and Justice Through the COVID-19 Pandemic and Prepare for Future Challenges
By Brian A. Jackson, et al.
Examines the challenges and risks faced by the U.S. criminal justice system during the COVID-19 pandemic and the national protest movement triggered by the death of George Floyd. Details the innovative and collaborative responses of law enforcement, court systems, and corrections agencies. Summarizes the justice system’s swift adaptation to the pandemic in a multitude of areas, including staffing systems, physical infrastructure, health and safety, and “virtual” communications. Recommends practices and broad policy changes for each sector of the system.
RAND Corporation, 2021, 303 pages
364.973 J12UN 2021

 

 

This entry was posted on April 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 569 views. Print this entry.

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

• Consider how AI may affect copyright. (Electronic Frontier Foundation, April 3, 2023)
• Explore how states safeguard personal identifying information of SNAP participants. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, updated April 4, 2023)
• Review gun storage safety practices. (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, April 4, 2023)
• Read about a new mail-in program for recycling electronics. (Engadget, April 5, 2023)

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 April 6, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 391 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the fiscal year 2023 foster care needs assessment by region. (Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, report updated March 29, 2023)
• Review the U.S. banking system’s impact on financial stability. (available at SSRN, posted March 24, 2023)
• Read about a proposed rule that would make cancellation of recurring subscriptions and memberships easier for U.S. consumers. (Federal Trade Commission, March 23, 2023)
• Explore near real-time data from flood gauges in Texas. (Texas Natural Resources Information System, Texas Water Development Board, accessed March 29, 2023)

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 30, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 622 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the Colonias Geographic Database. (Attorney General of Texas, accessed March 22, 2023)
• Review Texas County Profiles. (Texas Association of Counties, accessed March 22, 2023)
• Find the most recent recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts for FDA-regulated products. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration, current as of March 21, 2023)
• Try a homeowner’s insurance policy scoring tool, RU InsureScore. (Rutgers, ©2023)

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 23, 2023 at 3:15 PM and has received 401 views. Print this entry.