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 697 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 636 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our February 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.

Explore our New & Noteworthy lists from 2017, 2019, and 2020, highlighting books by or about African Americans from our collection in honor of Black History Month.

1. The Gospel According to Wild Indigo
By Cyrus Cassells
Cyrus Cassells, the 2021 Texas Poet Laureate, is a writer and professor of English at Texas State University. He has received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and two National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants, and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. The Gospel According to Wild Indigo explores the joys and sorrows of our world and the cruelty of history through poetry. It illustrates the dark experience of an enslaved people while celebrating their resilience. His poetry delves into themes of pilgrimage, love, loss, and family while providing a sense of peace with his simple elegant style. Cassells was honored by HR 1220 and SR 412, 87th Legislature, R.S.
Crab Orchard Review & Southern Illinois University Press, 2018, 103 pages
STATE POETS

 

 

2. Texas Almanac: 2022-2023
By TSHA Press
Provides current articles, data, maps, and photographs highlighting everything Texas. Features a variety of subjects, including the 87th Legislature, government, population, elections, education, business, transportation, and the environment. Includes new articles on African American Texans and the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas. Note: Some earlier editions of the Texas Almanac are available on the Portal to Texas History website.
TSHA Press, 2022, 705 pages
317.64 T31A 2022-23

 

 

3. Vetoes of Legislation: 87th Legislature
By House Research Organization, Texas House of Representatives
Addresses the 20 bills vetoed by Governor Greg Abbott and passed during the 87th Legislature, R.S. in 2021. Provides a digest of each vetoed measure, the governor's reason for the veto, and a response to the veto by the bill's author or the sponsor.
House Research Organization, Texas House of Representatives, 2022, 29 pages
L1801.9 ST94 87-5

 

 

4. Water for Texas: 2022 State Water Plan
By Texas Water Development Board
Compiles reports from the sixteen regional water planning groups into an in-depth profile covering the past and future water needs of Texas. Examines and makes policy recommendations on various topics including drought response, current water availability, future demand, financing needs, and water management projects. Reports on the implementation of the 2017 State Water Plan and legislative changes that came after that plan. Mentions SB 1511, HB 2215, 85th Legislature, R.S., HB 721, and HB 807, 86th Legislature, R.S.
Texas Water Development Board, 2022, 183 pages
W605.8 W291P 2022

 

 

5. Texas Employment Law Handbook: A Guide for Employers
By Scott McDonald, Editor
Summarizes the current laws and regulations affecting employment in Texas. Includes chapters by labor law specialists on employment at will, worker's compensation, unemployment compensation, employee benefit plans, and occupational safety. Provides citations for case law as well as Federal and State statutes and rules.
Texas Association of Business and Texas SHRM, 2021, 550 pages
331 T312 2019-2021

 

This entry was posted on February 25, 2022 at 3:50 PM and has received 714 views. Print this entry.

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

• Explore the global threat of more frequent and more intense wildfires. (United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), February 23, 2022)
• Read about newly-allowed adaptive driving beam headlights. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, February 15, 2022)
• Review proposed hunting regulations for Texas. (Texas Park & Wildlife Department, February 23, 2022)
• Consider whether the role of Congress in the electoral count is constitutional. (Cato Institute, February 22, 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 February 24, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 605 views. Print this entry.

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

• Track updates about filing taxes during tax season. (Internal Revenue Service, updated February 16, 2022)
• Consider recent statistics related to poverty in the U.S. (Congressional Research Service, February 10, 2022)
• Consider how wage growth in the public sector compares to wage growth in the private sector. (Stateline, February 7, 2022)
• Review the Prevention and Early Intervention Provider Directory. (Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, fiscal year 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 February 17, 2022 at 3:30 PM and has received 794 views. Print this entry.

February 15, 2022, marks the one-year anniversary of the severe winter event that struck Texas. Our librarians have pulled together a collection of resources related to Winter Storm Uri and other severe cold weather events in Texas, including the storms' effect on the state's critical infrastructure, the impact on Texans, and the response of state agencies and the Texas Legislature.

Independent System Operator:
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)

• "Final Winterization Report: Texas Grid Ready for Winter Weather Operations" (Press Release), January 18, 2022
• Item 3: Weatherization and Inspection Update (Powerpoint), January 17, 2022
• Roadmap to Improving Grid Reliability, January 7, 2022 Update
• Report on the Capacity, Demand and Reserves (CDR) in the ERCOT Region, 2022-2031, December 29, 2021
• February 2021 Extreme Weather Event (Website – Market Notices, Legislative Committee Presentations, Requests from Texas Legislature, PUC Orders, and other materials)
• Winter Weather Readiness (Website – Information on 2021-22 Winter Weather Readiness efforts)
• Winter 2022 (Website – Resources and Updates)
• Resource Adequacy (Website – Market studies and analysis materials, Short- and long-term forecast reports on generation supply and demand)

State Agencies:
Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC)

• Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping Committee Mapping Report, January 2022
• Self-Evaluation Report: A Report to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, September 2021
  • Winter Storm Uri
• Report on Extreme Weather Preparedness Best Practices, Prepared for the Public Utility Commission of Texas by Quanta Technology, LLC, September 27, 2012
• 2021 Winter Storm Resources for Texas Utility Consumers (Website – Press Releases, Explainer Documents, Open Meetings, Winter Storm-Related Projects, PUC Rules)
• PUC News Releases (Website - Winter weather news releases from 2021 and 2022)
• Filings 52321: Application of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. for a Debt Obligation Order Under PURA [Public Utility Regulatory Act] Chapter 39, Subchapter M, and Request for a Good Cause Exception. (Addresses Winter Storm Uri and HB 4492, 87th Leg., R.S.), PUC Interchange Filer
• Filings 52322: Application of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. for a Debt Obligation Order to Finance Uplift Balances Under PURA [Public Utility Regulatory Act] Chapter 39, Subchapter N, and for a Good Cause Exception. (Addresses Winter Storm Uri and HB 4492, 87th Leg., R.S.), PUC Interchange Filer
• Filings 51878: Reports of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas for Calendar Year 2021, PUC Interchange Filer

Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC)

• "State's Critical Natural Gas Supply Demonstrating Significant Progress Winterizing Equipment" (News), January 19, 2022
• 2021 Year In Review, December 28, 2021
  • See A Historic Storm
• "Texas Establishes First of Its Kind Designation of Natural Gas Facilities for Energy Emergencies" (News – Agency Rules), November 30, 2021
• Critical Infrastructure: Regulating the Weatherization of Natural Gas Facilities (Website)

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA)

• "Winter Storm Uri 2021," Fiscal Notes, October 2021
  • The 87th Legislature Takes on Electricity Reform
  • The Economic Impact of the Storm
  • Texans Respond During and After the Storm

Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)

• Insured Losses Resulting from the February 2021 Texas Winter Weather Event (Catastrophe Statistical Plan Data as of August 31, 2021), February 8, 2022
• Reports and Presentations
  • Insured Losses Resulting from the February 2021 Texas Winter Weather Event (Individual reports: March 31 - August 31, 2021)

Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)

• February 2021 Winter Storm-Related Deaths – Texas, December 31, 2021

Federal Agencies:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) / North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

• The February 2021 Cold Weather Outages in Texas and the South Central United States, November 2021
• Report on Outages and Curtailments During the Southwest Cold Weather Event of February 1-5, 2011, Causes and Recommendations, August 1, 2011

Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, U.S. Department of Energy

• February 2021 Extreme Weather Incident (Website – Extreme Cold & Winter Weather Situation Reports)
   

Other Resources:

• "How Texas' Power Grid Failed in 2021 – and Who's Responsible for Preventing a Repeat," Texas Tribune, February 15, 2022
• "The Texas Electric Grid Failure as a Warm-up," Texas Monthly, February 2022
• Texas 2022 Elections and Issues: How Ready is Texas for Another Winter Storm?, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston, February 9, 2022
• A Decade of Deliberate Inaction: Root Causes and Fallout from the Deadly Texas Power Failure of 2021, Ed Hirs, Power for Tomorrow, January 2022
• Preparing Rural Water Systems for Extreme Weather and Climate Disasters: Lessons from South Texas and Winter Storm Uri, Urban Institute, December 2021
• "Winter Storm Uri: A Test of Texas’ Water Infrastructure and Water Resource Resilience to Extreme Winter Weather Events," Journal of Extreme Events, December 31, 2021
• The February Arctic Event, February 14 - 18, 2021: Event Details, Lessons Learned and Implications for MISO's Reliability Imperative, Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), September 15, 2021
• When the Lone Star Froze Over - Winter Storm Uri and the Lived Experiences of Texas Low-income Communities, Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI), July 23, 2021
• A Comprehensive Review of the Southwest Power Pool's Response to the February 2021 Winter Storm: Analysis and Recommendations (Version 1.0), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), July 19, 2021
• The Timeline and Events of the February 2021 Texas Electric Grid Blackouts, University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute, July 13, 2021
• Transmission Makes the Power System Resilient to Extreme Weather, Grid Strategies LLC, July 2021
• Reliability and the Texas Power Grid in the Aftermath of Winter Storm Uri, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston, June 25, 2021
• "Cost of Texas' 2021 Deep Freeze Justifies Weatherization," Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, April 15, 2021
• Winter Storm Uri - Natural Gas Analysis, Prepared for the Texas Oil and Gas Association by Enverus, April 2021
• The Winter Storm of 2021, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston, March 21, 2021

The tile image, "electricity pylon" by fsse8info, is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. / Resized from original.

This entry was posted on February 17, 2022 at 12:25 PM and has received 1876 views. Print this entry.

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

• Review traffic safety state legislation from 2007 to the present. (National Conference of State Legislatures, February 2, 2022)
• Find a vehicle with the MSN Autos Marketplace. (Microsoft, accessed February 9, 2022)
• Consider U.S. worker shortages in the current labor market. (The Heritage Foundation, February 8, 2022)
• Track election-related state legislation by topic. (National Conference of State Legislatures, January 5, 2022)
• Explore the American public's attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccines. (Kaiser Family Foundation, accessed February 9, 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 February 10, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 738 views. Print this entry.

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

• Consider how revenue drives social media content moderation. (University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, December 1, 2021)
• Explore resources related to space law. (In Custodia Legis, January 24, 2022)
• Review congressional voting records via the Freedom Index. (The New American, accessed January 26, 2022)
• Find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area. (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, accessed January 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 January 27, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 971 views. Print this entry.

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our January 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.

1. Civil Rights in Black and Brown: Histories of Resistance and Struggle in Texas
By Max Krochmal and J. Todd Moye, eds.
Draws from the oral history database, Civil Rights in Black and Brown Oral History Project, to further record a "people's history" of the grassroots civil rights movement in Texas. Emphasizes the intersection between Black and Hispanic activism in the 1960s and 70s. Offers essays on student protests at Prairie View A&M, the leadership of Héctor P. García in Corpus Christi, the collaborative activism in 1970s San Antonio, involving former Representative G.J. Sutton, and the military experience of former Representative Ben T. Reyes and other minorities.
University of Texas Press, 2021, 469 pages
323.09764 K912C 2021

 

 

2. Interim Studies Established by the 87th Texas Legislature: Regular, 2nd, and 3rd Called Sessions
By Texas Legislative Council
Identifies interim studies and reports required by laws passed by the 87th Legislature, including SB 1, the General Appropriations Act. Focuses on studies resulting in a one-time report to the legislature, legislative committees, or a legislative agency. Organizes them by subject area and, within each subject area, in bill order and includes indexes by bill number and the submitting entity - the agency or other entity required to submit a report on the study.
Texas Legislative Council, 2021, 114 pages
L1400.8 IN8E 2021

 

 

3. Property Tax Relief for Homeowners
By Adam H. Langley and Joan Youngman
Discusses strengths and weaknesses of the property tax as it is currently structured and utilized throughout the U.S. Evaluates the impact of various property tax relief approaches, including rate, levy, and assessment limits, circuit breakers, deferrals, and monthly payment plans. Provides case studies of the most and least effective tax relief programs from several states and addresses tax swaps and homestead exemption audits in Texas. Offers suggestions for a more equitable and effective tax system.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 2021, 64 pages
336.22 L266P 2021

 

 

4. Today's Health Care Issues: Democrats and Republicans
By Robert B. Hackey and Todd M. Olszewski
Examines current health care issues in debates regarding the role of government in our society. Discusses in essay format, eighteen of the most pressing concerns in contemporary health policy including health care reform, pharmaceuticals, and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Provides an overview of each issue, followed by a discussion of the Republican and Democratic ideologies, and what common ground might exist.
ABC-CLIO, 2021, 380 pages
362.10973 H121 2021

 

 

5. War on the Border: Villa, Pershing, the Texas Rangers, and an American Invasion
By Jeff Guinn
Offers an overview of violence in the region between the U.S. and Mexico in the early 20th century. Focuses on Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico in 1917 and the subsequent "Punitive Expedition" of American troops into Northern Mexico. Discusses the Texas Rangers' role in border violence and the 1919 investigation of Ranger activity by the Texas House of Representatives, launched by former Representative José Tomás Canales.
Simon & Schuster, 2021, 350 pages
972.0816 G964W 2021

 

 

6. Repairing Jefferson's America: A Guide to Civility and Enlightened Citizenship
By Clay S. Jenkinson
Studies the politics and philosophies of America's third president, Thomas Jefferson. Outlines Jefferson's beliefs regarding topics like wealth, religious freedom, and nature. Provides analysis of Jefferson's writings and a guide for how people might employ Jeffersonian principles in both their private lives and in the public sphere. Offers examples of how to utilize the former president's ideas to discuss modern issues.
Koehlerbooks, 2020, 198 pages
323.6 J52R 2020

 

This entry was posted on January 26, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 951 views. Print this entry.

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

• Track rental affordability and home sale prices in markets across the nation. (ATTOM, January 6, 2022)
• Find out how to get free at-home COVID-19 tests. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, accessed January 19, 2022)
• Read about how law enforcement uses social media to communicate and investigate. (Congressional Research Service, January 11, 2022)
• Consider how pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) may reduce lower back pain. (NIH News in Health, January 2022)
• Review information about temporary tags and how HB 3927, 87th R.S., gives TxDMV a new tool to combat fraudulent tags. (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), December 1, 2021)

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 January 20, 2022 at 3:15 PM and has received 887 views. Print this entry.