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Current Articles & Research Resources, August 10, 2023

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

  • Review current and proposed state laws related to artificial intelligence (AI). (Electronic Privacy Information Center, August 3, 2023)
  • Read about federal and state courts. (Congressional Research Service, August 2, 2023)
  • Track heat-related illness throughout the country by jurisdiction and county. (HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity / DOT National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, released August 9, 2023)
  • Find ballot language and explanatory statements for the November 7, 2023, Constitutional Amendments Election. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed August 9, 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.

New & Noteworthy Books and Reports: August 2023

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our August 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. Border Water: The Politics of U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Management, 1945-2015
By Stephen Paul Mumme
Chronicles the development of transnational water management between the United States and Mexico over a 70 year period, starting with The Water Treaty of 1944. Discusses the establishment of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) in 1945, environmental concerns due to pollution and increased salinization, and the impact on the international water border from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as well as the 9/11 attacks. Addresses the various perspectives of the diplomatic process, the evolution of border water politics, and the importance of a binational relationship with Mexico.
University of Arizona Press, 2023, 414 pages
333.91009721 M962 2023

 

 

2. Final Results of Sunset Reviews, 2022-2023
By Sunset Advisory Commission
Summarizes actions taken by the 88th Legislature on 21 entities that were reviewed by the Sunset Commission. Includes the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), and a limited scope re-review of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). Provides the Sunset bill number, authors, and final actions taken on each of the entities reviewed. Lists Sunset Review schedule for 2024-25.
Sunset Advisory Commission, 2023, 40 pages
S1500.8 AN79F 2023

 

 

3. The Heat Will Kill You First: Life and Death on a Scorched Planet
By Jeff Goodell
Presents a comprehensive survey of the current and future effect of rising temperatures on humanity. Includes sections relating to the impact of heat on the human body and public health, its role in migration and inequality, and the catastrophic combination of drought and hot weather on agriculture. Warns that immediate action, like the reconstruction of cities, is necessary to reduce the effects of rising temperatures, particularly in air-conditioning dependent areas like Texas.
Little, Brown and Company, 2023, 385 pages
363.738 G648 2023

 

 

4. Lone Stars Rising: The Fifty People Who Turned Texas into the Fastest-Growing, Most Exciting, and, Sometimes, Most Exasperating State in the Country
By Texas Monthly, editors
Profiles 50 people who helped shape Texas into the state it is today. Reflects back at 50 years of Texas Monthly reporting and highlights the most significant and influential people within each decade starting with the 1970s. Includes Lieutenant Governors Bob Bullock, Bill Hobby, and Dan Patrick; Governors Rick Perry and Ann Richards; U.S. Representative Barbara Jordan; and President George W. Bush.
Texas Monthly, 2023, 239 pages
976.4 L847 2023

 

 

5. Texas Government in a Nutshell
By Randy Erben
Provides an overview of state government in Texas, including its foundation, structure, and how it functions. Focuses on the role of the executive branch and its interaction with the legislative and judicial branches. Covers the constitutional and statutory powers of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, and other officials and agencies. Delves into the legislative process, separation of powers, the state budget, agency rules, and litigation authority. Mentions former legislative and executive officials, as well as Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dade Phelan, and Governor Greg Abbott.
West Academic Publishing, 2023, 430 pages
320.476 ER65 2023

 

 

6. Unwired: Gaining Control over Addictive Technologies
By Gaia Bernstein
Suggests a blueprint for curbing technology addiction and overuse. Discusses the negative impact of addiction-inducing algorithms on users and the value of government intervention, drawing on lessons from the tobacco and junk food industries. Argues the moral responsibility and accountability for solutions should be on corporations and not individual users. Describes a grassroots movement in the U.S. pushing for action in courts and legislation along with international efforts for change.
Cambridge University Press, 2023, 233 pages
616.85 B535 2023

 

 

 

Current Articles & Research Resources, August 3, 2023

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

  • Review a recently updated map of EV charging stations throughout the U.S. (National Conference of State Legislatures, updated July 10, 2023)
  • Read about regional flood plans. (Texas Water Development Board, July 25, 2023)
  • Explore the analyses and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. (Library of Congress, accessed July 28, 2023)
  • Prepare for natural disasters in advance. (Texas Department of State Health Services, accessed July 28, 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.

Current Articles & Research Resources, July 27, 2023

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

  • Consider the IRS’s development of a new free-file tax return system. (PBS News Hour, July 20, 2023)
  • Explore the Texas Bond Review Board (BRB) Data Center. (Bond Review Board, accessed July 26, 2023)
  • Find information via CAROL about the NTSB’s investigations and recommendations. (National Transportation Safety Board, accessed July 26, 2023)
  • Read about how internal migration in the U.S. shows more people are moving into disaster-prone areas instead of away. (Redfin News, July 24, 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.

Current Articles & Research Resources, July 20, 2023

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

  • Search for nursing home inspection reports. (ProPublica, July 2023)
  • Read findings of Intruder Detection Audits on school campuses. (Texas State Texas School Safety Center, July 3, 2023)
  • Review rankings of America’s top states for business. (CNBC, July 11, 2023)
  • Check ERCOT’s dashboards for grid and market conditions. (Electric Reliability Council of Texas, updated daily)

 

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.

Current Articles & Research Resources, July 13, 2023

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

  • Review recently updated issues related to TikTok. (Congressional Research Service, updated June 30. 2023)
  • Consider the safety of public drinking water supplies. (U.S. Geological Survey, June 23, 2023)
  • Read about the effects of drought on public health. (National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), May 2023)
  • Track how printer manufacturers markup the price of printer ink cartridges. (U.S. PIRG Education Fund, June 22, 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.

Current Articles & Research Resources, June 29, 2023

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

  • Stay updated on the current wildfire situation in the state. (Texas A&M Forest Service, updated Monday through Friday)
  • Read about election worker safety. (Congressional Research Service, June 21, 2023)
  • Review recent statistics on pedestrian deaths. (Governors Highway Safety Association, June 22, 2023)
  • Explore the modernized ClinicalTrials.gov. (National Library of Medicine, accessed June 23, 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.

Current Articles & Research Resources, June 22, 2023

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

  • Explore the effects of social media challenges on car thefts. (USAFacts. Updated May 26, 2023)
  • Consider the decline in scores for reading and mathematics assessments of thirteen-year-olds. (National Assessment of Educational Progress, June 21, 2023)
  • Review hurricane preparedness tips. (Texas General Land Office, accessed June 21, 2023)
  • Read about missing and trafficked children under DFPS conservatorship. (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, May 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.

Bill Statistics After Signing/Veto Period, 88th Legislature, R.S.

Sunday, June 18, 2023 was the last day the governor could sign or veto an enrolled bill from the 88th Regular Session. If neither action was taken, the bill became law without his signature.

88th Legislature, R.S., Statistics

The following bill statistics were calculated on June 20, 2023, at 4 p.m.

 

  House Bills (HBs) &
House Joint Resolutions (HJRs)
Senate Bills (SBs) &
Senate Joint Resolutions (SJRs)
Filed 5,619 2,726
Reported out of committee 2,200 866
Passed by chamber of origin 1,594 816
Referred to committee in opposite chamber 1,520 812
Reported out of committee in opposite chamber 871 631
Passed opposite chamber 769 513
Sent to the Governor 744 502
Signed by the Governor 629 409
Filed without the Governor's signature 92 39
Signed by the Governor/line item veto 1 0
Vetoed by the Governor 22 54

 

 

House Bills (HBs) & Senate Bills (SBs)
Filed 8,046
Sent to the Governor 1,246
Signed by the Governor 1,038
Filed without the Governor's signature 131
Signed by the Governor/line-item veto 1
Vetoed by the Governor 76
House Joint Resolutions (HJRs) & Senate Joint Resolutions (SJRs)
Filed 299
Filed with the Secretary of State 13
House Concurrent Resolutions (HCRs) & Senate Concurrent Resolutions (SCRs)
Filed 185
Filed with the Secretary of State 14
Sent to the Governor 86
Signed by the Governor 85
Filed without the Governor's signature 1
Vetoed by the Governor 0

 

To see how these statistics have changed, please view our previous bill statistics blog posts:

 

You can also view lists of bills by the governor's action on Texas Legislature Online (TLO).

1. On TLO's homepage, click on the "Reports" link under Additional Searches.

 

 

2. Then click on the "General Reports" tab to see the lists of bills by the governor's action.

 

New & Noteworthy Books and Reports: June 2023

The Library is continually adding new books to its collection. Below are the titles from our June 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. The Science of Gun Policy: A Critical Synthesis of Research Evidence on the Effects of Gun Policies in the United States
By Rosanna Smart, et al.
Examines what the scientific literature reveals about the likely impact of various gun laws. Analyzes the effects of eighteen types of state firearm policies on firearm deaths, violent crime, suicides, the gun industry, defensive gun use, and other outcomes. Presents a series of conclusions and recommendations relating to safe gun storage laws, stand your ground laws, permitless carry, background checks, minimum age of purchase, and other firearm policies. Note: This report is part of the RAND Corporation’s Gun Policy in America initiative.
RAND, 2023, 427 pages
363.33 SM636S 2023

 

 

2. The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic
By Stephen I. Vladeck
Analyzes the U.S. Supreme Court's increased usage of their emergency docket, also known as the shadow docket. Reviews the history of the Court's authority and the procedures for expediting emergency cases that do not require oral arguments and often result in unsigned and unexplained orders. Examines recent cases and policies addressed in the shadow docket, including COVID mandates, immigration, and abortion. Discusses the Court’s treatment of the case involving SB 8, 87th Legislature, R.S., the Texas Heartbeat Act.
Basic Books, 2023, 334 pages
347.73 V865 2023

 

 

3. Steeped in a Culture of Violence: Murder, Racial Injustice, and Other Violent Crimes in Texas, 1965-2020
By Brandon T. Jett and Kenneth W. Howell, editors
Compiles a collection of essays that examines the culture of violence in Texas along with the social and political responses to violent events from 1965 to 2020. Presents case studies of brutality against racial minorities, the LGBTQ community, and intimate partners, as well as gang violence and mass shootings. Offers insight regarding the underlying causes of violent crime and how to mitigate it.
Texas A&M University Press, 2023, 266 pages
364.152 J58ST 2023

 

 

4. We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America
By Roxanna Asgarian
Investigates the murder-suicide of the Hart family, consisting of Jennifer and Sarah Hart, as well as their six adopted children from Texas. Offers an in-depth examination regarding the lack of action concerning the child abuse allegations against the adoptive parents. Advocates for reform of the foster care system and addresses relevant federal and Texas foster care and child welfare laws.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023, 297 pages
364.152 AS818W 2023

 

 

5. For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America
By Jonathan D. Cohen
Presents a history of state run lotteries since 1964 through late twentieth century American political, religious, and economical perspectives. Posits that the rise of state lotteries in the modern era arose from the allure of tax-free revenue to state legislatures. Examines the role of advertising on promoting the industry to communities in lower income and African American neighborhoods.
Oxford University Press, 2022, 281 pages
795.3 C678F 2022

 

 

6. Impeached: The Removal of Texas Governor James E. Ferguson
By Jessica Brannon-Wranosky and Bruce A. Glasrud, editors
Collects a series of essays exploring the historical context of the 1917 impeachment of Governor James E. "Pa" Ferguson, including his relationships with The University of Texas, prohibition, women’s suffrage, and the Texas Press. Reflects on the role of the Texas legislature and the impact of the impeachment on Texas state politics over the following century. Presents contextualized primary source documents such as Ferguson's Texas Farm Tenant Law, annotated by scholars to allow a better understanding of the ideas and groups surrounding the impeachment of Ferguson.
Texas A&M University Press, 2017, 202 pages
342.764 B735I 2017

 

 

 

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