INSIDER
Despite promise of “total transparency,” secrecy will be a big part of Ken Paxton impeachment trial
Read full article: Despite promise of “total transparency,” secrecy will be a big part of Ken Paxton impeachment trialFrom deliberations to documents, the Texas Senate’s rules create an opaque process for the suspended attorney general’s impeachment trial, set to begin Sept. 5.
Texas Senate moves to create new immigration enforcement unit, allow state police to arrest for border crossings
Read full article: Texas Senate moves to create new immigration enforcement unit, allow state police to arrest for border crossingsThe House has already passed the bill, but the two chambers will need to iron out the differences in their versions before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Texas Republicans want to shield oil and gas from federal climate regulations. Their bill would have little impact, experts say.
Read full article: Texas Republicans want to shield oil and gas from federal climate regulations. Their bill would have little impact, experts say.The bill would direct Texas agencies to not enforce federal regulations on the oil industry if there’s not a similar state regulation. But it likely wouldn’t apply to most federal environmental rules, experts and lawmakers said.
GOP border bill expanded to stiffen penalty for human smuggling, create border-crossing crime
Read full article: GOP border bill expanded to stiffen penalty for human smuggling, create border-crossing crimeState Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, tacks two of his stalled bills onto legislation that would create a border police unit and increase state spending in border communities.
Texas Senate approves bill that would end faculty tenure at public universities
Read full article: Texas Senate approves bill that would end faculty tenure at public universitiesSenate Bill 18 faces an uphill battle at the Texas House, where Speaker Dade Phelan has expressed concerns with completely eliminating the commonplace job protection.
Texas Guard’s border mission needs an additional $531 million to continue past this month, top general says
Read full article: Texas Guard’s border mission needs an additional $531 million to continue past this month, top general saysTexas Military Department leaders say they’ve addressed many of the issues that arose late last year when the mission ramped up to 10,000 service members — but more money is needed to run the mission at its current pace.
Effort to curb governors' pandemic emergency powers falls short at Texas Legislature
Read full article: Effort to curb governors' pandemic emergency powers falls short at Texas LegislatureThe proposal’s low bill number signaled it was a priority of new House Speaker Dade Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who referred to the legislation as “the House’s blueprint for pandemic response.”
Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthem
Read full article: Senate Democrats support conservative-backed Texas bill requiring pro-sports teams with state contracts to play national anthemSign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.