Community Impact Newspaper and The Texas Tribune have established a partnership to share essential updates during the 85th legislative session. The Texas Tribune is the only member-supported, digitally focused, nonpartisan news organization that informs and engages with Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Compiled by Ayan Mittra
Budget update
On May 20, the Texas House and Senate compromised to unveil a joint budget. Lawmakers agreed to dip into the state’s savings account and to make use of an accounting trick using funds set aside last session for highway projects. The full Texas House and Senate must weigh in on the budget before it can go to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Public education
The Texas House on May 22 backed a Senate bill extending a program that lets high school students who fail a couple of required exams take an alternative route to graduation. On May 21, the Senate voted to approve a bill that would simplify funding formulas for public schools and let parents use state money to send their kids with disabilities to private schools or pay for homeschooling.
The ‘bathroom bill’
Amid threats of a special legislative session over the “bathroom bill,” the Texas House on May 21 approved a proposal that would keep transgender students from using school bathrooms that match their gender identity.
Property tax reform
The Texas House on May 20 approved legislation that would require local governments to announce a “no-new-revenue” property tax rate each year and compare it to the rate they’re actually proposing. Taxpayers would get a copy of that and could intervene before the rates are finally set. The proposal excluded the Senate’s key provisions requiring voter approval of some tax rate increases.
Texting while driving
Legislation that would create a statewide texting-while-driving ban has passed through the House and the Senate. Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, the author of House Bill 62, said he expects Abbott to sign the bill into law.
Voter ID
There are renewed efforts to overhaul Texas’ voter identification rules—legislation Republicans call crucial to the state’s arguments in a high-profile legal battle over whether the state disenfranchised minority voters. An emergency declaration by Abbott helped push the legislation onto the House’s calendar.
