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June 7, 2023
AUSTIN--Today, Governor Greg Abbott hosted a bill signing ceremony for
SB 490 by Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler) and Representative Caroline
Harris (R-Round Rock). The Medical Billing Accountability Act will require
health care providers to give patients detailed invoices so that charges are
itemized and transparent.
From The Senate of Texas
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June 8, 2023
Denton County Republican Chairman Brent Hagenbuch is calling for the Texas Republican Party
to apologize to Texas Legislators and cease promoting any nonaffiliated organization and its
agenda.
From Denton County Republican Party
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June 7, 2023
AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 2, State Authority to Enforce the Border, and Senate Bill 8, Texas Border Force, both by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and House Bill 2, Increasing Penalties Against Stash Houses and Human Smuggling, by Sen. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton:
From The State of Texas Lieutenant Governor By Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
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June 7, 2023
AUSTIN, TX - Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 22, authored by State Senator Drew Springer
(R-Muenster), into law. SB 22 establishes a grant program to provide financial assistance to qualified county
sheriff’s offices, prosecutor’s offices, and constable’s offices in counties with a population of 300,000 or less.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Drew Springer - District 30
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June 7, 2023
Harris County, TX — Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia has championed the
importance of reducing the backlog of cases in the criminal justice system, long before COVID19. Often saying “justice delayed is justice unserved,” Garcia has often taken the lead in
directing Commissioners Court to invest nearly $40 million in efforts to reduce the backlog.
From Harris County Precinct 2 By Adrian Garcia Commissioner
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June 6, 2023
The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) is deeply saddened to report the passing of John Kennedy, our much-loved and deeply respected TTARA colleague, over the weekend at his home in Austin. Arrangements are pending.
From K. Voinis Communications for Texas Taxpayers and Research Association
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May 31, 2023
AUSTIN — On Wednesday, May 31, Gov. Greg Abbott announced his appointment of John Scott to be Texas’ interim Attorney General.
From Common Cause Texas
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June 1, 2023
Austin, Texas – The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) is urging Texans to stay alert and informed throughout the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which begins today and runs through Nov. 30.
From Public Utility Commission of Texas
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June 1, 2023
HOUSTON — In the wee hours of the morning, under the cloak of darkness, Mike Miles was
appointed superintendent of the now occupied Houston "Independent" School District. Miles'
name had been floating around the district as the Texas Education Agency’s chosen leader since
March 15, but TEA vigorously denied that appointment had been made.
From Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO By Houston Federation of Teachers
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June 1, 2023
Houston, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt, (R-Houston) the principal author of SB 1365 (87R), that
restored Texas’ education system oversight & A-F accountability system, cited repeatedly by the Texas
Supreme Court in the Houston Independent School District (HISD) court case, reacts to the appointment
of Mike Miles as the new Superintendent of HISD.
From State of Texas - Texas Senate By Senator Paul Bettencourt - SD 7
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May 30, 2023
“With a steadfast commitment to serving the needs of our constituents, the Texas House worked
diligently over the past several months to deliver a range of impactful legislation addressing the most
pressing needs of our state,” said Speaker Dade Phelan
From The State of Texas Speaker By Speaker of the House Dade Phelan
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May 30, 2023
The Texas House of Representatives delivered the Articles of Impeachment for Attorney General Ken Paxton to the Texas Senate on Monday, May 29 . Under the Texas Constitution, the Texas Senate is now required to serve as a “Court of Impeachment” and hold a trial to determine whether Attorney General Paxton will be relieved of his office. The date for this trial will be decided later this summer.
From The Senate of Texas
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May 31, 2023
AUSTIN, Texas – Gov. Greg Abbott must act swiftly to appoint an acting attorney general with no personal, professional, or political connections to Ken Paxton and will pledge full cooperation with the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate and other investigations, Public Citizen said today.
From Public Citizen
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May 29, 2023
“Today, the Texas Senate adjourned the 88th Legislature Regular Session Sine Die. This was a session with significant victories for Texans but, unfortunately, far too many of the people’s conservative priorities, sponsored by the Senate, were killed in the Texas House.
From The State of Texas Lieutenant Governor By Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
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May 26, 2023
AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today on the bipartisan final passage of House Bill 1, the 2024-2025 State Budget, and Senate Bill 30, the Fiscal Year 2023 Supplemental Budget, both carried by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:
From The State of Texas Lieutenant Governor By Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
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May 26, 2023
Austin, Texas – The Texas Senate today unanimously confirmed the appointment of Kathleen Jackson as commissioner of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT). Jackson was appointed to her position by Gov. Greg Abbott in Aug. 2022.
From Public Utility Commission of Texas
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May 30, 2023
AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s unanimous passage of Senate Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Bill 1, Property Tax Relief, both by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston:
From The State of Texas Lieutenant Governor By Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick
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May 30, 2023
Austin, TX – The Texas Senate, on the first day of the 88th First Special Session, passed Senator Paul
Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) unprecedented $17.6 billion Property Tax Plan that will provide REAL relief to
Texas homestead owners and all Texas taxpayers! SB 1, along with the adjoining Constitutional
Amendment, SJR 1, rocketed out of the Senate Committee
From State of Texas - Texas Senate By Senator Paul Bettencourt - SD 7
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May 28, 2023
By a 121-23 vote, the Texas House voted to suspend Attorney General Paxton and send 20 articles of
impeachment to the Texas Senate for trial.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative David Spiller - District 68
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May 30, 2023
This morning, State Senator Roland Gutierrez sent a letter to Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick demanding that the scope of the Special Legislative Session be expanded to address gun violence. Senator Gutierrez also authored SB 6 and SB 7, bills aimed at introducing commonsense gun safety solutions, urging that the bills be fast-tracked through the Texas Senate.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Roland Gutierrez District 19
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May 28, 2023
ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter has the following statement on the legislative impasse over a teacher pay raise that resulted in the death of House Bill (HB) 100 by Rep. Ken King (R–Canadian):
From Association of Texas Professional Educators
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May 29, 2023
As Texas lawmakers finish the 2023 regular legislative session, AARP Texas Director Tina Tran issued the following statement:
From AARP
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May 29, 2023
Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) bill to deny county officials from using the
litigation exception to delay releasing election records on public information requests finally passed.
From State of Texas - Texas Senate By Senator Paul Bettencourt - SD 7
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May 28, 2023
Earlier this session, the Texas House passed its version of HB 100—a crucial school finance bill that would have funneled an additional $5 billion into Texas public schools and provided teachers with a long-overdue pay raise.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative James Talarico
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May 26, 2023
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Constitution clearly bars state Sen. Angela Paxton from casting a vote in her husband’s potential impeachment trial. Given the unprecedented nature of this case and the conflict she faces, Sen. Paxton should take the further step of removing herself from the proceedings.
From Public Citizen
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May 24, 2023
Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), author of SB 1750 & SB 1933, released the
following statement in response to today’s news conference by Harris County officials:
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Paul Bettencourt - SD 7
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May 25, 2023
Following the passage of HB 5 in the Senate, the bill now moves to conference with the
House to approve/amend changes from the Senate. These significant improvements,
are the product of significant bipartisanship and negotiation.
From Office of State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, SD-14
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May 24, 2023
LEAGUE CITY, TX – May 24, 2023 — The Texas Legislature overwhelmingly and bipartisanly
passed House Joint Resolution 134 (HJR 134) proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish
the office of county treasurer of Galveston County.
From The State of Texas County of Galveston By Hank Dugie - Treasurer
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May 24, 2023
As the 88th Texas Legislative session nears the end of its 140 days, Texas students and
educators have very little to hang their hats on. Increased school funding, significant boosts
to educator pay and school safety, and long-sought special education funding reforms are
still possible if lawmakers don’t allow private school vouchers to take priority.
From TCASE
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May 24, 2023
Texas Taxpayers and Research Association (TTARA) Vice President Jennifer Rabb will take over as
president of the association effective July 1, replacing long-time President Dale Craymer, who is retiring,
announced TTARA Chair Megan Rooney today. Rabb was named TTARA vice president in March.
From TTARA
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May 24, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Yesterday, three criminal justice laws sponsored by Senator Pete Flores (SD-24) were signed by Governor Greg Abbott; House Bills 467 (Craddick, HD-82), 1207 (Guillen, HD-31), and 2183 (Stucky, HD-64), will take effect September 1. Senator Flores issued the following statement upon their passage.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Pete Flores - District 24
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May 24, 2023
Austin, TX – Senator Paul Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) SB 1750, sponsored by Representative Briscoe
Cain (R- Deer Park) in the Texas House of Representatives, passed out of the Texas House on Tuesday,
May 23, 2023. SB 1750 will restore voter trust, accountability, and transparency in Harris County
elections by returning the management of elections back to elected officials.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Paul Bettencourt - SD 7
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May 24, 2023
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas House failed to pass Senate Bill 1515 before tonight’s midnight
deadline to advance Senate Bills, effectively killing the effort to force schools to display the
Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative James Talarico
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May 23, 2023
The Networks of Texas IAF Organizations (Texas IAF) urge Texas Senators to vote NO on HB5, the bill to
renew the failed and defunct Chapter 313 program. With just a few days to go before the deadline for
the Senate to pass House bills, the legislature has no clear path forward for the state’s costliest corporate
tax incentive program
From Central Texas Interfaith
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May 23, 2023
AUSTIN, TX – Today the Texas Senate unanimously passed House Bill 25, sending it to the
Governor’s desk to be signed into law. Authored by State Representative James Talarico,
HB 25 will allow Texas to import low-cost prescription drugs from Canada. This program
will save Texans 60-70% on everything from EpiPens to blood pressure medicine to cancer
drugs.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative James Talarico
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May 22, 2023
Join Texas Gun Sense, advocates, survivors, and elected officials for a press event
on Tuesday highlighting the Legislature's failure to act to prevent gun violence.
From Texas Gun Sense
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May 22, 2023
The Texas School Coalition testified Monday against the Texas Senate’s version of House Bill 100. The new Senate plan seeks to incorporate private-school vouchers into legislation that was otherwise meant to improve the state’s school finance system.
From New West Communications
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May 22, 2023
The state Senate’s last-minute ploy to force a voucher bill on the Texas House and on Texas taxpayers is another attack on public education, educators and students.
From Texas State Teachers Association
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May 22, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS –Governor Greg Abbot signed Senate Bill 1852, by Senator Flores (SD-24) on Friday, March 19, 2023. Following the signature of his second bill this session, Senator Flores issued the following statement:
From The Senate of Texas
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May 22, 2023
The Networks of Texas IAF Organizations (Texas IAF) urge Texas Senators to vote NO on HB5, the bill to renew the failed and defunct Chapter 313 program. With just a few days to go before the deadline for the Senate to pass House bills, the legislature has no clear path forward for the state’s costliest corporate tax incentive program, which was ended last legislative session with bi-partisan opposition. HB5 passed out of committee late Sunday with only 6 of 11 votes in favor.
From Central Texas Interfaith
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May 22, 2023
ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes has the following statement on Senate leadership’s addition of a voucher (“education savings account”) to House Bill 100 by Rep. Ken King (R–Canadian):
From Association of Texas Professional Educators
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May 19, 2023
AUSTIN— Tomorrow, Saturday, May 20, Texas lawmakers are scheduled to have their final votes on election-related bills that would allow state takeovers of local election offices and set Texas on a path to leave ERIC, the Electronic Registration Information Center that many states use to maintain their voter lists.
From Common Cause Texas
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May 19, 2023
Austin, Texas — Speaker of the Texas House Dade Phelan applauded the Texas House today for passing Senate Bill 3 and Senate Joint Resolution 3, meaningful measures that will provide over $21 billion in property tax relief when combined with the state budget.
From Texas House of Representatives By Speaker of the House Dade Phelan
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May 19, 2023
AUSTIN – Organizations representing electricity consumers statewide are demanding a meaningful cap on the proposed Performance Credit Mechanism scheme that will impose billions of dollars in increased costs for Texas consumers if left uncapped.
From G Fox Consulting
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May 19, 2023
This evening, Senator Roland Gutierrez proposed an amendment onto HB 2454 to raise the age to purchase an assault style, semi-automatic rifle to 21. The life-saving amendment was killed by a point of order. Republican leadership in the Texas Senate has now joined Republican leadership in the Texas House to block the raise the age bill from having a vote.
From The Senate of Texas By Roland Gutierrez - Texas Senator District 19
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May 17, 2023
AUSTIN — The Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1599 Wednesday afternoon,
which will make necessary modernization updates to the mail-in ballot process and election systems,
improve the online ballot tracker, and enable more Texans to correct defects on mail-in ballots.
From Common Cause Texas
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May 18, 2023
Todd Staples, President of the Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) today issued a statement after HB 5 was heard by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce:
From Texas Oil & Gas Association By Todd Staples
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May 18, 2023
Austin, TX - On Thursday, after approving massive taxpayer-backed subsidies for new gas power plants that could increase electric bills, the Texas House State Affairs Committee heard a trio of Senate bills aimed at reducing electricity bills for Texas families.
From Sierra Club
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May 17, 2023
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today will deliver a speech, followed by a question and answer period, about U.S. national security at the Hudson Institute. His speech will focus on countering the Russian-Iranian war on Ukraine. After his speech, Michael Doran, Hudson senior fellow and director of the Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, will join Sen. Cruz for a conversation on these issues and on U.S. global strategy more broadly.
From Senator Ted Cruz Press Office
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May 15, 2023
The Texas AFL-CIO slammed today’s Texas Senate vote advancing HB 2127, which would cut off the freedom of cities and counties to govern in broad categories.
From Texas AFL-CIO
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May 15, 2023
“HB 2127, without exaggeration, will fundamentally alter our state. It will roll back decades worth of local worker protections and public safety measures, and ban any new ones from being passed. Under HB 2127, the people we elected to serve our communities will be blocked from passing policies that address our needs as working people.
From Gulf Coast AFL-CIO
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May 15, 2023
(Houston, TX) - Today, New Economy for Working Houston slammed efforts by Republican state legislators to pass SB 1045 - the GOP “Court Packing Bill” up for final approval this week at the Texas State Legislature. The bill - authored by local Republican State Senator Joan Huffman - will create the state’s 15th appellate court. In doing so, it will remove the authority of the elected 3rd Court of Appeals to hear cases involving state agencies and vital matters impacting millions of Houstonians.
From New Economy for Working Houston
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May 16, 2023
AUSTIN, TX – Today, House Bill 2063 is headed to the Governor’s desk after passing both
chambers of the Texas Legislature. Authored by State Representative James Talarico, the
bill increases safety requirements in Texas kennels.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative James Talarico
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May 12, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS – House Bill 567, also known as The Texas CROWN Act, has been successfully voted
out of the Texas Senate 29-1, and is heading to the Governor’s Desk. The CROWN Act, which stands for
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, would prohibit discrimination on the basis of
hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative Rhetta Andres Bowers - HD 113
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May 12, 2023
Title 42 expired yesterday, and I traveled to the border with several colleagues to speak with the men and women of Border Patrol and the Texas National Guard. The crisis at our southern border has never been worse. Over 10,000 illegal aliens flow in daily, and that number will only grow with the expiration of Title 42.
From Office of Senator Ted Cruz By Ted Cruz - United States Senator for Texas
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May 12, 2023
COLLIN COUNTY, Texas -- In case you missed it, during Saturday’s municipal
elections across the state, Texas Democrats successfully fended off attempts at a hostile
takeover by shady, far-right actors funneling out-of-state dark money into North Texas
school board races.
From Texas Democrats
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May 15, 2023
Austin, TX — The Texas Nurses Association is pleased to share that the Texas Legislature recently passed
three bills that are responsive to nursing issues
From Texas Nurses Association
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May 9, 2023
Rep. Burrows needs to call an emergency meeting of the Calendars Committee to include HB 2744 on the list of bills that will be considered on Thursday, the last day for a House Bill to be considered for first reading.
From Central Texas Interfaith
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May 10, 2023
Following Monday's historic bipartisan 8-5 committee vote to advance legislation to raise the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, state leaders obstructed efforts to send the bill to the House floor.
From Texas Gun Sense
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May 10, 2023
AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Yesterday, with a substantive point of order by Representative Rafael Anchia, members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, the oldest and largest Latino legislative caucus in the nation, successfully prevented passage of House Bill 20
From Mexican American Legislative Caucus
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May 10, 2023
Today, New Economy for Working Houston and Greater Houston LULAC Council called for Houston CBS affiliate KHOU to immediately retract an analysis it aired on Jan.30 implying that 121 voting locations in Harris County ran out of paper on election day last year.
From New Economy for Working Houston
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May 10, 2023
This morning, State Senator Roland Gutierrez released a statement in response to HB 2744 being killed before reaching calendars. HB 2744 was authored by Rep. Tracy King and would have raised the age limit to purchase semiautomatic rifles to 21.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Roland Gutierrez District 19
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May 9, 2023
New fund would make homeowners near derailment site whole should they sell their homes at a loss
From U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
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May 9, 2023
Steven Spainhouer – a retired Texas law enforcement official – describing the horror he witnessed in Allen during Saturday’s mass shooting, as well as recounting his efforts to help triage victims of the shooting.
From Texas Democrats
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May 9, 2023
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, joined the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans John Cornyn (R-Texas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Josh Hawley (R-Miss.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), John Kennedy (R-La.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) to send a letter to President Joe Biden urging the White House to reverse the administration’s decision to end Title 42.
From Senator Ted Cruz Press Office
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May 6, 2023
– On May 6th, 2023, a mass shooting occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets. According
to officials, nine people are dead, and at least seven are wounded, at the time of writing.
From Texas House of Representatives By Representative Rhetta Andres Bowers - HD 113
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May 6, 2023
San Antonio, TX -- Early voting results show San Antonio voters soundly defeated Prop A, a ballot initiative to decriminalize abortion. Prop A required police and other staff to ignore state laws protecting unborn babies' lives and women's health, fertility, and safety from illegal and back-alley abortions in the City of San Antonio.
From Texas Alliance for Life
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May 6, 2023
Austin, Texas – Today, State Senator Roland Gutierrez released a statement in response to today’s mass shooting at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas, where there are multiple dead and injured.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Roland Gutierrez District 19
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May 7, 2023
On Saturday, a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle murdered at least 8 people and injured at least 7, including a 5-year-old child, at an outdoor outlet mall in Allen, Texas, a Dallas suburb.
Once again, a Texas community has experienced senseless gun violence and unspeakable trauma.
From Texas Gun Sense
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May 8, 2023
Today, the Community Safety Committee passed HB 2744 with bipartisan support to raise the age to 21 to purchase semi-automatic rifles like that used to murder 19 children and two educators last May. This represents an unprecedented victory for the gun safety movement in Texas.
From Texas Gun Sense
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May 8, 2023
Today, the Texas House Select Committee on Community Safety voted 8 - 5 to pass H.B. 2744, which would raise the age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle to 21, with exceptions for military and law enforcement.
From The Senate of Texas By Senator Roland Gutierrez District 19
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 Copyright June 09, 2023, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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