Articles tagged: Legislature
“People Are Wiped Out”: Costs Pile Up as Hurricane Season Begins
Hurricanes, a winter storm, and spring floods have left low-income Gulf Coast residents exhausted and cash strapped before this year’s season, with no significant aid in sight.
This story was published in partnership with Southerly. When Chrishelle Palay inherited her great-aunt’s home in Kashmere Gardens, a flood-prone neighborhood ...Read More
Texas Expands Access to Medical Cannabis—But Advocates Say It’s Not Enough
Texas has one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the country, leaving veterans like Viridiana Edwards struggling to manage chronic pain and PTSD.
This article was produced through the NPR NextGen/Texas Observer Print Scholars program, a new collaboration designed to offer mentorship and hands-on traini...Read More
Mentally Ill and Sentenced to Death
After 45 years, Texas’ longest-serving death row inmate was resentenced last week due to a long history of severe mental illness. But state lawmakers this session again declined to ban the death penalty for people like him.
This article was produced through the NPR NextGen/Texas Observer Print Scholars program, a new collaboration designed to offer mentorship and hands-on traini...Read More
As the Power Grid Wavers Again, Texans Are Still Recovering From the Winter Storm
Experts say the energy reform bill signed by Governor Greg Abbott doesn’t go far enough to protect Texans from future blackouts.
This article was produced through the NPR NextGen/Texas Observer Print Scholars program, a new collaboration designed to offer mentorship and hands-on training ...Read More
For the First Time, ‘Redeemed’ Texas Parents May Get a Second Chance
New legislation could open a legal pathway to reinstate once-terminated parental rights.
Maggie Luna tried to fit all of the love she had for her three children onto a tri-fold poster board a week before her court date. Each section of the plain whi...Read More
Again, Texas Republicans Fail to Gut Local Labor Protections
The win for worker advocates came unexpectedly—and may not last long.
In the waning hours of Texas’ 87th legislative session, House Democrats staged a walk-out to kill a sweeping Republican effort at voter suppression. Little-no...Read More
Texas Demographer Has Given the Same Speech for 25 Years. Is Anyone Listening?
'Unless we reverse the trends that we’re seeing now, we will be a poorer, less-educated state,' the former state demographer says.
“Unless we reverse the trends that we’re seeing now, we will be a poorer, less-educated state,” the former state demographer says....Read More
Hot List: Day 137 of the Legislature
The session adjourns on Monday, but the big question on everyone's lips at the Capitol is: Will there be a special session?...Read More
Hot List: Day 133 of the Texas Legislature
It's one week left of the Legislature, and lawmakers are cramming last-minute laws into the session like it's the night before their final exams....Read More