TEXAS SENATE
How to fight Texas’ ‘trash’ school library censorship policies
| July 3, 2025
bannedbooks | EXCO-Player | old texas | public education | public school | TEXAS | TEXAS LEGISLATURE | TEXAS POLITICS | TEXAS SENATE | youtube
Senate Bill 13, which literacy advocates say will destroy public school libraries and make book banning easier in Texas, takes power away from public school librarians and gives it to school boards and parents instead.
But local advocates like Laney Hawes, co-director of the Texas Freedom to Read Project, are fighting back.
SB 13 creates an advisory committee made up of parents that school boards can delegate decision making to, but there’s an option in the new law that allows districts to not adopt the council.
“ Our recommendation is, to districts, do not approve the library council in your school districts because it doesn't work,” Hawes told COURIER Texas. “It wasn't written to work. Don't do it. It's too many steps, and it’s going to destroy your school library.”
TX THC Attack About Alcohol, Says Weed Shop Owner
| June 10, 2025
cannabis | EXCO-Player | old texas | SMALL BUSINESS | TEXAS | TEXAS LEGISLATURE | TEXAS SENATE | weed | youtube
Molly Mathias, owner of a Dallas cannabis shop, says she believes the recent THC ban in Texas (approved by the legislature, but still awaiting the governor's signature) is the result of lobbying efforts by the alcohol industry.
A majority of Texans (62%) favor the legalization of recreational maryjane, according to a recent University of Texas poll. Yet Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has championed a ban on THC-infused products. (Patrick, by the way, has accepted tens of thousands of campaign dollars from beer and liquor distributers.)
Get the rundown on the Texas THC ban in our special edition newsletter, out June 14. Hit the link in our bio to subscribe.
Op-Ed: ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ — SB 16 hurts young, other marginalized voters
| May 16, 2025
Senate Bill 16's proposed voter ID requirements don't strengthen election security, they just further exclude young, rural, and low-income Texans.
Texas Senate panel votes to cut property taxes for homeowners
| February 11, 2025
ECONOMY | HOUSING | lawmakers | politcal | political | politics | state legislature | TEXAS | TEXAS ECONOMY | TEXAS LEGISLATURE | TEXAS POLITICS | TEXAS SENATE
A Texas Senate committee on Tuesday quickly and unanimously advanced a proposal to provide billions of dollars in tax breaks to homeowners in a bid to blunt the state’s high property tax bills.
$1 billion school voucher bill clears first hurdle in Texas Senate
| January 31, 2025
A bill creating a $1 billion school voucher program for 100,000 Texas students is on a fast-track for approval in the state Senate.