Past Contributions

• Human Trafficking Bill Passes in Senate

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 23, 2011

  The Senate preliminarily approved a bill today by state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, that would add new definitions and harsher penalties to human trafficking laws. Full Story 

• Brewpub Bill Gets Boost With Compromise

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 22, 2011

  A bill that would give brewpubs more flexibility to sell their ales has been given a boost by a compromise with an influential beer lobby. Full Story 

• Lawmakers Push for Changes to Hospital Hiring Law

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 17, 2011

  Lawmakers today heard heated testimony on a number of bills targeting hospitals' ability to hire physicians. Full Story 

• Rural Hospitals Hope to Change Hiring Law

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 17, 2011

  A Texas law dating back to the 1800s that keeps hospitals from directly hiring doctors comes before lawmakers today, in a flurry of bills designed to remove the ban — either for an individual hospital district, or for all the state's rural hospitals. Full Story 

• Lawmakers Get an Earful About Campus Carry

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 16, 2011

  Supporters and opponents of allowing concealed handguns on college campuses packed a House committee room today where a number of bills that would allow it were being discussed. Full Story 

• Senate Approves Eyewitness ID Reform

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 16, 2011

  The Texas Senate unanimously approved a bill today that would revamp eyewitness identification policies used by law enforcement agencies. Full Story 

• Ban Synthetic Drugs, Lawmakers Say

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 15, 2011

  Synthetic drugs and hallucinogenic plants shouldn't stand a chance in Texas, lawmakers on the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee said today, as they considered a set of bills that would ban the substances. Full Story 

• Bills Would Consolidate State Agencies to Cut Cost

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 14, 2011

  In an effort to cut administrative costs, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed a group of bills last week that would eliminate four state agencies. Full Story 

• Parents Push for Statewide Food Allergy Guidelines

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 14, 2011

  Beth Martinez, who saved her young son's life after an allergic reaction to something he ate, has joined with other parents across the state to support bills they say would help schools deal with an increasing number of students with food allergies. Full Story 

• Texplainer: Why Can't I Buy a Car or Liquor on Sundays?

  By Christopher Smith Gonzalez March 11, 2011

  You can’t buy liquor on Sundays and car dealerships can only be open one day over a weekend because of the last remnants of so-called “blue laws” in Texas. But a state Senate bill would change that for alcohol sales. Full Story