Past Contributions

• Lawmakers consider long-shot $2.3 billion proposal to keep struggling child care providers afloat

  By Karen Brooks Harper May 9, 2023

  Three years after the COVID-19 pandemic upset the fragile child care industry, about a third of the state’s child care providers remain closed. Full Story 

• New economic incentive plan clears hurdle in Texas House

  By Karen Brooks Harper Updated: May 5, 2023

  During the floor debate for a plan to replace the expired Chapter 313 program, House members added that the new version of the incentive must require companies to pay higher wages and create stiffer penalties for noncompliance. Full Story 

• Protesters decry stalled fentanyl test strip bill; Texas House passes get-tough criminal penalties

  By James Barragán and Karen Brooks Harper Updated: April 28, 2023

  Stuck in committee, the test-strip legislation has support from Gov. Greg Abbott and bipartisan lawmakers, who see it as a way to save lives. Full Story 

• Texas Senate passes $308 billion budget plan, kicking off high-stakes negotiations with the House

  By Karen Brooks Harper April 17, 2023

  There are $5 billion and several political wedges standing between the House and Senate plans, which now move into conference committee with less than five weeks before session ends. Full Story 

• Senate budget panel approves $308 billion spending plan with new money for teachers, mental health, juvenile justice

  By Karen Brooks Harper April 12, 2023

  The proposal for the 2024-25 budget cycle includes $142.1 billion in general revenue spending — about $5 billion higher than the proposal approved last week by the Texas House — at a time when lawmakers have a historic $32.7 billion surplus at their disposal this session. Full Story 

• Expanded access to medical marijuana gains traction as Texas House passes bill

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Raul Trey Lopez Updated: April 12, 2023

  The bipartisan legislation is an expansion on the state’s 2015 “Compassionate Use” law, which has allowed a growing number of patients to legally use cannabis to treat debilitating symptoms of conditions such as epilepsy, autism, cancer and PTSD. Full Story 

• Texas House approves $302.6 billion state budget with tax cuts and teacher and state employee raises

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Zach Despart Updated: April 6, 2023

  After a marathon debate, the bill will head to the Senate, where lawmakers have been crafting their own version of the spending plan. Full Story 

• Budget day in the House: Texas lawmakers keep anti-DEI proposal

  By Karen Brooks Harper and Zach Despart Updated: April 6, 2023

  House Bill 1 is being debated on the floor of the lower chamber, where representatives are hammering out details on the next two years of state spending. Full Story 

• State retirees struggle through inflation while budget plans leave them out

  By Karen Brooks Harper Updated: April 5, 2023

  Budget proposals in the Texas Legislature include billions in raises for current and retired teachers, as well as current state employees. So far, retired state employees are not mentioned in the budget plans. The state’s former public servants haven’t had a pension raise in 20 years. Full Story 

• Texas Senate budget writers propose billions for teacher raises, lower property taxes and water projects

  By Karen Brooks Harper March 27, 2023

  The Senate Finance Committee’s proposals won’t be voted on and sent to the full chamber until April. Full Story