Texas Weekly

1. ?? House Rules Adopted

The Texas House of Representatives has adopted new rules for the 89th legislative session, introducing several notable changes:

1. Committee Leadership:

• Committee chairs are now required to be members of the majority party (currently Republicans).
• Vice chairs are to be members of the minority party (currently Democrats), with an emphasis on...

2. ?? Senate Unveils School Choice Legislation

Senator Brandon Creighton, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, on Friday filed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2)—the “Texas Education Freedom Act”—to create an education savings accounts program, a top priority for Governor Abbott after a similar bill failed to pass last legislative session.

3. ????Lawmakers Elevate Texas’ Natural Resources

Leaders in the Texas Legislature are touting key pieces of legislation aimed at elevating Texas’ natural resources - notably, energy and water - and aimed at ensuring Texas is adequately using these resources to its advantage…wisely.

The big picture: With Texas’ growing population, industry might and global presence, the state’s vast natural resources are seen as an advantage (energy, including oil, natural gas, wind, solar, and nuclear are all either in abundance or growing), while some important resources and their management are seen as potential obstacles to the state’s success (such as water shortages). The focus on these vital resources show Texas leaders are well aware of the...

4. ??Texas Border Security Efforts Get Boost From Feds

Governor Greg Abbott has announced a flurry of activity since President Trump’s inauguration last week aimed at working closer with the federal government to secure the Texas-Mexico border and stem the flow of illegal immigration.

The Governor’s announcements and actions over the past week include...

?? Texas History Fact of the Week

On January 27, 1839, Rev. Caleb Smith Ives reported the organization of Christ Church, Matagorda, probably the first Episcopal church in Texas. Formerly, during most of the period of Mexican Texas, Protestants could not practice their faith openly in Texas, since the Mexican government required allegiance to the Catholic Church. In 1838 Robert Chapman and Caleb Smith Ives were invited to open schools in the new Republic of Texas. Ives conducted the first Episcopalian service in the republic at Christmas 1838, and reported the first organized congregation a month later.

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