Governor Abbott Posthumously Presents Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Two Service Members
Governor Greg Abbott posthumously presented the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Sergeant Major Jerry Lynn Bell and U.S. Army Master Sergeant Mike Peña during a ceremony at the Texas Capitol. The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration conferred to a service member […]
Texas Economic Update
The following information has been compiled in order to create a more complete snapshot of the current economic status of Texas. The most recent labor market information for the state is from February 2024.
February 2024 Labor Market Information
- Unemployment Rate: 3.9%
- Total Non-Farm Employment: 14,103,700
- Jobs Change Over the […]
Governor Launches Texas Space Commission
Governor Greg Abbott launched the Texas Space Commission and announced the inaugural members of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium Executive Committee at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The Commission is governed by a nine-member board of directors, who will also administer the legislatively […]
Texas Register Spotlight – March 15 & March 22 Edition
Below is a spotlight of summaries for the proposed, adopted, and withdrawn rules from the March 15th Edition of the Texas Register and the March 22nd Edition of the Texas Register.
Education
Texas Education Agency
Proposed Rules
- 19 TAC 100 Charters – TEA proposes the repeal of chapters related […]
HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List Announcement
For vendors seeking consideration for inclusion on the 2024-2025 HB 1416 Ratio Waiver List for providing accelerated instruction required by HB 1416 88(R), the submission deadline is Friday, April 19th. Vendors will be notified of approval status in May 2024.
House Bill 1416
HB 1416 updated requirements and provides that […]
Creation of House Select Committee on Protecting Texas LNG Exports
Speaker of the House Dade Phelan announced on X the creation of the House Selection Committee on Protecting Texas LNG Exports. The Speaker noted creation of the committee is in response to the federal government’s decision to pause pending approvals of LNG export projects. The proclamation establishing the committee […]
Appointments To Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee
The Governor has made the following appointments to the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium Executive Committee:
David E. Daniel, Ph.D. of Dallas is President Emeritus of UT Dallas, a part time engineering consultant and serves on several nonprofit boards. He is past president, executive committee member, and board member of the Texas Academy of Medicine, […]
Texas Tribune: Childcare in Texas Communities – March 20, 2024
This Texas Tribune panel took place on March 20, 2024 and discussed the issue of childcare policy. The panel includes moderator Karen Brooks Harper, a Texas Tribune reporter, Steven Pedigo, Director of the LBJ Urban Lab, Liza Gomez, Vice President of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar Country, Cristina […]
Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council – March 21, 2024
The Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council met on March 21, 2024, to hear invited testimony on AI systems in use by the Department of Information Resources, the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Teacher Retirement System.
This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight the […]
Upcoming Chapter 313 Reporting Deadline
The Chapter 313 reporting deadline is approaching. Companies must submit the following documentation by April 1, 2024, to chapter.313@cpa.texas.gov:
- Revised Form 50-825 (PDF)
- Revised Excel version of Form 50-825
- Supporting documentation for job verification
Of note, the Comptroller’s Office no longer accepts the old form. The new form has […]
TWDB: Texas Water Fund Stakeholder Meeting – March 20, 2024
The Texas Water Development Board held a stakeholder meeting to discuss implementation of the Texas Water Fund, as created by SB 28 88(R). The TWDB is looking for stakeholder feedback, including information that would inform the TWDB on funding prioritization and about administration of the programs to which funds […]
Public Utility Commission – March 21, 2024
The Public Utility Commission held a meeting on March 21 to discuss a number of items including the proposed rules for the Performance Credit Mechanism, the Texas Energy Fund Completion Grant Program, and the Texas Energy Fund In-ERCOT Loan Program. An archive for this meeting and the agenda can be […]
Sen. Perry Clarifies Legislative Intent for NWSTF
This month, Sen. Charles Perry (author of SB 28 and SJR 75) sent a letter to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to clarify legislative intent at the Board’s request. In his letter he noted the following:
The primary purpose of the NWSTF is to finance the development and acquisition of […]
TEA Proposed Rules with Open Comment Periods
The Proposed Commissioner of Education Rules webpage currently has six rules with open public comment periods. The following links present the preamble filed with the Texas Register in PDF format. The preamble includes information describing the proposed rule action as well as the rule text. Also provided is a […]
Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) Recap
The Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) was enacted under House Bill (HB) 1605 (88th R) and “brings new components to a single, SBOE-governed review of instructional materials,” according to a recent Texas Education Agency (TEA) newsletter. The new IMRA process replaces the former State Board of Education […]
Panhandle Wildfires
The House Investigative Committee on the Panhandle Wildfires was created on March 12th to investigate the factors contributing to the wildfires, allocation of resources to and effectiveness of wildfire disaster preparedness and response, and coordination between local, state, and federal governmental entities with regard to wildfire prevention, disaster preparedness, […]
Environmental/Energy Meeting Updates
TWDB
On March 20th at 1:30 p.m., the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will be holding a meeting to discuss implementation of the Texas Water Fund, including the key areas they are for which they are seeking public input. TWDB staff will provide an update on implementation efforts and will […]
TCEQ March 28 Commissioner Agenda Includes Rules for Adoption
On March 28th the Commissioners on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will take up a full agenda including a rule review of 30 TAC Chapter 7 (Memorandum of Understanding), Chapter 70 (Enforcement), Chapter 210 (Use of Reclaimed Water), Chapter 285 (On-Site Sewage), Chapter […]
Economic Focus Included in Texas Governor 2024 Report to the People of Texas
Governor Greg Abbott released his 2024 Report to the People of Texas reviewing everything accomplished in 2023 and sharing his vision for the year ahead.
Included in the report were several economic development tools established in the 88th Legislative Session and finalized in many cases by voter approval including: $1.5 […]
Governor Abbott Hosts Foreign Dignitaries to Discuss Tech and Energy Partnerships
Governor Greg Abbott recently met with the Australian Ambassador to the United States Dr. Kevin Rudd and the German Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour, and Tourism of Baden-Württemberg Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut at the Texas Capitol. Meeting separately, Abbott spoke with both on artificial intelligence, energy production, and semiconductor manufacturing. […]
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory Council Appointed
The AI Advisory Council will begin studying the use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in state government, now that the Texas Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House have appointed council members.
The appointments include: Senator Tan Parker and Representative Giovanni Capriglione (co-chairs), John Bash, Mark Stone, […]
Comptroller Releases March Sales Tax Data
State Sales Tax Revenue Totaled $3.7 Billion in February
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.69 billion in February, .05 percent more than in February 2023. “Overall monthly state sales tax collections slightly surpassed those of a year ago,” Hegar said. “The trends we have […]
AG Paxton Releases School Safety Guidance and Makes OAG Training Available to SROs
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released an advisory clarifying the requirements under state law for school districts to prepare for potential threats to student safety. State law now requires school districts to provide every classroom with silent panic alarms, ensure armed security officers are present on each campus, require […]
AG Paxton Proposes New Rule Enhancing DA Reporting Requirements
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton published a new proposed rule that would enhance reporting requirements for District Attorneys and County Attorneys presiding over a county with a population of 250,000 or more. The proposal would require additional quarterly and annual reports and establish official definitions for terms such as “violent […]
Texas Submits Climate Action Plan to EPA
Texas has submitted a climate plan under the Environment Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program, which aims to help state and local governments develop strategies to reduce pollution. Over 96% of the U.S. population is covered by these plans. In 2023, under the first phase of the $5 […]