Latest news with #AUSTIN
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
A Texas effort to clarify abortion ban reaches a key vote, but doubts remain
AUSTIN, Texas — Three years ago, Dr. Austin Dennard left Texas for an abortion after her fetus was diagnosed with a fatal condition. She later testified in a lawsuit how the state's near-total ban on abortion put her health at risk. On Wednesday, a key vote is scheduled on a bill that aims to clarify medical exceptions under one of the nation's most restrictive bans. But Dennard's feelings are mixed about the bill, which does not list specific medical conditions or include fatal fetal anomalies as exceptions.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Texas Senate plan takes teacher pay raises out of basic allotment formula
The Brief Senate Education Committee took up school funding on Thursday, May 15 Senate legislation much different from original House Bill 2 Total amount in funding remains at nearly $8 billion AUSTIN, Texas - State lawmakers are in a race with the clock to pass an education funding plan before the regular session ends on June 2. Members of the Senate Education Committee started taking up legislation much different from the bill that moved out of the state House a month ago. What we know The original plan for House Bill 2 was called the "Texas Two-Step" with the understanding that education funding would move through the legislature in tandem with Governor Greg Abbott's school choice plan. Members came in with a lot of questions after the 225-page re-write of HB 2 was posted Wednesday night. The total amount in funding remains at nearly $8 billion. The Senate version takes a different approach to how that money is to be spent by local school districts. It rolls in other bills that have increases for special education programs, school safety, and the Teacher's Bill of Rights. Dig deeper One of the most notable changes involves teacher pay raises and how the money will be distributed. There is an emphasis on helping rural teachers and all the money will come out of a newly created permanent fund that is separate from the basic allotment sent to school districts. That change has raised questions since the House version of HB 2 increases the allotment by nearly $400 per student, while the Senate plan is at $55. The gap, the committee was told is because teacher pay and some other priority initiatives are earmarked by the state and that the $55 adds up to $800 million for local school boards to focus on support staff. What they're saying "So we're shifting billions of dollars permanently off of the basic allotted pressures and then the remaining Basic Allotment plus more money districts can use fully flexible," said Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe). There were tough questions about charter schools. Committee members Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) and Se. Royce West (D-Dallas) noted how charter school teachers will be eligible for the pay raise, but charter schools will still operate under different rules than those for public schools. Sen. Creighton, who filed the new HB 2, noted there are policy inequities that should be addressed, but noted charter school reform will have to come later. In public testimony there were calls to increase funding levels for Pre-K and for Fine Arts programs. What's next The bill was left pending Thursday night after hours of public testimony. The Senate funding plan was described as a work in progress and it's unclear when the legislation will be sent to the full Senate. Eventually, it will have to go back to the Texas House. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TXOGA applauds strategic commitment to West Texas growth and energy security
Apr. 24—AUSTIN — The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) on Thursday took a major step in ensuring the long-term energy reliability and economic vitality of the Lone Star State by announcing that the buildout of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan will proceed using 765-kilovolt (kV) transmission lines — the highest-voltage transmission standard to be used in Texas. Following the announcement, Texas Oil & Gas Association (TXOGA) President Todd Staples issued the following statement: "Today's decision by the PUC to approve transmission lines in the buildout of the Permian Basin Reliability Plan further reinforces Texas' ongoing commitment to fostering economic growth, creating jobs and strengthening our energy independence. We thank PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, Commissioners Kathleen Jackson and Courtney Hjaltman, as well as staff, for their diligent and thoughtful work to advance this project. Former PUC Commissioner Lori Cobos also worked extensively on this issue. This decision is critical to ensuring that reliable power is available for oil and natural gas production and industrial development across West Texas — enabling the energy sector to continue delivering affordable, secure energy to Texas, the nation, and the world." Conditionally approved in September 2024, the Permian Basin Reliability Plan addresses persistent concerns over insufficient transmission capacity in one of the most productive energy regions in the country. The plan is designed to support the region's strong and growing electricity demand and unlock continued economic development across the Permian Basin. The Commission's endorsement of the 765-kV configuration signals not only the urgency of West Texas growth but also confidence in the ability of Texas transmission providers to deliver the project on time and within budget, despite challenging economic conditions. It also reflects the PUC's investigation and conclusion that the 765-kV approach offers the best long-term path to expand ERCOT's capacity and meet the state's growing power needs. The buildout will represent the largest high-voltage transmission investment in Texas in more than a decade — a bold step toward future-proofing the grid and reinforcing Texas' global energy leadership.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PUCT approves plan for the first extra high voltage transmission lines in ERCOT region
Apr. 24—AUSTIN — In a landmark decision, the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) on Thursday approved a plan to build the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region's first extra high voltage transmission lines to meet the Permian Basin's rapidly growing power needs. "The PUCT is fully committed to building an ERCOT grid that will serve Texans reliably for decades to come," PUCT Chairman Thomas Gleeson said in a news release. "Extra high voltage lines are more efficient and strengthen reliability. Because each line can carry more power, fewer lines are necessary to serve the needs of the Permian Basin Region, meaning less disruption to Texas landowners, natural habitats, and landscapes. Our priority now is ensuring utilities execute these projects quickly and at the lowest possible cost to Texas consumers." House Bill 5066, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023 and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, required the PUCT to approve an electric reliability plan for the Permian Basin region to support the on-going expansion and electrification of Texas' oil and gas industry and the growing electricity needs of West Texas communities. That plan was approved in Oct. 2024. The next step was determining whether to build it out with new, more efficient extra high voltage (765 kilovolts) transmission lines or the standard 345-kilovolt transmission lines currently in use throughout the ERCOT grid. The Permian Basin reliability plan is the first step in a broader effort mandated by the Legislature and Abbott to evaluate transmission and distribution systems across the ERCOT grid and identify where improvements are needed to support the state's rapid growth and ensure long-term electric reliability. The PUCT's approval of the Permian Basin reliability plan follows a full analysis of the costs, equipment supply chains, and project completion timelines of both voltage options. Additionally, the PUCT and ERCOT hosted six workshops to gather input from members of the public, equipment manufacturers, and the transmission service providers (TSP) who will build and operate the new lines. ERCOT and the TSPs estimate the extra high voltage plan could cost 22% more than the lower-voltage alternative; however, it will provide many long-term benefits. Higher voltage lines can carry more power and meet higher levels of demand as the state continues to grow, reduce expensive congestion on existing transmission lines, and could save money in the long-term by avoiding the need to build new transmission lines to catch up to future demand.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
TEA releases 2023 A-F accountability ratings
Apr. 24—AUSTIN — The Texas Education Agency (TEA) on Thursday released 2023 A-F accountability ratings for school systems and campuses statewide, restoring transparency for parents and the public regarding school performance following a lawsuit-induced two-year delay. Though these ratings reflect performance from the 2022-23 school year, TEA is now able to publicly release them for the first time and make them available at TEA is prevented from sharing more recent school ratings from the 2023-24 school year due to a separate, ongoing lawsuit. School performance ratings from the 2024-25 school year are scheduled to be issued in August 2025, a news release said. "For far too long, families, educators and communities have been denied access to information about the performance of their schools, thanks to frivolous lawsuits paid for by tax dollars filed by those who disagreed with the statutory goal of raising career readiness expectations to help students," Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in the release. "Every Texas family deserves a clear view of school performance, and now those families finally have access to data they should have received two years ago. Transparency drives progress, and when that transparency is blocked, students pay the price." A-F ratings were first issued for Texas public school systems in 2018, and the rating methodology had been largely unchanged since that time. For this set of ratings from the 2022-23 school year, the methods of calculating A-F scores were updated to more accurately reflect performance, as part of a previously communicated system refresh. To provide an apples-to-apples comparison between 2022 and 2023 A-F ratings, TEA also published "What If" overall scale scores and ratings for 2022 on using the refreshed system. These ratings do not replace the final 2022 A-F ratings but are intended to provide a clear picture for school systems to support self-evaluation and improvement planning. The A — F accountability system was established in 2017 by the 85th Texas Legislature through House Bill (HB) 22 to provide clear and consistent information on how schools are performing in three key areas: Student Achievement, School Progress and Closing the Gaps. Designed to drive continuous improvement, the A-F system helps ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success after graduation. A-F ratings help educators and school systems celebrate successes and focus support where it is needed most. Despite the system's intent for annual transparency, for the past five years, families have gone without a complete set of ratings. No ratings were issued for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while ratings were released in 2022, the ratings were heavily impacted by pandemic-related learning disruptions and a state law that prevented D and F ratings from being issued that year. Legal challenges then delayed the release of ratings for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. The release of 2023 ratings give families a much-needed and long-overdue opportunity to understand how their schools are serving students. The ratings also give districts valuable insights to strengthen instruction, close achievement gaps and support continuous improvement. To view 2023 A-F ratings for school systems and campuses, visit
