Latest news with #AngelaPaxton
CBS News
01-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
As the Texas legislative session ends, a look at major bills and changes that impact you
Monday, June 2 is the last day of the regular Texas Legislative session. The end of the session brings changes that impact public schools, property tax relief, criminal justice, abortion and more. Property tax relief Texas Senators celebrated the additional $10 billion in relief from school property taxes this year that they and lawmakers in the House passed this session. That's on top of the record property tax cuts from two years ago. The homestead exemption for most Texas homeowners will rise from $100,000 to $140,000. For people over 65, the homestead exemption will increase to $200,000, and local leaders say many seniors won't end up paying school property taxes at all. Exemptions for business property taxes will also increase from $2,500 to $125,000 next year. "Every session we have been here, we have done historic, not just big things, historic things to create property tax relief for Texans," said Republican State Sen. Angela Paxton of McKinney. Governor Greg Abbott will sign the bills, which he considered one of this top priorities. In November, residents will have the final say by voting to make it permanent in the Texas Constitution. Public school funding Another priority bill headed to the Governor's desk will inject a record $8.5 billion in new money for the state's public schools. About half of that, $4.2 billion, will go to permanent pay raises for teachers with three or more years of experience. The legislature is also sending school districts an extra $500 million dollars to give pay raises to entry-level teachers and non-administrative staff. State Rep. Brad Buckley of Salado said, "A guarantee for public school teachers that is unprecedented, not really, it is unprecedented. It is unprecedented in this state." Lawmakers also approved legislation to crack down further on disruptive students and allow local school boards and parents to have more control over the books in public school libraries. Bringing the bible to the classroom Also passed in this session: voluntary prayer in schools and requiring school districts to display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in every classroom. Texas Republican Rep. Candy Noble said, "Nothing is more deep-rooted in the fabric of our American tradition of education than the Ten Commandments; the way we treat others as a society comes from the principles found in the Ten Commandments." "I just think if I were giving a speech, I would say it just seems like we're trampling over the freedom of religion by passing your bill," said Democrat State Rep. Vikki Goodwin of Austin. The ACLU of Texas is one of the organizations promising to challenge the law in court. Film industry incentives The state is also providing $1.5 billion in incentives over the next decade to attract television and film production to better compete against other states. Big Hollywood names, including Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, spoke during the session in favor of Texas Senate Bill 22. Taylor Hardy, the Fort Worth Film Commissioner, stated that the bill would bring jobs to Tarrant County, boost business for local hotels and restaurants, and ultimately attract more visitors. "Since the Fort Worth Film Commission was founded about 10 years ago, we've measured $700 million in economic impact and over 30,000 jobs supported. Those are over a period of time, but that's almost the equivalent of another American Airlines headquarters in terms of the amount of jobs it's created," Hardy told CBS News Texas. Bail reform Another priority of Governor Abbott's is headed to his desk: bail reform. It requires judges to deny bail in more criminal cases and allows prosecutors a chance to appeal judges' decisions on bail. "This is common sense," Abbott said previously when speaking about the bill. "You pass this bill, pass this constitutional amendment, lives will literally be saved. You fail to pass this; more people are going to be murdered. This has to get done." Residents will also have to vote in November to change the Texas Constitution, which will force judges to deny bail for those accused of murder and other violent crimes. Texas' near abortion ban Lawmakers also passed legislation that will clarify medical exceptions to the state's near abortion ban. The changes would not expand abortion access in Texas or list specific medical exceptions under the state's near-total ban, which took effect in 2022 and only allows for an abortion to save the life of the mother. It also would not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The bill would specify that doctors cannot face criminal charges for performing an abortion in a medical emergency that causes major bodily impairment. It also defines a "life-threatening" condition as one capable of causing death. THC products ban And in what has turned out to be a very controversial bill, the state will ban all THC products statewide starting in September. After the state allowed hemp sales to support farmers, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said new smoke shops exploited a loophole in that law. Stores and businesses that sell products have pushed back and hope the Governor will veto the measure. Patrick said businesses and stores are selling dangerous products. "These are bad actors," said Patrick. "These are people who want to kill your kids. They don't give a damn." In response, Thomas Winstanley, Executive Vice President of sent a statement saying, "The Lieutenant Governor's statement is not only deeply irresponsible—it's dangerously misleading. To characterize an entire industry as "bad actors'" who "want to kill your kids" is a flagrant misrepresentation that borders on satire, if it weren't so inflammatory coming from an elected official." The Governor has already signed into law another bill that requires Apple and Google to verify the ages of its app store users. Lawmakers are also spending at least $1 billion a year for the foreseeable future to create new water sources and fix leaky water pipes to accommodate a growing population and industries. Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning on CBS News Texas, on air and streaming on the CBS News app. Follow Jack on X: @cbs11jack
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Apple against new Texas online child safety bill? Here's all you need to know
Texas governor Greg Abbott has enacted a new online child safety law concerning age verification . Set to take effect on January 1, 2026, the legislation has encountered significant opposition from leading tech firms like Apple and Google . What the bill entails The bill , introduced by Texas State Senator Angela Paxton, requires anyone under 18 to get parental permission before accessing apps or making in-app purchases. It also makes app stores verify users' ages and obtain parental consent before minors can download apps or buy within them. Under the bill, if a minor uses a device, their App Store account must be linked to their parent's account. This way, parents will be notified of any app downloads by their child and can approve or deny them. Another Texas bill, which would restrict social media use to individuals over 18, is currently awaiting a Senate vote. Utah became the first state to enact a similar law regulating app stores, which took effect earlier this year. Apple CEO's intervention Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Tim Cook , Apple's CEO, reportedly reached out to governor Abbott in an effort to persuade him to either scrap or amend the law after it passed through the Texas legislature. Apple, alongside Google, has been collaborating with interest groups to oppose the legislation, warning that enforcing such rules could jeopardise user privacy. 'We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information,' Apple stated, as reported by the BBC. According to TechCrunch, Apple's lobbyists successfully blocked a similar bill in Louisiana last year, though the state is now reconsidering the legislation. Apps at odds The question of how to enforce age restrictions has sparked a dispute between Meta—the parent company of Instagram and Facebook—and tech giants Apple and Google. Meta , along with social media platforms Snap and X , welcomed the passage of the bill. "Parents want a one-stop shop to verify their child's age and grant permission for them to download apps in a privacy-preserving way. The app store is the best place for it, and more than one-third of US states have introduced bills recognising the central role app stores play," the companies commented. In contrast, Apple and Google argue that the Texas bill imposes broad requirements forcing the sharing of age data with all apps, even those that are completely harmless. 'If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app, even if it's an app that simply provides weather updates or sports scores,' Apple stated. Age limits and parental consent for social media use remain one of the few areas of broad consensus across the US, with a 2023 Pew Research poll revealing that 81% of Americans support parental consent for children creating social media accounts, and 71% favour age verification prior to accessing social media platforms.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Bill advancing at Texas Capitol gives school boards, parents process to remove books in public school libraries
New bill would give Texas parents more control over books in public school libraries New bill would give Texas parents more control over books in public school libraries New bill would give Texas parents more control over books in public school libraries Texas lawmakers are taking a step closer to passing a bill that will give local school boards the ability to pull books from school library shelves. Parents will also be able to challenge books in the school libraries under the legislation. The Texas House passed Senate Bill 13, authored by Senator Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, along party lines Monday. Lawmakers in the House were set to give final approval Tuesday, but that has been pushed back until Wednesday morning. From the House, the measure will return to the Senate to review changes made by the House. Under the legislation, the state will establish a definition for harmful materials. According to legislative records, indecent content would portray sex organs or activities in a way that's patently offensive. Profane content would include grossly offensive language considered a public nuisance. There is a difference between the House and Senate versions in at least one provision, which allows the creation of a school library advisory council. The Senate version says it should be mandatory, while the House version says it should be optional. Republicans, including Representative Brad Buckley of Salado, support the bill because it gives more local control. "Senate Bill 13 understands that too often, for too long, libraries have been filled with agendas," said Buckley. "It's time to end that. But the way to end it is to empower our local leaders and our parents locally to find some resolution." Democrats, including Representative Mihaela Plesa of Dallas, expressed concerns over the legislation and said she opposes it. "Senate Bill 13 may not call itself censorship, but in effect is the same thing: giving the government the authority to decide what stories are too uncomfortable, too complicated or too real for our students to read," Plesa said. In addition to Senate Bill 13, the Texas House gave final passage to Senate Bill 6. It will allow ERCOT, the power grid operator, the ability to shut off power to large customers, such as data centers, during emergency situations. Those customers would have to have backup power. It comes as ERCOT has forecast that demand for power will surge in Texas by 2030. The bill will have to go back to the Texas Senate to work out differences. Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas on air and streaming
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Legislature poised to implement sweeping restrictions on school libraries
Texas school boards and parents would have unprecedented control over the school library book selection process under a wide-ranging state Senate bill that the House passed 87-57 Monday, moving it one crucial step forward in its path to becoming law. Senate Bill 13 would require school districts to pull books with 'indecent,' 'profane' or 'sexually explicit' content and grant elected board members veto power over new purchases. Any new library material, whether digital or physical, would be subject to a 30-day public review period, after which the school board would have another month before a vote. In support of the measure, Republicans said it will prevent students from being exposed to "sexually explicit' and inappropriate books. Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, authored SB 13. 'Senate Bill 13 understands that too often and for too long, our libraries have been filled with agendas, and it's time to end that,' said Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, the bill's House sponsor. 'The way to end it is to empower our local leaders and our parents to find some resolution.' Democratic members called the bill a distraction from "real" problems that Texas children face, listing among them teacher shortages, housing instability and gun violence. They also argued the terms in the bill are unconstitutionally vague and could allow districts to strike classics like 'Lonesome Dove,' 'Catcher in the Rye' or 'Romeo and Juliet.' 'No child has ever died from a book, but many, like me, have been saved by one,' said Rep. Christina Morales, D-Houston. The House version of SB 13 authorizes school boards to appoint parental library advisory councils, but does not require them. These councils will be tasked with singling out books that contain 'indecent content or profane content inconsistent with local community values or age appropriateness,' as per Buckley's Monday amendment. This effort comes as a 2023 Texas law with a similar goal to SB 13 remains tied up in a First Amendment lawsuit. Under a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the state cannot enforce House Bill 900's requirement that vendors rate books for sexual content, meaning schools are not yet on the hook for removing them. Librarians have warned SB 13 could substantially slow down the book purchasing process, creating a significant roadblock for the acquisition of new materials. San Antonio school librarian Lucy Podmore said she was able to purchase a book on monologues for a student with a one-week turnaround this school year, making sure a student had it for a debate she was preparing for. But 'If the bill is in place right now, we would have to wait six to eight weeks plus two more months to get that,' Podmore told the American-Statesman. The librarian joined several dozen others to protest the bill Monday. Spread out on the floor and the steps outside of the House chamber, the group of parents, children, librarians and activists quietly read to themselves in front of a 'FREE TO READ' banner. 'I don't think this bill is about protecting children,' said Emily Kaszczuk, who participated in the "read-in" with her 6- and 9-year-old daughters from Leander. 'I think it's about control.' If 20% of parents in a district petition for a library advisory council to be established, the school board is required to create one. SB 13 would also let any parent submit a list of titles that their children cannot check out, and access their children's borrowing histories. Books that are challenged or under review would be removed from the shelves until probes are completed, at which time school board members would publicly vote on them. More: Parent advisory councils could shape school library content under controversial Texas bill Schools could use state funds to offset compliance costs under a successful amendment from Rep. Charles Cunningham, R-Humble. Before the chamber's initial vote, Democratic members implored their colleagues to oppose the bill. Rep. Mihaela Plesa of Dallas, whose parents fled from Romania's communist regime, said SB 13 reminds her of measures used by that authoritarian government to stifle dissent. 'We do not protect liberty by silencing it, we do not strengthen education by censoring it, and we do not honor democracy by fearing diversity," she said. For Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, the proposal 'will push LGBTQ kids away from the safety of school and education.' As a concerned mother, freshman Rep. Hillary Hickland, R-Belton, said she supported the bill because she had seen what she called "filth" in library catalogs. 'Trust has been broken between parents and public schools," she said. "As a parent, we want to know that our kids are safe in the libraries." The bill will go to a final vote Tuesday, and if it's passed, it will head back to the Senate. If the upper chamber disagrees with the changes, a conference committee will be appointed to hash out the details. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature poised to pass school library restriction bill
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Read-in outside Texas Capitol House Chamber calls attention to SB 13
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several groups who say they oppose book bans in Texas staged a 'read-in' outside of the Capitol House Chamber. Public education advocates and community partners joined the Texas Freedom Network on Memorial Day to show public disapproval of Senate Bill 13, which the groups say is a 'legislative attempt to censor books representing underrepresented communities in Texas public schools and libraries.' RELATED: Appeals court rules libraries have right to 'government speech', can remove books based on content The bill's sponsor, Angela Paxton, R-District 8, said processes and standards for school library book acquisition need 'additional structure and transparency… to ensure that school library collections are appropriate for school campuses based on developmental suitability and on community values.' Attendees of the read-in sat in a circle outside the House Chamber Monday and read from books they say would be subject to removal if SB 13 is passed a full vote. SB 13 passed the Senate and House Public Education Committee and was set to be heard on the House floor Monday. The bill states that a parent is entitled to access written school records related to library obtained by their child. Among other provisions, SB 13 prohibits school libraries from possessing, acquiring or buying 'harmful material,' library material that is rated sexually explicit, library material that is pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable, and library material containing indecent or profane content. The bill 'recognizes that parents are the primary decision makers regarding a student's access to library material.' The bill also states that parents can petition a school district's board of trustees to establish a local school library advisory council, under certain conditions. Paxton and the bill's 21 sponsors say local school library advisory councils are meant to help ensure that library materials meet state standards and reflect local values. Meanwhile, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that libraries can take books off shelves based on their content, reversing a district court's decision in a case involving the Llano County Library. SB 13 is sponsored by 21 Republican Representatives and was on the Major State Calendar for Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
