Latest news with #GaryVanDeaver
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marvin Nichols proposal ‘running out of time' to become Texas law
RED RIVER, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — A bill in the Texas Legislature that would eliminate plans for a controversial reservoir in East Texas has cleared an early hurdle, but it still has a long way to go. Marvin Nichols is a proposed reservoir project that would flood 66,000 acres of the Sulpher River Basin, located in Northeast Texas, encompassing all or portions of Fannin, Hunt, Lamar, Hopkins, Red River, Franklin, Titus, Morris, Bowie, Cass, and Delta counties. 'Every year, Region C, which is the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, they put the Marvin Nichols reservoir in their plan. Since 1968, they've been doing that. Region D, which is Northeast Texas, doesn't put it in their plan, and there's this conflict that is unsettled,' says Cass County Judge Travis Ransom. House Bill 2109 would settle that conflict once and for all, requiring the removal of projects that have been part of a Texas Water Development Board water plan for more than 50 years without starting construction. Texas House bill could bring the end of Marvin Nichols Reservoir plan 'I think you would agree that it's unreasonable to think that the state has the right to call dibs on private property to be taken at some point, more than 50 years in the future. This is not fair to these hardworking Texans, and this runs counter to the very spirit of what it means to be a Texan,' said the bill's author, District 1 State Representative Gary VanDeaver, during the Natural Resources Committee's hearing on the bill on May 2nd. Judge Ransom was one of many who went to Austin, TX., to testify in favor of the bill. 'I felt like the House Committee hearing on natural resources was the most substantive discussion, specifically about the Marvin Nichols reservoir, that I've seen in over 20 years fighting about this issue,' says Judge Ransom. Water has been a big issue during this Texas legislative session, and opponents of the bill say that it would limit Texas's ability to meet the growing state's needs. Proponents argue that there are options that reservoirs are an outdated water supply method and that the state should be looking at new ways to meet the need that do not infringe on property rights. Homes and dreams of NE Texas residents could end up underwater 'Desalination is on the horizon at a reasonable rate, and reuse is available, and leaky infrastructure can be fixed and repaired with modern technology. Necessity is the mother of invention. I have confidence that we'll innovate and figure this out without… putting a big shallow mud puddle, 66,000-acre mud puddle, in Northeast Texas,' says Judge Ransom. The bill passed through the committee by a twelve-to-one margin but has yet to be placed on the calendar for full-floor discussion in the House. 'I'm optimistic. I think those that say we're going to be outspent and out politicked are wrong. I think that right's right and private property rights should matter in Texas and they still do and, and I think we're winning slowly but surely, I think we're winning,' says Judge Ransom. The one dissenting vote in the Natural Resources Committee, State Representative Ramon Romero Jr. of Tarrant County, also sits on the calendars committee. That is the group responsible for adding bills to the the house's schedule. Judge Ransom says they are exploring multiple avenues to pass HB 2109 before the session ends on June 2nd. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
29-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Texas lawmakers attempt to crack down on abuse in solar panel industry
Two Texas lawmakers try to crack down on abuse in solar panel industry Two Texas lawmakers try to crack down on abuse in solar panel industry Two Texas lawmakers try to crack down on abuse in solar panel industry A growing number of Texans are reporting feeling taken advantage of after purchasing residential solar panel systems. The CBS News Texas I-Team has uncovered a pattern of complaints within the industry, and now the problem has caught the attention of Texas state lawmakers. "They're promising the moon and delivering a flashlight," said Texas Rep. Gary VanDeaver of New Boston, the author of one of the solar panel-related bills that's been filed this session. It's not just solar panel customers who are fed up with the predatory behavior. Even some solar businesses and industry experts are hoping for more regulation. "People's lives were getting torn apart" When Taylor Alexander started working as a solar panel installer five years ago, he immediately fell in love. He was drawn to the idea that this technology could help customers save money and establish independence from the Texas power grid. He and his wife eventually founded their own solar company together, Texas Solar Panimals. But it didn't take long for Alexander to notice what he calls a disturbing trend. In many cases, there are three separate companies involved in a residential solar panel transaction: a sales company, an installer and a finance company. As an installer, Texas Solar Panimals is often contracted by other companies to install panels that those companies have sold. Alexander says there were repeat instances of deals that never should have been made in the first place, often involving elderly clients. "We were coming across more and more times where there were horror stories of people who weren't aware of what exactly they were getting," Alexander said. Those stories involved customers sold expensive solar systems, enticed with false promises that they'd never have to pay another electric bill or that they'd receive government rebates that don't exist. "People's lives were getting torn apart from it," Alexander said. More than "buyer's remorse" The I-Team has reported on the solar sales industry, which often relies on young men going door to door, focused solely on making the sale, taking a cut and passing the work onto third parties. Dozens of customers who feel taken advantage of have reached out to tell their stories. "She was very exploited," one woman said of her stepmother, who took out an $87,000 loan a few years before her death. "I wanted to cry," said another woman about receiving a bill for a loan to finance solar panels that she didn't knowingly take out. "We have been through a year and a half of pure hell," said another, who has joined forces with other Texas families to pursue legal action against a solar company they accuse of predatory practices. VanDeaver said he first became aware of the problem because of his constituents. "Many times it's the children of the family members of these elderly homeowners who come to us and say, 'My parent, my aunt, my uncle, whoever, has been taken advantage of and we need to stop this," he said. He initially assumed it was probably just a few dissatisfied customers. But as he and his staff began to look into the complaints, and as they got more calls, he said they realized this was a widespread problem. Data obtained by the I-Team shows solar panel-related complaints submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas have skyrocketed in recent years, jumping from 154 in 2020 to 696 in 2024. Data from the Better Business Bureau shows a similar trend, with 1,069 complaints filed against solar companies in 2024, compared to 434 in 2020 and 166 in 2019. Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, the other state lawmaker who has filed solar panel-related legislation this session, said she became interested in this issue after hearing from regulatory experts and consumer protection advocates. "It became clear these instances weren't merely occasional cases of buyer's remorse. They revealed a disturbing trend of misleading and predatory tactics that disproportionately harmed elderly and non-English-speaking Texans," Zaffirini wrote in an emailed statement to the I-Team. The bills VanDeaver said he'd like to believe that a lot of the issues this industry has seen can be attributed to a lack of awareness and some over-aggressive salespeople, not due to widespread efforts to intentionally mislead people. His bill is focused on consumer education. If signed into law, HB 1640 would require the Public Utility Commission to develop a consumer guide for home solar systems. The guide would include suggested questions for customers to ask, and a contact number for customers to be able to call with any questions. Zaffiini has filed an identical bill in the Senate, SB 1697, where it has already passed. "We'll see if this fixes it," VanDeaver said. "My hope is, it will. But if it doesn't, I'm certainly prepared to come back for something more punitive." The other bill Zaffirini has filed does take a punitive approach. If approved, SB 1036 would require solar panel salespeople to register with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, and would prohibit any solar salesperson or retailer from knowingly making misleading claims. Punishment for violators could include fines of up to $50,000, or fines of up to $100,000 if the customer is over 65 years old. "SB 1036 targets the most serious problems in the residential solar market: deceptive sales tactics and the lack of regulatory oversight," Zaffirini said in an emailed statement. She also wrote that her goal is to "protect consumers while supporting the growth of clean energy in Texas." At a recent Senate committee hearing, several industry representatives showed up to advocate for cracking down on bad actors who they believe put the industry in danger. They echoed what Alexander told the I-Team about his support of increased regulation. "We don't wince at it, we welcome it," Alexander said. "We're looking forward to it because we won't have to be looking over both shoulders, wondering if people are going to be bringing us bad jobs." SB 1036 has passed in the Senate, but so far has not been taken up in the House.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How did each representative vote on education savings accounts?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas House of Representatives gave final approval to Senate Bill 2 Thursday, the legislation that could create a universal education savings account program in Texas. The program would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition. The final vote was 86-61. All but two Republicans voted for the bill. Two others — Rep. Dade Phelan and Rep. Gary VanDeaver — joined all Democrats who were present to vote against. Three Democrats were absent from the vote. 'The consequences were dire': Republican lawmaker alludes to political pressure over school choice vote Use our interactive map and list below to see how each representative voted. The bill now goes back to the Texas Senate to determine whether state senators will accept an amendment to the bill that was approved by the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community colleges
Community colleges in 2023 celebrated a long-awaited investment from the Texas Legislature, positioning Texas to lead the country in connecting young people to the workforce. That year, state legislators reimagined how community colleges are financed with House Bill 8. The old funding formula awarded schools based on enrollment. Schools now have to see their students through to graduation to get money: The new formula ties state dollars to degree and certificate completions, transfers to four-year universities and high schoolers' participation in dual credit courses. The effort was born out of state leaders' desire to better prepare young Texans for the workforce. By 2030, at least 60% of jobs in Texas will require a postsecondary credential, and yet, less than 40% of students earn a degree or certificate within six years of graduating high school. For students, a postsecondary credential often leads to higher wages and increased economic and social mobility. As part of a near-unanimous vote for HB 8, lawmakers poured a historic $683 million into two-year institutions. When the money trickled down to each college in fiscal year 2024, each college saw an influx of dollars that ranged from $70,000 to $2.9 million. Over a year after the law went into effect, community colleges have been working with unprecedented resources to bring down barriers to completion. Some have introduced free tuition benefits; others have expanded their student advising services. Those efforts are reshaping how schools run and who is taking their classes. 'HB 8, at its heart, was an attempt for the Legislature … to say, 'What's the most impactful way that we can ensure alignment between educational outcomes and business and industry needs?'' Ray Martinez III, the president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, said. 'That's why this is so significant … We have seen tremendous outcomes.' Lawmakers have been fine-tuning funding incentives this session. Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, is shepherding a bill that would give community colleges money for student transfers not only to public universities but also to private schools. Community colleges currently get bonus dollars when students complete credentials of value, or credentials that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs: VanDeaver's bill would adjust the definition of a credential of value to include more precise labor market data. Here are five ways community colleges have transformed because of the new funding formula: Dual credit boosts enrollment During the COVID-19 pandemic, young Texans cut community college out of their plans. One in ten students in the state — or about 80,000 students — disappeared from campuses. Economic uncertainty acutely affected community college students, who often come from lower-income households and have more work and care responsibilities than their peers at four-year institutions. Many left school for low-skill jobs. Others lost the steam to keep going. Community college leaders have had to find ways to keep students — and one big way has been growing the pool of high school students who get a jump start on college. HB 8 makes it easier for low-income students to take dual credit courses. Community colleges in the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program, or FAST, now get extra funding when they allow high school students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch to take classes at no cost. Other students get a discount, with a cap on costs at about $55 per credit hour. Research shows dual credit students are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college and finish their degrees faster. The financial help has prompted an upshoot in enrollment. More than 250,000 students participated in dual credit classes through the FAST program in the 2023-24 school year, according to Sarah Keyton, who was the interim commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last fall. Kilgore College in East Texas, for example, saw a 36.5% increase in dual credit enrollment last school year. High schoolers now make up the majority of its student body. Community colleges don't have to participate in the FAST program but nearly all have opted in. Colleges got a total of about $80 million in extra funding last academic year, Keyton said. College leaders are adapting to their schools' changing identities as dual credit students make up a larger portion of their total student populations. Some faculty now spend more time teaching in high schools than on campus. Free tuition gains momentum As young people increasingly question the value of college, a pair of colleges have come up with a new price tag: free. In bold pilot programs, Austin Community College and Del Mar College are waiving three years of tuition for local high school graduates. ''Discount' doesn't change people's perceptions that they can't afford to go to college,' ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart told The Texas Tribune. ''Free' means something when you're talking about college affordability.' The first class of students to benefit from the free tuition program started this year. ACC paid for it with the $6.8 million it received from the state last year through HB 8. Lowery-Hart wants to use the program to reach students who were not planning to go to college. In a recent survey of ACC prospective students, more than half said they didn't enroll because of tuition costs. When glitches in the revamped federal financial aid application delayed award packages, students in the Austin area told the Tribune that ACC's free tuition program was a much-needed option that eased the uncertainty. Del Mar College is following ACC's footsteps, launching a free tuition benefit this fall for recent high school graduates and adult learners in the Corpus Christi area. Students have to enroll full time and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to qualify. In what is known as a 'first dollar' program, both Texas colleges are paying for students' tuition before federal and state aid kicks in. That allows students to use their grants and scholarship money to pay for other needs like housing, food and textbooks. Students hired as peer mentors Laredo College has turned nearly 80 students into peer advisers, multiplying its advising crew by seven. The peer advisers are recent graduates, former students who transferred to a four-year university or current students who are finishing their degree. They help their classmates register for classes and stay on track to graduation. Many Laredo College students are the first in their families to go to college. Young people in the region often opt not to get a college degree because they don't know how to go through the process — and there's nobody at home to help them, said Minita Ramirez, the president of Laredo College. 'Whether it's a first-time college student out of high school or … a 70-year-old gentleman who all his life wanted to go to college, …. our hope is that we provide the support … to get that person through the process, to make them feel comfortable in an environment that is completely foreign,' Ramirez said. 'And if we can do that, our numbers grow.' Already, Laredo College has seen 1,500 students switch from part-time to full-time, Ramirez said. HB 8 has pushed college leaders like Ramirez to fix disjointed advising systems to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Research shows student advising is tied to higher grades and graduation rates. When students at North Central Texas College register online for a course that won't count toward their degree, a warning sign now pops up encouraging them to visit an adviser. Chancellor G. Brent Wallace said he wants to make sure students don't sign up for the wrong course — and save them the time and money that goes along with those decisions. North Central Texas College also hired about a dozen more staffers so advisers aren't stretched too thin and students get the academic attention they need, Wallace said. Growing workforce training Community colleges have long been a player in helping close workforce gaps, but HB 8 was the push for leaders to strengthen relationships with local employers. Sherman, for example, has been grappling with its new identity as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. In recent years, giant companies like Texas Instruments and GlobiTech have been constructing multibillion-dollar chipmaking facilities. Before those facilities could finish construction, Grayson College was already training students so they would be ready to join the industry. Jeremy McMillen, the president of the college, said the school added programs like electronic and automation certifications with input from those companies. It mimicked the kind of collaboration the state's technical colleges have with employers on curricula. 'We needed to move the needle in terms of building out of the infrastructure,' McMillen said at a Texas Tribune event last month. 'Without HB 8 in the background, it's very difficult to imagine that we've been able to do that.' Schools team up so credits transfer Students in North Texas are getting more support when they select Dallas College courses they want to count toward a bachelor's degree. To ease transfers to local universities, Dallas College teamed up with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas at Dallas to identify which courses students will get credit for when they transfer. The HB 8 funding model means the community college gets money when students successfully transfer. Around 80% of students who enroll in community colleges intend to transfer but just 16% do, according to data from The Aspen Institute. In the fall of 2022, more than 13,000 Texas students who transferred did not receive credit for at least one of the courses they completed, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students lose time and money when they take classes that don't end up counting toward their degrees. The setback can discourage them from completing their bachelor's degree. The Dallas-area schools launched an online portal in the fall where prospective students can see how their credits would be counted at each school and track their progress toward their bachelor's degree. For three areas of study — business, education and health sciences — the universities have already agreed on which Dallas College courses will be counted for credit toward related majors on their campuses.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community colleges
Community colleges in 2023 celebrated a long-awaited investment from the Texas Legislature, positioning Texas to lead the country in connecting young people to the workforce. That year, state legislators reimagined how community colleges are financed with House Bill 8. The old funding formula awarded schools based on enrollment. Schools now have to see their students through to graduation to get money: The new formula ties state dollars to degree and certificate completions, transfers to four-year universities and high schoolers' participation in dual credit courses. The effort was born out of state leaders' desire to better prepare young Texans for the workforce. By 2030, at least 60% of jobs in Texas will require a postsecondary credential, and yet, less than 40% of students earn a degree or certificate within six years of graduating high school. For students, a postsecondary credential often leads to higher wages and increased economic and social mobility. As part of a near-unanimous vote for HB 8, lawmakers poured a historic $683 million into two-year institutions. When the money trickled down to each college in fiscal year 2024, each college saw an influx of dollars that ranged from $70,000 to $2.9 million. Over a year after the law went into effect, community colleges have been working with unprecedented resources to bring down barriers to completion. Some have introduced free tuition benefits; others have expanded their student advising services. Those efforts are reshaping how schools run and who is taking their classes. 'HB 8, at its heart, was an attempt for the Legislature … to say, 'What's the most impactful way that we can ensure alignment between educational outcomes and business and industry needs?'' Ray Martinez III, the president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, said. 'That's why this is so significant … We have seen tremendous outcomes.' Lawmakers have been fine-tuning funding incentives this session. Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, is shepherding a bill that would give community colleges money for student transfers not only to public universities but also to private schools. Community colleges currently get bonus dollars when students complete credentials of value, or credentials that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs: VanDeaver's bill would adjust the definition of a credential of value to include more precise labor market data. Here are five ways community colleges have transformed because of the new funding formula: During the COVID-19 pandemic, young Texans cut community college out of their plans. One in ten students in the state — or about 80,000 students — disappeared from campuses. Economic uncertainty acutely affected community college students, who often come from lower-income households and have more work and care responsibilities than their peers at four-year institutions. Many left school for low-skill jobs. Others lost the steam to keep going. Community college leaders have had to find ways to keep students — and one big way has been growing the pool of high school students who get a jump start on college. HB 8 makes it easier for low-income students to take dual credit courses. Community colleges in the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program, or FAST, now get extra funding when they allow high school students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch to take classes at no cost. Other students get a discount, with a cap on costs at about $55 per credit hour. Research shows dual credit students are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college and finish their degrees faster. The financial help has prompted an upshoot in enrollment. More than 250,000 students participated in dual credit classes through the FAST program in the 2023-24 school year, according to Sarah Keyton, who was the interim commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last fall. Kilgore College in East Texas, for example, saw a 36.5% increase in dual credit enrollment last school year. High schoolers now make up the majority of its student body. Community colleges don't have to participate in the FAST program but nearly all have opted in. Colleges got a total of about $80 million in extra funding last academic year, Keyton said. College leaders are adapting to their schools' changing identities as dual credit students make up a larger portion of their total student populations. Some faculty now spend more time teaching in high schools than on campus. As young people increasingly question the value of college, a pair of colleges have come up with a new price tag: free. In bold pilot programs, Austin Community College and Del Mar College are waiving three years of tuition for local high school graduates. ''Discount' doesn't change people's perceptions that they can't afford to go to college,' ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart told The Texas Tribune. ''Free' means something when you're talking about college affordability.' The first class of students to benefit from the free tuition program started this year. ACC paid for it with the $6.8 million it received from the state last year through HB 8. Lowery-Hart wants to use the program to reach students who were not planning to go to college. In a recent survey of ACC prospective students, more than half said they didn't enroll because of tuition costs. When glitches in the revamped federal financial aid application delayed award packages, students in the Austin area told the Tribune that ACC's free tuition program was a much-needed option that eased the uncertainty. Del Mar College is following ACC's footsteps, launching a free tuition benefit this fall for recent high school graduates and adult learners in the Corpus Christi area. Students have to enroll full time and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to qualify. In what is known as a 'first dollar' program, both Texas colleges are paying for students' tuition before federal and state aid kicks in. That allows students to use their grants and scholarship money to pay for other needs like housing, food and textbooks. Laredo College has turned nearly 80 students into peer advisers, multiplying its advising crew by seven. The peer advisers are recent graduates, former students who transferred to a four-year university or current students who are finishing their degree. They help their classmates register for classes and stay on track to graduation. Many Laredo College students are the first in their families to go to college. Young people in the region often opt not to get a college degree because they don't know how to go through the process — and there's nobody at home to help them, said Minita Ramirez, the president of Laredo College. 'Whether it's a first-time college student out of high school or … a 70-year-old gentleman who all his life wanted to go to college, …. our hope is that we provide the support … to get that person through the process, to make them feel comfortable in an environment that is completely foreign,' Ramirez said. 'And if we can do that, our numbers grow.' Already, Laredo College has seen 1,500 students switch from part-time to full-time, Ramirez said. HB 8 has pushed college leaders like Ramirez to fix disjointed advising systems to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Research shows student advising is tied to higher grades and graduation rates. When students at North Central Texas College register online for a course that won't count toward their degree, a warning sign now pops up encouraging them to visit an adviser. Chancellor G. Brent Wallace said he wants to make sure students don't sign up for the wrong course — and save them the time and money that goes along with those decisions. North Central Texas College also hired about a dozen more staffers so advisers aren't stretched too thin and students get the academic attention they need, Wallace said. Community colleges have long been a player in helping close workforce gaps, but HB 8 was the push for leaders to strengthen relationships with local employers. Sherman, for example, has been grappling with its new identity as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. In recent years, giant companies like Texas Instruments and GlobiTech have been constructing multibillion-dollar chipmaking facilities. Before those facilities could finish construction, Grayson College was already training students so they would be ready to join the industry. Jeremy McMillen, the president of the college, said the school added programs like electronic and automation certifications with input from those companies. It mimicked the kind of collaboration the state's technical colleges have with employers on curricula. 'We needed to move the needle in terms of building out of the infrastructure,' McMillen said at a Texas Tribune event last month. 'Without HB 8 in the background, it's very difficult to imagine that we've been able to do that.' Students in North Texas are getting more support when they select Dallas College courses they want to count toward a bachelor's degree. To ease transfers to local universities, Dallas College teamed up with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas at Dallas to identify which courses students will get credit for when they transfer. The HB 8 funding model means the community college gets money when students successfully transfer. Around 80% of students who enroll in community colleges intend to transfer but just 16% do, according to data from The Aspen Institute. In the fall of 2022, more than 13,000 Texas students who transferred did not receive credit for at least one of the courses they completed, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students lose time and money when they take classes that don't end up counting toward their degrees. The setback can discourage them from completing their bachelor's degree. The Dallas-area schools launched an online portal in the fall where prospective students can see how their credits would be counted at each school and track their progress toward their bachelor's degree. For three areas of study — business, education and health sciences — the universities have already agreed on which Dallas College courses will be counted for credit toward related majors on their campuses. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Disclosure: Kilgore College, Texas A&M University, Texas Association of Community Colleges, Texas Instruments and University of North Texas have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
