Latest news with #GregBonnen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas Legislature gives new city of Starbase authority to shut down local beach for SpaceX launches
Texas lawmakers agreed to give the new city of Starbase the authority to periodically close down a South Texas beach, giving more power to municipal officials with close ties to SpaceX over the objections of local activists trying to preserve access to the beach. After previous versions of the measure died earlier during the legislative session, a last-minute addition to a bill related to the Texas Space Commission successfully granted Starbase officials the authority to temporarily close down Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX launches. House Bill 5246 revises the power and duties of the Texas Space Commission and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium. A conference committee report of the bill added a section that allows the Space Commission to coordinate with a city to temporarily close a highway or venue for public safety purposes. In South Texas, that will give the Starbase city commissioners the authority to approve those closures which would affect State Highway 4, a road that runs through Starbase and leads to the beach, as well as the beach itself. Rep. Greg Bonnen, a Republican from Friendswood who chaired the conference committee on the bill, said the bill would ensure Texas remained the gateway for the future in space exploration. "The future is being shaped right here in Texas,' Bonnen said. Defending the addition to the bill, Rep. Richard Peña Raymond, a Democrat from Laredo, argued that the city of Starbase would have a better idea of whether it is safe for people to be out on the beach in a similar way the Laredo manages their international bridges. However, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, along with other Democrats, pushed back against the bill, noting that previous attempts to give Starbase this authority never made it to the House floor. Martinez Fischer also argued that the county commissioners were responsible for the beach and should get to make the call on when to shut it down. 'The question is who gets to make the call and who is in the best position to have the public interest in mind in closing a public beach?' Martinez Fischer said on the floor Sunday. 'I submit to you it's not the people in the company town that's effectively a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX, and it's not the Space Commission.' Local organizations strongly opposed the measure, hosting phone banking events to urge lawmakers to vote against the bill. Their objections to the measure stemmed from concerns that the public would increasingly be shut off from Boca Chica Beach, which is affectionately known as the people's beach. It was once the most accessible beach before the Queen Isabella Causeway was built to connect Port Isabel to South Padre Island in 1954. Today, Boca Chica is beloved because it lacks the heavy commercialization of the beaches of South Padre Island. Additionally, the Esto'k Gna Tribal Nation, commonly known as the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, view the beach as part of their ancestral land. The tribal and environmental groups have also opposed the increasing space flight activity that SpaceX is conducting on the beach over fears that the company's rocket launches are damaging nearby wildlife and polluting the gulf waters. Despite their efforts, the Federal Aviation Administration gave SpaceX the green light to increase the number rocket launches from Boca Chica Beach from five to 25 times per year. This authorization came after the FAA found through an environmental assessment that there would be no significant environmental impacts. The FAA released a draft of the environmental assessment last year for public review and held public meetings in January. Critics from the environmental and indigenous groups argued that the FAA's review was not thorough and that the agency did not consult with the Carrizo/Comecrudo tribe. The move to allow Starbase to close the beach shifts that authority away from Cameron County, a power that the county inherited in 2013 just as SpaceX was about to begin their spaceflight activities there. Now that authority lies with Starbase, a new city whose residents and elected officials are either SpaceX employees or have ties to the company. The mayor and city commissioners held their first public meetings this week, appointing key staff, adopting city codes, and approving a financial plan to seek a loan from SpaceX to help fund the city through the end of the fiscal year. Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas legislature approves $338B state budget for next two years
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas Legislature has come to an agreement on the $338 billion budget that will fund state agencies and priorities over the next two fiscal years, including billions in property tax relief, billions in additional dollars for public schools and a new education savings account, and additional dollars for childcare. By law, the appropriations bill is the only piece of legislation the legislature must pass when they convene every two years. State Rep. Greg Bonnen, R – Friendswood — the chair of the House Appropriations Committee — laid out the final version of the bill on the House floor. 'This is a very responsible balanced budget that falls within all of our constitutional and statutory spending limits, and it meets the needs of our rapidly growing state,' Bonnen said. Bonnen laid out just some of the highlights of the bill. The budget addresses the workload on the Department of Public Safety as the state continues to grow by allocating $319 million to add an additional 467 new state troopers along with another $102 million to improve drivers license services. Lawmakers also approved a $10.4 billion investment in behavioral health services, including dollars for research and prevention of mental health disorders. More than $2 billion will go toward increasing the wages of personal care attendants from $10.60 an hour to $13 an hour. There is also money to help with a gap in healthcare in the state's rural areas. About $100 million will be added to the state's rural hospital grant program to help keep hospitals in these areas funded and open as many are closing their doors. The appropriations bill also includes $51 billion of property tax relief. That includes a measure — pending approval from voters in November — that will increase the homestead exemption for homeowners from $100,000 to $140,000. Supporters said it will save the average homeowner $500 annually. The final version of the budget increases the Foundation School Program by more than $13 billion to a total of $75.1 billion in all funds. The FSP is the primary source of state funding for public schools. In terms of education, the bill provides for the additional $8.5 billion of new funding for public schools and $1 billion for the state's newly adopted education savings account program, which will allow families to apply for state dollars to be used toward paying for private education. State Rep. Donna Howard, D – Austin, supports the appropriations bill but did mention that the new dollars for public funding still fall short of what schools need to catch back up with the costs of inflation and the lack of new state funding in previous sessions. 'Though it's not enough to get schools back to where they were in 2019, it's far better than current law or what the House and Senate were proposing back in January,' Howard said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praised the budget and the work of Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman. Patrick issued a statement after the Senate passed the legislation, noting investments in the electrical grid and water infrastructure that he said keep the state on 'a path to sustainable growth.' Patrick also highlighted plans to boost dementia research. 'The budget funds the creation of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), which will bring the best Dementia researchers and care providers to our state,' Patrick wrote. Voters will decide in November whether to establish DPRIT and transfer $3 billion to the Dementia Prevention & Research Fund from state general revenue to provide funding over the next 10 years. The appropriations bill will now head to the State Comptroller for certification. The comptroller will confirm that the spending bill does not exceed the amount of revenue available. After certification, the bill heads to the governor for approval. The governor does have the power to line-item veto specific appropriations in the bill. Once signed, the bill becomes law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Texas Could Fine Doctors $250,000 for Changing Patients' Recorded Sex
Texas could fine doctors $250,000 for changing patients' recorded sex on their medical documents as part of a new bill. The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday requiring health agencies to record the sex assigned at patients' births on forms. The bill includes penalties for those who do not comply. Transgender rights were a central theme in the 2024 election. When President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January, he signed an executive order mandating that his administration would use "clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male." The federal government will also use the word "sex" instead of "gender" with all official documents, including passports, visas and Global Entry cards, "accurately reflecting the holder's sex." In Texas, in particular, there has been a series of legislation affecting the trans community. As of September 2024, transgender Texans are no longer permitted to change sex on birth certificates. Meanwhile, a separate Texas bill could make it a felony for transgender people to identify their gender differently from their sex assigned at birth on official documents with government entities or employers The bill could fine doctors $250,000 for changing patients' recorded sex. However, it also has an exemption stating it does not stop gender identity information from being included in health records. The bill also includes restrictions on healthcare providers' use of artificial intelligence (AI) but does not ban it, and rules about the storage of digital servers. Texas state Representative Greg Bonnen, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said: "Listen, biological sex and medical records is an issue of accuracy, and impacting safe medical care in an acute situation, an emergency could lead to a misdiagnosis. The whole point of the section of the bill is to ensure the physicians always know the true biological sex from birth, and the language is carefully crafted to allow for exceptions based on other medical conditions." Texas state Representative Ron Reynolds, a Democrat who opposes the bill: "Knowing that documentation choices could trigger a government investigation discourages providers from recording accurate individualized information, especially in complex cases involving gender or sex variation. It places fear and legal exposure ahead of best medical practice." The bill requires another formal vote in the state House. Then, it will be sent to the Senate. If the Senate passes it, it will move to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's desk for approval. Related Articles 'Texas Time' Moves a Step CloserTexas Homeowners Could Get Major Tax CutsMillions in Texas Told to Share Car RidesCartels Smuggling Stolen Oil Into Texas, DEA Says 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Texas Could Fine Doctors $250,000 for Changing Patients' Recorded Sex
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas could fine doctors $250,000 for changing patients' recorded sex on their medical documents as part of a new bill. The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill on Thursday requiring health agencies to record the sex assigned at patients' births on forms. The bill includes penalties for those who do not comply. Why It Matters Transgender rights were a central theme in the 2024 election. When President Donald Trump was inaugurated in January, he signed an executive order mandating that his administration would use "clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male." The federal government will also use the word "sex" instead of "gender" with all official documents, including passports, visas and Global Entry cards, "accurately reflecting the holder's sex." In Texas, in particular, there has been a series of legislation affecting the trans community. As of September 2024, transgender Texans are no longer permitted to change sex on birth certificates. Meanwhile, a separate Texas bill could make it a felony for transgender people to identify their gender differently from their sex assigned at birth on official documents with government entities or employers Texas state Rep. Greg Bonnen, who sponsored the bill, speaks to Rep. Dustin Burrows at the Texas Capitol in Austin on January 14, 2025. Texas state Rep. Greg Bonnen, who sponsored the bill, speaks to Rep. Dustin Burrows at the Texas Capitol in Austin on January 14, 2025. AP Photo/Stephen Spillman What To Know The bill could fine doctors $250,000 for changing patients' recorded sex. However, it also has an exemption stating it does not stop gender identity information from being included in health records. The bill also includes restrictions on healthcare providers' use of artificial intelligence (AI) but does not ban it, and rules about the storage of digital servers. What People Are Saying Texas state Representative Greg Bonnen, a Republican who sponsored the bill, said: "Listen, biological sex and medical records is an issue of accuracy, and impacting safe medical care in an acute situation, an emergency could lead to a misdiagnosis. The whole point of the section of the bill is to ensure the physicians always know the true biological sex from birth, and the language is carefully crafted to allow for exceptions based on other medical conditions." Texas state Representative Ron Reynolds, a Democrat who opposes the bill: "Knowing that documentation choices could trigger a government investigation discourages providers from recording accurate individualized information, especially in complex cases involving gender or sex variation. It places fear and legal exposure ahead of best medical practice." What Happens Next The bill requires another formal vote in the state House. Then, it will be sent to the Senate. If the Senate passes it, it will move to Texas Governor Greg Abbott's desk for approval.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas may require medical records list patients' sex assigned at birth
The Texas House on Thursday approved a bill requiring health agencies to create a new field in medical records for the sex assigned at birth of patients and strict oversight and punishment of health care providers who change records. Senate Bill 1188 encompasses 'multiple components' according to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, including restrictions on health care providers' storage of digital servers and their use of artificial intelligence. Democratic legislators on Thursday, however, largely zeroed in on a provision requiring all health records to include a new segment explicitly listing the sex a patient was assigned at birth and any physical sexual development disorders they may have. SB 1188 is one of several bills moving through the Legislature aimed at restricting the health care of trans Texans, however SB 1188 does have an exemption stating it does not restrict gender identity information from being included in health records. To enforce its provisions, SB 1188 allows the attorney general to file for injunctions against violations of the bill, and would create penalties of up to $250,000 for practices who knowingly violate its provisions. The bill allows for gender markers to be changed for clerical errors or in certain cases for intersex patients. Democratic lawmakers who spoke in opposition of the bill said the required reporting of gender assigned at birth excludes transgender and intersex patients who may be forced to have a gender displayed in their medical records they don't identify as. 'Knowing that documentation choices could trigger a government investigation discourages providers from recording accurate individualized information, especially in complex cases involving gender or sex variation,' Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, said. 'It places fear and legal exposure ahead of best medical practice.' Bonnen provided rebuttals for all of the proposed amendments and ensured opponents of the bill that it would help physicians understand a more complete picture of a patient's medical history. Democratic representatives attempted to derail the bill down through two points of order and then brought a slew of amendments to the floor seeking to blunt some of the bill's requirements, but were unsuccessful. 'Listen, biological sex and medical records is an issue of accuracy, and impacting safe medical care in an acute situation, an emergency could lead to a misdiagnosis,' Bonnen said. 'The whole point of the section of the bill is to ensure the physicians always know the true biological sex from birth, and the language is carefully crafted to allow for exceptions based on other medical conditions.' Bonnen provided his own amendment to the bill expanding the eligibility for those who could be listed as intersex and explicitly stating the bill does not ban AI use by medical professionals. The bill outlines in statute its own definitions of several medical terms including 'sexual development disorder,' male and female. While its definition of female matches that of House Bill 229 — a bill seeking to define male and female across state statute that passed in the House in May — it differs in its definition of what a male is. HB 229 defines a male as someone whose biological reproductive system 'is developed to fertilize the ova of a female,' different from SB 1188's requirement that male systems are 'developed to produce sperm.' Beyond its requirements on reporting biological sex, SB 1188 also gives parents and guardians of minors 'unrestricted access' to the child's medical records unless a court order is in place preventing them from doing so. The bill also requires medical professionals to disclose when they use artificial intelligence for diagnoses and review all AI-created documents. The bill requires one more formal vote in the House, after which it will be sent for approval from the Senate as amended, then will head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for his signature. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
