Latest news with #HB1375
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McAlister battles to keep his seat in Abilene City Council runoff
ABILENE, Texas () – Incumbent Abilene City Councilmember Kyle McAlister is heading into a runoff election against challenger Miguel Espinoza for the Place 5 seat after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the May election. The runoff is set for June 7. Place 5 race not over yet: McAlister, Espinoza gear up for runoff McAlister, with more than a decade of experience representing Place 5, says he's seen a pattern over the years: whoever takes the early lead often wins. 'When those first early numbers come in, usually, if candidates are more than 10 percentage points apart, that's usually the way it will stand, because with the number of people who early vote versus those who actually show up on election day, it's that 10% swing is pretty hard to pull,' McAlister explained. 'So when the first numbers came in, I was right over 50%, Miguel was right under 50%, and then Cynthia was down here. I kind of got that feeling that's where we were going, because it was, it wasn't quite enough… The last numbers came in, and it said 49.78%. I was like, okay, you know, a little disappointed, but I still feel like we're in a really good place heading into the runoff, just because of the number of votes I need to make up.' Abilene People: Kyle McAlister McAlister says his mindset hasn't changed: always campaign like you're behind. 'The worst thing that I could do, that my supporters could be, is, 'Oh, you got this. No problem.' No, no, we start all over, and it's a clean slate,' McAlister shared. 'There are opportunities to reach out to some of the people who may not have voted for me. We take a look at the polling data. We can pull names of voters and things like that, and find out which precincts we did well in. We want to really focus on those precincts where we didn't do as well.' BIG COUNTRY POLITICS: Runoff momentum, HB 1375 debate & one candidate's takeaway from it all Low turnout was a theme in this election. Last week on Big Country Politics, McMurry Political Science Professor Dr. Paul Fabrizio said only a small number of voters showed up. McAlister says that's exactly why every vote counts. 'I've often told people I don't want people to know I'm on the city council because it's an ego thing. I want people to know that I'm on the city council because they are involved in their community,' McAlister said. 'Well, when you're looking at like a national race or state race where millions of people vote, you might think, Well, my vote doesn't matter, I'm one out of, you know, 6 million or whatever, like that. Hey, as we've seen, one vote matters. Every vote matters… It is important that people take the time to have an input into their government, because this is our tax money that we're spending.' Espinoza, a first-time candidate, is a fresh face on the ballot, while McAlister says his experience sets him apart. 'The answers are things of my experience that I have done for many years, the experience of knowing how the process works, the experience of being able to get things done, and knowing how to listen, I think, is very important, and I want people to know that. I want to be able to listen to what they have to say, that I'm concerned about their issues, because, again, I live here. I'm a homeowner, I'm a taxpayer,' McAlister shared. 'I want to make sure that we get the job done, as far as making positive changes to the city, and then if we need to make some tweaks and go the other direction. What I want folks to understand is what I bring to the table, is that experience and that knowledge of how Abilene has worked, and how I think we can continue to make it work well and make it work even better.' Abilene People: Miguel Espinoza In the same election, voters approved a $20 million bond for airport improvements by a slim margin of 52%. 'With the airport, we felt like that was a big enough ticket item that we wanted to have the voters have that chance. And they did… Now, one of the things that we will do as we are setting the tax rate is that we will understand that people's taxes are going to go up because of the bond, because when the bond is voted in, then the taxes go up,' McAlister explained. 'So then what we can do is we can come in and look at the tax rate and either keep it the same or lower it, in fact. I think I was looking at maybe five or six of the last budgets, we've actually either kept the tax rate the same or lowered it, knowing that people are going to pay more because, in a lot of cases, their homes are worth more.' Abilene voters pass $20 million bond for airport upgrades McAlister urges residents to stay engaged, especially during budget season. 'Is it going to cost you more? Yeah. I mean, and it cost me more, too. But we try to make sure that we are cognizant of the fact that if we can lessen the impact as much to people's tax bills and their tax, like an escrow and things like that, that we want to do, that we will start that process in July for the next year's budget,' McAlister added. 'We have budget workshops, and I encourage everyone to come to those. I mean, I tell people all the time. I want to see you there, and I want to see you at the tax hearings. I want you to tell us what you want and what you don't want. That allows us to decide where we need to spend our money the best.' Longtime Abilene Councilman Kyle McAlister to defend seat in May election He says public feedback isn't just welcomed — it's necessary. 'A lot of times, when things go wrong, the first time we hear about it is on social media, but if people just let us know, then we can work on it. If a street needs repair, or if there's a hole here, whether we may not even know about it, but you know, I do see the good and the bad, and that's fine. If I see something bad and say I can work on that, then I'm more than happy to jump in, because I want people to feel like that if they ask me a question, I'm going to listen to them, and I feel like I do listen to them, and we'll do what I can to to either resolve it,' McAlister shared. 'Sometimes there is no resolution. People just want to be heard, sure, and I understand that. I really do. I mean, I want to be heard. Sometimes people just want to feel like they can talk to you. I hope that people know that I'm always like that. You know, if you catch me in the grocery store, if you catch me at Walmart, wherever, let's talk. If I don't have time, then here's my card. Send me an email. Let's see what we need to get taken care of.' McAlister and Espinoza will face off in the June 7 runoff election for the Place 5 seat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands of Texas House bills ‘die' at key midnight deadline
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — At 12 a.m. Friday, thousands of bills in the Texas House of Representatives will meet their end. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the House passed 1,067 bills, with each passing three rounds of voting. House representatives filed 5,852 bills this session, which puts the House's 'death toll' at around 81.7% of its bills. Some of the bills that could die at midnight include: HB 1375, which would have prohibited books with certain content HB 1449, which would have eased food truck permitting requirements HB 3817, which would have created a criminal offense targeting transgender people HB 5151, which would have increased air quality permitting requirements for rock crushing plants Texas House passes budget bill, defunds lottery KXAN reported on several House bills that already passed in the chamber this session, including ones to legalize fentanyl test strips, end STAAR testing, ban minors from social media, and create education savings accounts. TxLege data: How long do sessions last and how many bills are typically passed? The next critical deadline during the 89th Legislative Session is May 24, the last day that the House can advance Senate bills out of its committees. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the House received 971 bills from the Senate. House committees already passed 389 of those bills to the House floor for consideration. What are the Texas Legislature's session deadlines? So far, state legislators have sent only 173 bills to the governor, just 1.9% of the 8,958 bills filed this session. KXAN reported in 2023 that the 88th Legislative Session sent 1,246 bills to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. He signed 1,038 of those bills outright. Abbott vetoed 76 bills in 2023, which set a new personal record across the governor's four prior legislative sessions while in office. The legislative session ends June 2. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Texas Moves to Punish Bookstores That Sell 'Obscene' Books
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. A bill has been introduced to the Texas Legislature that could result in bookstores facing fines and legal costs if they place material deemed "obscene" within access of a minor. House Bill 1375 was proposed by state Representative Nate Schatzline, a Republican, who said it is needed to keep "harmful material" away from children. Critics argue it would force bookshops to self-sensor or risk potentially devastating lawsuits. Newsweek contacted Schatzline for comment via email on Friday. Why It Matters In recent years, a number of Republican-controlled states have passed laws banning school libraries from holding certain books that they regard as inappropriate. The Texas Legislature in 2023 passed a bill forbidding school libraries from having any book among its stacks that "describes or portrays sexual conduct" in a "patently offensive way" that are not required by the curriculum. PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of what it classified as book bans across the U.S. in the 2022-23 academic year, a 33 percent rise from the previous year. What To Know House Bill 1375 would make commercial enterprises, such as bookstores, liable for "damages arising from the distribution, transmission, or display of harmful material to a minor." This would include when such material is "readily accessible to minors" or "includes a minor's visual image, audio voice, or participation in any manner." Any business found to have broken this law could have to pay damages and would be liable for associated court costs and legal fees. A book is pulled out on a shelf at a Barnes & Noble on January 11, 2024, in Austin, Texas. A book is pulled out on a shelf at a Barnes & Noble on January 11, 2024, in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/GETTY The legislation also specifies that a business could face multiple lawsuits over the same piece of material deemed obscene if more than one person decides to launch a case. Such material could be reported by either minors or their parents/guardians. The bill does contain protections for media organizations including newspapers, magazines and TV stations. What People Are Saying Speaking to local television network KTBS, Schatzline said: "This bill also holds commercial entities accountable if they are knowingly distributing, transmitting or displaying harmful material to minors in a way that is readily accessible or includes a minor's image, voice and participation. "If a business is used to engage in an obscenity for the personal benefit of its owner, those people can be held liable." Charley Rejsek, who runs BookPeople in Austin, Texas, commented: "HB 1375 threatens to no longer allow those young readers in our bookstores and ultimately could cause some bookstores to close their doors." In a post on X, the Texas Freedom to Read Project, which campaigns against book bans, said: "HB 1375, authored by Representative Schatzline, makes it easier for book banners and other bad actors to raise frivolous claims against local bookshops, big box stores, and online retailers over books they will falsely claim are 'harmful to minors.' "The increased risk of lawsuits will make it harder for retailers to do business in our local communities and in Texas as a whole. What school district is going to work with a bookseller accused (falsely or not!) of distributing 'harmful materials to minors?'" Speaking to news outlet Chron, Texas Freedom to Read Project co-founder Anne Russey said: "We've been told by people trying to ban books, 'don't worry, it's not a book ban, you can buy whatever books you want at a private bookstore. "This bill is potentially making it harder for private booksellers to shelve and offer the kind of books that we've seen banned or challenged in public schools and libraries." What Happens Next The Lone Star State's House Bill 1375 awaits a committee appearance. A similar bill failed to pass during the last legislative session. Texas Governor Greg Abbott is a Republican and the GOP has a strong majority in both chambers of the state Legislature.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Censorship concerns rise over Texas bill; Abilene bookstore pushes back
ABILENE, Texas () – A bill set to be heard by the Judiciary and Jurisprudence Committee at the Texas House is sparking criticism from small business owners across the state. Arlene Kasselman, who owns Seven and One Books in downtown Abilene, is raising awareness on social media about House Bill 1375. 'As independent bookstore owners, the American Booksellers Association and then our regional association keep us up to date on things that are going to affect small businesses, bookstores, and libraries. So, they're very communicative. That's where I first started hearing some of the chatter,' Kasselman recalled. Kasselman began researching the bill and discovered it could have serious implications for small businesses, potentially leading to censorship and limits on educational materials. HB1375 allows individuals to sue if they're harmed by obscene or harmful content, particularly when it's accessible to minors. Under the bill, businesses that help distribute such content can be held liable, and the law lowers the bar for plaintiffs to win those lawsuits. 'With this bill, people can self-define what is harmless because the bill is saying that legal action can be taken against a bookstore that would sell harmful material to a minor. It's already illegal to put things in the hands of a minor that would be harmful to them,' Kasselman explained. 'But this is saying that the bookstore can be sued, and there can be a civil suit based on the minor having harmful material in their hands. But the definition of harmful is the problem. The biggest concern that we have is that for small businesses, first of all, we can't afford the lawsuits.' Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report With the definition of what is harmful being so broad, Texas Freedom to Read Co-Founder Anne Russey said that she has heard opinions on why certain books should be banned in public schools and libraries. This bill is different as it targets privately owned businesses. 'For example, to walk into a bookstore and if the child picks up a book that the parent decides they have a problem with, they could kind of raise a frivolous claim, like, oh, that book is harmful to minors under this law,' Russey shared. Russey believes the language in this bill will ultimately harm small businesses and consumers. 'When it comes to private retailers and purchasing, it's really scary to think that the state and the government might be trying to infringe on our liberties to purchase the books that we want to purchase for our families or booksellers freedom to run their business in ways that allow them to generate revenue and income that they put back into their communities through taxes and just all the different ways that bookstores enrich our communities and really serve us as Texans,' shared Russey. Taylor County Republican Chairman Ryan Goodwin has previously voiced support for removing books deemed inappropriate for minors. He noted that conversations about book restrictions have been ongoing for years, but he's skeptical that this particular bill will gain traction. With only one author and no co-sponsors so far, Goodwin doubts it will even reach the House floor. If similar legislation moves forward in the future, he hopes it will include clear and specific language defining what constitutes material harmful to minors. 'In my opinion, I don't see a co-sponsor on this bill, and it seems to still be in committee. So, it hasn't touched the House floor yet. I don't see it making it to the House floor, but we could be surprised, and it could still be vague in some areas. But at this point, it just hasn't had enough momentum yet to make it to the House floor,' said Goodwin. This is the most banned book in Texas Kasselman noted that during her upbringing in South Africa, she witnessed the effects of censorship on her home country. She has a dedicated section for banned books in her store. 'I think the reason it's so significant is that it is really a censorship issue. I grew up in South Africa in a time when all of that information was censored; that was not a healthy situation. In fact, I had a German customer in here who's a resident now in America and lives here in Abilene. He said, 'thank you for having the banned books section, because I know firsthand the cost of banning books and I think if we forget our history and we forget that it really doesn't even take burning books to change a culture, it just takes stopping good people from reading them,'' explained Kasselman. She added that while this bill is still in the early stages, it is something that many bookstores across Texas will watch closely. 'We're given the option of either not allowing minors in the bookstore or having to card people potentially before they can purchase things. Now, am I trying to put pornographic material or overly violent material in the hands of a minor? Absolutely not. But when you have things that are on the book banning list that are like The Diary of Anne Frank or Octavia Butler's writings or 1984 Animal Farm, those are the kind of books that are going to be targeted,' shared Kasselman. The Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee will hear testimony from both supporters and opponents of the bill on Wednesday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
