Latest news with #HarrisDavila
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas House votes to build statue of woman with unborn child on Capitol grounds
The Texas House passed a resolution Tuesday approving the construction of a Texas Life Monument at the state Capitol. The statue will replicate the National Life Monument originally installed in Rome and depicts a woman with an open womb and a child inside. Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 was authored by Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and passed the House by a vote of 98-44. Rep. Once Gov. Greg Abbott signs off on the resolution, it goes to the State Preservation Board, which will consider the plan for the monument's construction. Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, who sponsored the resolution, spoke in support of the monument. She said the statue will provide Texans with 'a public space to reflect on the beauty and sanctity of the love of a mother for her child.' 'The monument would serve as a peaceful space for families to honor motherhood, the strength of women, and the hope and beauty of human life,' Harris Davila said. Harris Davila also emphasized that the monument will not depict a uterus or any female reproductive organs that might sexualize the statue. According to her, it will be funded entirely through private donations, not public money. The statue will be installed on the grounds of the Capitol complex. Later this week, the House is expected to vote on Senate Bill 31, known as the 'Life of the Mother Act.' The bill aims to clarify when doctors in Texas can legally perform abortions to save a woman's life. For example, it defines what constitutes a medical emergency and explicitly permits doctors to remove fetal remains after a miscarriage. However, critics argue that the bill still falls short of adequately protecting women's health. Since Texas banned nearly all abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, at least three women have died and dozens have been denied necessary medical care. Disclosure: State Preservation Board has been a financial supporter 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. 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
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texas House passes bill restricting HOA fines for brown lawns
The Brief The Texas House passed HB 517 on April 24 HB 517 would prevent HOAs from fining homeowners for brown grass or vegetation Next up, the bill is headed to a senate committee AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House passed a bill on Thursday to restrict HOAs from issuing fines when lawns turn brown. If the bill becomes law, it could impact almost every major city in Texas. RELATED: Texas bill aims to protect homeowners from getting fined for brown lawns during water restrictions The backstory The bill, filed by Round Rock State Rep. Caroline Harris Davila, would prevent HOAs from fining homeowners for brown grass or vegetation when their water supplier asks them to cut back on usage during a drought. "I'm so excited, and the whole time I've been working on this, I've received nothing but overwhelming support," said Harris Davila. "I think that many members have heard about these concerns from their constituents who, you know, again, are stuck between either watering their lawn during a watering restriction and getting a fine from the local municipality or water provider or letting their yard get brown and the being fined by the HOA for not having a green yard." Lawmakers made two changes, including an amendment by Austin Representative Ellen Troxclair, which gives homeowners 60 days to get their lawns back up to code after a water restriction is lifted. "It takes an average of six weeks to restore grass," said Troxclair on Wednesday during the second reading of the bill. "This is a reasonable time frame." Another amendment prevents HOAs from requiring homeowners to install grass or turf during a drought. "In the original bill, we were talking about maintaining a green yard, but they wanted to make sure that they wouldn't also be required to plant new grass during a drought, which is pretty straightforward and common sense to me," said Harris Davila. Local perspective "I think that when we live in a state where, I would argue probably seven to eight months out the year, we seem to be in some form of drought condition that it seems a little bit short-sighted to demand that people have green grass when there are arguably more important things that we could be using our resources on," said Megan McGuffee. Back in Round Rock, homeowner Isha Kanini said she hasn't heard of HOA fining residents for brown lawns during a drought, but she's glad it's one less thing she has to worry about. "They haven't sent me any of those notices, but if anything stops them from doing any of that, that would be really nice," said Kanini. In written public house comments, one homeowner called it a "waste of time." What's next Next up, the bill is headed to a senate committee. If it passes through that, it will move to the Senate floor. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Lauren Rangel
