Latest news with #R-Mineola
Axios
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Texas bill would criminalize wearing masks at protests
Texas lawmakers are trying to ban the use of face masks during protests. Why it matters: Authorities at the local and national levels have cracked down on protests over the past year, from mass arrests at student encampments last April to Houston officials pushing to restrict residential demonstrations. State of play: Senate Bill 2876 would increase the criminal penalty for participating in a riot while wearing a mask or other face covering. The bill states that it would be a misdemeanor crime if a person were masked with the intent to conceal their identity. Between the lines: Demonstrators in politically charged protests say they're frequently labeled as rioters even when gatherings remain peaceful. What they're saying: Bill sponsor Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) wrote in a description of the bill that the use of face coverings "during incidents of disorderly conduct" has become increasingly common and claimed that protesters "wear masks with the specific intent to cause harm and chaos while avoiding accountability." "Face coverings present a major obstacle to law enforcement, making it difficult to identify suspects in large crowds," he added. Flashback: Protesters began wearing masks more frequently during the 2020 uprisings following George Floyd's murder, both as a public health measure and as a shield against retaliation. Today, demonstrators still wear masks for public health reasons but also to protect against surveillance, doxxing, and long-term consequences — concerns that remain acute for students and immigrants. The latest: The bill passed unanimously in a committee last week and could soon head to the Senate floor. This week, the bill was placed on the local and uncontested calendar — typically reserved for legislation with broad support — which suggests it's likely to pass the Senate. The other side: It seems "impossible to prove" intent when someone wears a mask at a protest, Brian Klosterboer, senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Texas, tells Axios. He calls the bill vague and says it would be "based entirely on speculation." It would be hard to tell if someone was masking to conceal their identity, protecting themself from COVID, or just wearing a motorcycle helmet for safety near a rally, Klosterboer adds. He says the bill is "unnecessary," noting that under existing Texas law, police can already demand identification from anyone causing damage or destruction. "There's no real reason for this increased penalty just for wearing a mask. People wear masks for all different reasons, including the police. We've seen videos recently of ICE agents, they often wear masks," Klosterboer said.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas GOP senator files bill to clarify abortion ban, expand protections in emergencies
A new bill by the author of a sweeping Texas abortion ban would give doctors more leeway to end pregnancies during medical emergencies, a highly anticipated proposal that comes after reports of increased sepsis rates and several avoidable maternal deaths. Filed Friday afternoon by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, the 'Life of the Mother Act,' or Senate Bill 31, would strike language in Texas' post-Roe abortion ban that requires pregnant patients to have a 'life-threatening condition' before doctors could legally induce an abortion, which some physicians said caused unnecessary suffering and heightened medical risks, according to the bill's text obtained by the American-Statesman. It also would clarify that Texans can access abortions when they're at risk of a "substantial loss of a major bodily function," such as their fertility, if the pregnancy is carried to term. The proposal would allow doctors to end a pregnancy when delaying care would put the pregnant patient at greater risk of death. It does not add exceptions for rape, incest or fatal fetal diagnoses, dashing the hopes of some abortion rights advocates. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday designated the measure as one of the Senate's 40 priority bills, significantly increasing its likelihood to pass in the Senate, and veteran Republican Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth filed an identical companion bill, HB 44, in the lower chamber Friday. In an interview with the Statesman on Friday, Hughes said SB 31 is intended to "remove any excuse" for doctors not to treat pregnant patients whose lives are in danger. "In most cases, doctors and hospitals are getting this right, but getting it right in most cases is not enough," Hughes said, citing statistics that show around three abortions per month take place under the life-of-the-mother exception. "We want to make sure that no mom has to go through that." Hughes acknowledged that media reports and other accounts have revealed that in some cases "mothers were not getting treatment and they should have under the law. So this bill is to make the law even clearer, and to require that doctors and hospitals get trained on the law." The third-term senator in 2021 led the Texas Legislature's passage of Senate Bill 8, the 'Heartbeat Act,' which banned abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy and authorized private citizens to sue people suspected of performing those abortions beginning in September of that year. Hughes' new proposal seeks to address inconsistencies between SB 8 and the state's abortion trigger ban, House Bill 1280, which prohibits all but lifesaving abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in July 2022 reversed Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that guaranteed a right to an abortion. HB 1280 — which carries penalties for doctors including the loss of their medical license, fines of no less than $100,000 and sentences of up to life in prison — defines a medical emergency as requiring a life-threatening condition. SB 31 also would strengthen protections for pregnant Texans who experience premature water breaks and ectopic pregnancies, both of which can lead to life-threatening complications. State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, worked with Hughes in 2023 to create a legal defense for doctors who treat women in those cases. SB 31 is a significant step forward, the attorney and former prosecutor told the Statesman. "Our medical communities are desperate for relief and protection ... so that they can practice reasonable medical judgment in the face of pregnancy complications," said Johnson, whose district includes the renowned Texas Medical Center in Houston. "This bill goes a long way to putting doctors back in the position of acting immediately." SB 31 and HB 44 would also require physicians who treat pregnant patients to complete at least one hour of 'continuing medical education' centered on Texas' abortion laws, and make a course on the statutes available to Texas attorneys for free. The introduction of SB 31 on Friday — one hour before the legislative session's filing deadline — comes after years of calls from Texas women, physicians and reproductive rights advocates for change and clarification to the state's near-total abortion ban. In March 2023, 20 Texas women and two OB-GYNs sued the state over its abortion bans, arguing that the exceptions were too vague and too narrow to allow doctors to intervene before a patient reaches the point of no return. A number of the plaintiffs had left the state to obtain abortions after doctors said their fetuses would not survive and carrying the pregnancies to term posed risks to their health and fertility. One of the women, Amanda Zurawski, is an Austin resident who nearly died of sepsis after doctors said they could not legally end her pregnancy. The lawsuit ended with the state Supreme Court ruling in Texas' favor and finding that the law required a "life-threatening condition," but not imminent death, for a physician to intervene. The case of another woman, Dallas mom of two Kate Cox, prompted the Texas Supreme Court in December 2023 to urge the executive branch to clarify the state's abortion ban. The Texas Medical Board eventually issued additional rules in June in response to a January 2024 petition from two attorneys and veteran Capitol lobbyists, Amy and Steve Bresnen. And more recently, in November, 111 OB-GYNs said that the deaths of two Texas women who were denied abortion care during miscarriages or infections — Josseli Barnaca and Nevaeh Crain — were evidence that "the law does not allow Texas women to get the lifesaving care they need." Investigative news nonprofit ProPublica first revealed the women's deaths and later reported on a third maternal fatality — that of Porsha Ngumezi. The Bresnens, whose petition to the Texas Medical Board put them at the forefront of efforts to ensure pregnant patients could end their pregnancies in serious medical emergencies, praised SB 31 and HB 44. Amy Bresnen told the American-Statesman on Friday that the twin bills are "probably the most important ... of the session, because (they) will literally save lives." The Bresnens, who are married, advocated for the bills as representatives of the Texas Campaign for Mothers. "We're very gratified that Senator Hughes and Representative Geren have taken the leadership on this very important issue to Texas women and the people who love them," Steve Bresnen said. Aside from this proposal, Hughes has backed several measures to crack down on abortion. The Republican senator on Friday filed a bill to let Texans sue organizations that mail abortion-inducing drugs into Texas, SB 2880, which would also make it a crime to pay for a Texas woman's "elective abortion." The law would "appl(y) extraterritorially to the maximum extent permitted by the Texas Constitution or federal law." Johnson told the Statesman that she and other Democrats will continue to push for broader abortion rights this session and in the future. "I will continue to advocate that government should leave this decision to women and health care professionals in general, but I'm grateful" for SB 31 and HB 44, Johnson said. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Senate bill would clarify abortion ban, expand protections
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bills introduced to rename part of SH 11 after Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle
DAINGERFIELD, Texas (KETK) – East Texas lawmakers have introduced bills to rename part of State Highway 11 to honor fallen U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle. Tyler officially recognized as Veteran-Friendly Community State Senator Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and State House Representative Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) have both introduced bills to rename the section of State Highway 11 from Daingerfield to Hughes Springs as Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway. Castle died on May 11, 2005 after he was injured by an improvised explosive device while on deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. 'SSG Castle's ultimate sacrifice is worthy of the highest recognition and brings great credit to the citizens of Hughes Springs, Cass County and the State of Texas,' Cass County Judge Travis Ransom said. 'He served honor, integrity and devotion to his country and his brothers and sisters in arms. The naming of a portion of Texas State Highway 11 and 49 in Morris County, Texas as 'Army Staff Sergeant Samuel T. Castle Memorial Highway' will help serve to perpetuate the memory of a local hero.' According to Ransom's Cass County Connect newsletter from Feb. 28, 2025, Castle was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and football before he graduated from Hughes Springs High School in 1996. East Texas' Biggest Labor Disputes: The Lone Star Steel strikes of 1957-1968 He then attended Tyler Junior College before enlisting into the United States Army's 327th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The Cass and Morris County Commissioner's Courts have both unanimously passed resolutions supporting the designation which is proposed in Hughes' SB 1369 and VanDeaver's HB 3354. SB 1369 was referred to the Texas Senate's Committee on Transportation on Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas bill would require proof of citizenship to register to vote
The Brief A majority of Texans support election reform ideas, according to a new poll. SB 309 would require proof of citizenship to vote. A hearing on the bill could happen in a couple of weeks. AUSTIN, Texas - A new poll shows a majority of Texans were satisfied with how the 2024 elections were run. However, the poll also found that there's strong support for some election reform ideas being considered by state lawmakers, like requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. Sen. Bryan Hughes filed SB 309 that would require proof of citizenship to vote. What they're saying Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola):The law requires that only U.S. citizens can vote in U.S. elections. However, to register to vote, you're not required to show proof of citizenship. The feds have not let the states do that. There's a federal bill moving that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote. But we're not waiting for Washington. Our bill says to register to vote in Texas, you need to show proof of U.S. citizenship. It's pretty basic. Most people agree that only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in U.S. elections. But remarkably, there's opposition to requiring proof of citizenship to register. That's what this bill is about. Rudy Koski, FOX 7 Austin: On the voter registration cards right now, there's a box that says, I am a U.S. citizen. You're supposed to check that. Why isn't that enough? Hughes: The difference is showing proof. Let me see a birth certificate, a passport, as you know, to get a driver's license in Texas for years now. You've been required to show proof of citizenship. A birth certificate, a driver, a passport, something like that. We need that same requirement for voter registration. Every year we clean the voter rolls and we find non-citizens who are registered to vote in Texas. And that doesn't make sense. Koski: The Trump administration is trying to change how birthright citizenship is interpreted. Are you worried that that case could affect your bill? Hughes: We definitely have to watch both of them. That right to vote is a precious privilege of U.S. citizens. And so determining who's entitled to U.S. citizenship will have a lot to do with who has a right to vote. So they're both important. We have to watch a vote. Koski: How soon could this come up? Hughes: So the bill is filed and referred to the Senate Committee on State Affairs where election matters go. We plan to have a hearing on this bill within the next couple of weeks, so it should be moving quickly. You can watch Texas: The Issue Is every Sunday night on TV and anytime on FOX LOCAL. The Source Information in this article comes from an interview with Sen. Bryan Hughes.
