Latest news with #Texas:TheIssueIs
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House takes first step towards banning cellphones in public classrooms
The Brief The Texas House passed HB 1481 on Wednesday. The bill would require cell phones in classrooms to be placed in a secure, out-of-sight area during instruction times. The bill will now head to the Senate. AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas House on Wednesday advanced a bill that would require a secure, out-of-sight area to keep phones during instructional times. House Bill 1481 sailed through the House on Wednesday on a 136-10 vote. Amarillo Republican Rep. Caroline Fairly, the bill's author, said restricting cellphones in classrooms can lead to higher test scores and help teachers better manage their classrooms while improving mental health in students. "We are targeting being sure that our kids go to school to focus on academics, but we also protect them," Fairly said on a recent episode of Texas: The Issue Is. "You know, the amount of cyberbullying that's being cited in these schools is it's gone up so much more." Around 20 or 25 school districts already have a ban on cellphones in classrooms, according to Fairly. She said the bill allows for individual school districts to determine the proper consequences for not following the rule. The other side Opponents of taking away cellphones from students worry about communication with their child in the event of an emergency. Fairly has previously suggested that kids on their phones during an emergency like a school shooting could make them targets because they're making noise. What's next The bill now heads to the Senate where it can be debated in committee and voted to the Senate floor for debate. The Source Information on House Bill 1481 passing comes from the Texas Legislature. Previous comments from Rep. Fairly come from an interview with FOX 4's Steven Dial on Texas: The Issue is on March 23, 2025.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
THC ban coming to Texas? Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller weighs in
The Brief Senate Bill 3 would ban non-medical THC in Texas. Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller says the bill restores the original intent of the law. Miller says he also wants to open more opportunities for medical marijuana. A bill in the Texas Senate would ban all forms of non-medical THC in the state. Some Republicans say Delta-8 and other products are basically legal THC being sold throughout the state, calling it a loophole in the Federal Farm Bill and Hemp Bill passed in Texas. Those who support Senate Bill 3 say the bill will restore the original intent of the law passed in 2019. A Senate committee hearing last week heard hours of testimony from law enforcement, doctors and the public about the bill. What they're saying FOX 4's Steven Dial got a chance to talk to Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller about Senate Bill 3. Steven Dial: "Do you think [Senate Bill 3] will conflict with federal law?" Sid Miller: "We're not going to conflict with federal law. What we're trying to do is parallel and mirror. Federal law. Everything in the legislation currently follows federal law. What's outside the law is possibly the Delta-8, Delta-9 loophole." Dial: "What makes you have pause to say that this is vital legislation that needs to happen?" Miller: "I'm kind of torn between, because we have never wanted recreational marijuana, and that's basically what this is. But now you have got 8,000 businesses, mostly mom and pops, that have put their life savings into opening these new businesses and we might put them out of business. That tugs at my my heart a little bit. I hate to see anybody lose their life savings." Miller also commented on his vision for the future of marijuana in the state. What they're saying Dial: "I believe if [Senate Bill 3] becomes really going to close the door on any type of discussion about recreational marijuana in Texas. Is that your hope as well?" Miller:"Yeah, I think so. I think you're exactly right. The Legislature never intended to have recreational marijuana. So they're just kind of reeling it back in and putting it back to the status quo. I just hope they don't cross over and go too far and limit the real medical marijuana that's helping a lot of people. Matter of fact, they could loosen the strings on that one a little bit, and I'd be much, much happier. I'd rather get bureaucrats and politicians out of people's medication and let the doctors and patients prescribe that to the patients as they see fit. That would be the ultimate freedom right there." You can watch Texas: The Issue Is on Sunday nights or check out old episodes on FOX LOCAL and the Texas: The Issue Is podcast. The Source Information in this article comes from an interview with Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
House Speaker Dustin Burrows on lowering taxes, school choice, Texas Lottery
The Brief Rep. Dustin Burrows became House Speaker in January with support on both sides of the aisle. Burrows joined Texas: The Issue Is to discuss goals for the session. Topics include school choice, the lottery and Burrows' beard. AUSTIN, Texas - Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) was elected House speaker when the 89th Texas Legislature gathered for the first time in January. Burrows won the speakership with support from both sides of the aisle, something that upset some in his own party. As the session gets rolling, Burrows will be tasked to navigate the House through some tough issues and possible contentious debates. He sat down with FOX 7's Rudy Koski for Texas: This Issue Is to discuss those challenges. The state Senate has already passed Senate Bill 4, which would increase the homestead exemption to $140,000 and lower or eliminate the property tax bills of Texans. A House bill would extend some of those property tax benefits to businesses as well. What they're saying Rep. Dustin Burrows: "It is the economic engine of Texas and a particularly small business. So our tax relief package really helps them. And you talk about every dollar they save in property taxes, money that they're going to have to reinvest in their company, to grow it, to hire more employees. And I think we can get a heck of a return on our investment." Rudy Koski: And you have a companion bill that's running that will also help in regard to inventory? Burrows: "The exemption in there for businesses, small businesses, that's who's really the beneficiary of it. It is fantastic. It puts us second in the entire country and Texas goes big or, you know, that's what we do. The Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 2 earlier this month. That bill would establish savings accounts for families to use public money for private education. House Bill 3 is similar to Senate Bill 2 in that both bills would require a $1 billion investment from the state to establish the accounts. Under both bills, families chosen for the program would be allowed to use the funds on private school tuition, textbooks, transportation and other education expenses. The bills start to move away from each other when it comes to who is considered for the accounts and how much each student would receive. While Senate Bill 2 would add a flat $10,000 to a student's savings account, the House version sets the number at "85 percent of the estimated statewide average amount of state and local funding per student in average daily attendance for the applicable school year." The other difference is in how the programs choose who gets a spot if more applications are received. What they're saying Koski:The other big piece of legislation is the school choice legislation, the ESAs. The House is doing it a little bit different from the Senate. Why go a different direction? Why not just rubber stamp the Senate plan and call it a day? Burrows: Well, look, the chambers were not designed to rubber stamp each other's pieces of legislation. The House committee chair on public education has filed his version of the bill. It's a great bill. It provides a lot of parental choice. We're really excited about that. It's going to move through the committee process, where every member on the public education committee and the public is going to have an opportunity to comment on it and look for ways to improve it. Koski: You're focusing more on families with kids who have disabilities. And then you start getting into these other sections. Is that why you think you have the better plan? Burrows: Exactly the House bill sets aside what I think is more resources available to those families that have those needs, and I think is going to really help them. Earlier this week, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 26, aimed at improving teacher pay and retention. READ MORE: Texas Senate passes SB 26 aiming to give raises to teachers The bill would grant independent school districts with 5,000 or fewer students a teacher pay raise starting at $5,000. Teachers with five or more years of experience would get $10,000. In larger districts, the pay raise would start at $2,500 and increase to $5,500 for teachers with experience. What they're saying Koski: "Teacher pay is always the big one. As we get back into regards to wheels coming off, wheels coming off last session with teacher pay. What do you envision being the plan? Do you like the Senate plan?" Burrows: "So, I like House Bill 2. I think it's a comprehensive, great school finance plan. It invests over $9 billion in public education and provides for teacher pay. Teacher incentive allotments, all sorts of wonderful things." Lawmakers and officials have been calling for an investigation into the lottery after an $83.5 million ticket was sold in Austin through an app called Jackpocket which has the same owner as the store where the ticket was sold. The Texas Senate passed a bill banning all online and in-app purchases of Texas Lottery tickets. Now the bill is heading to the House. What they're saying Koski: "The hot topic under the Capitol dome for the past two weeks. The lottery. Where do you stand on this issue?" Burrows: "Look, I have concerns. I'm glad that the governor and lieutenant governor have raised them. I know there's an investigation going on. I look forward to the results of the investigation." Burrows became House Speaker by defeating Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield). Democrats sided with Burrows to push him over the top, riling some Republic What they're saying Koski: "Getting the job, the speaker, was not exactly easy. And since then, there's been a lot of pushback from some members of the Republican Party that you're working too closely with Democrats. Can you mend those fences? Do you want to mend those fences?" Burrows: "Look, my door is open to everybody who wants to make Texas better. And I think that all of the Republicans and you've seen this, you know, over time, the Republicans who maybe on day one weren't 100% supportive. I think they're starting to become very supportive." Koski: "Should you be working with Democrats? Do you regret giving them committee chairs? Subcommittee chairs?" Burrows: "Well, they don't have committee chairs. They do not have committee chairs. It's the first time in Texas history we actually have the most number of Republican chairs in the history of Texas. The focus is taking the 120 members. They want to be here and actually get to work in making sure that they are productive for their communities and represent their people." Burrows also touched on what he wants the legacy of this session to be, the bill he's most involved with and growing a beard. 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 Rudy Koski's sit down interview with Rep. Dustin Burrows. Background information comes from previous FOX7 reporting.
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.
