NEWS IN STATE GOVERNMENT
Governor:
Governor Abbott Discusses Booming Texas Economy: Governor Greg Abbott joined Fox & Friends from Davos, Switzerland this morning to discuss the World Economic Forum, the booming Texas economy, and the state’s thriving business climate. Click here to read more.
Lt. Governor:
Lt. Gov. Patrick Appoints Fallon, Lucio, and Paxton to Sunset Commission: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced four new appointments to the Sunset Advisory Commission including Senators Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, and Angela Paxton, R-McKinney. Ralph Duggins, of Fort Worth, is the new the public member appointee. Senators Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway, and Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, will continue to serve on the Commission. Sen. Buckingham will serve as the vice-chair for the 2019-2021 Review Cycle. Click here to read the full release.
Comptroller:
Fiscal Notes: The 2020 Census — Why It’s Important: In the latest edition of Fiscal Notes, the Comptroller’s office looks at the impact of the census on the many federal programs that use its data to determine the distribution of federal dollars to states, local governments and citizens. Click here to read more.
Railroad Commission:
RRC Opens New Lubbock Oil & Gas Field Office: The Railroad Commission of Texas is opening a new oil and gas field office in Lubbock to serve energy activity in the northern section of the Permian Basin – the nation’s top oil and gas producing region. Click here to read more.
Secretary of State:
Secretary Hughs Convenes First Border Trade Advisory Committee Meeting of 2020: Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs this week convened the first Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC) meeting of 2020, bringing together stakeholders from throughout the Texas-Mexico border region to advance initiatives to address challenges related to international trade with Mexico. Click here to read more.
Secretary Hughs Reminds Texans to Register And Prepare to Vote: Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs reminded Texans to make the necessary preparations to be able to cast their vote in the upcoming March 3rd primary election. Click here to read more.
General Land Commission:
Texas General Land Office and USACE to Host Public Open Houses to Update the Community on Latest Design Changes: Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced the upcoming dates and locations for a series of Public Open Houses on the Coastal Texas Study. Click here to read more.
Health and Human Services:
Texas Secures Approximately $350 Million in Federal Funding for Women’s Health Services: Governor Greg Abbott announced that Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have reached an agreement to provide comprehensive women’s health services through a Medicaid demonstration waiver over the next five years. Click here to read more.
Railroad Commission:
RRC Opens New Lubbock Oil & Gas Field Office: The Railroad Commission of Texas is opening a new oil and gas field office in Lubbock to serve energy activity in the northern section of the Permian Basin – the nation’s top oil and gas producing region. Click here to read more.
OTHER NEWS
State Headlines:
Transportation:
Texas Transportation Leader in San Antonio to Talk Highway Construction: Bruce Bugg, an Abbott appointee and San Antonio resident who heads the Texas Transportation Commission, got robust applause addressing the Rotary Club of San Antonio by praising the ongoing widening of U.S. 281 from Loop 1604 to Comal County. Click here to read the full San Antonio Express News article.
Health and Human Services:
UT Health and UTSA Agreement Offers Shorter Path for In-Demand Medical Career: The University of Texas at San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio are starting a fast-track degree program for future respiratory therapists — a job that’s increasingly in demand. Click here to read the San Antonio Express News article.
Agriculture:
Hemp Growing Conference Attracts Hundreds in Waco: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller served as master of ceremonies, welcoming the more than 200 people who traveled from across the state to place their comments on the record. Click here to read the full article.
CBD Products are Everywhere in Texas Since the State Legalized Hemp. Experts Warn: Buyer Beware: Much of the sudden spike in popularity is thanks to a Texas law last year that legalized hemp, the plant from which CBD is derived. Click here to read the full Texas Tribune article.
Drugs and Alcohol:
Austin Passes It’s Marijuana Resolution: The Austin City Council approved a resolution Thursday that will largely end arrests and fines for low-level marijuana possession. This comes after Texas’ legalization of hemp last June threw marijuana prosecution into chaos since the plants look and smell identical. Click here to read the Texas Tribune article.
Politics:
With GOP Supermajority at Risk in 2020, Dan Patrick says Texas Senate May Lower Threshold to Bring Bills to the Floor: The lieutenant governor said Thursday he may decrease the threshold to a simple majority if Republicans lose one or two seats in November. Click here to read the Texas Tribune article.
National Headlines:
Halliburton CEO: U.S. Shale Industry Facing Biggest Test since 2015 Downturn: The capital-intensive U.S. shale industry is facing its biggest challenge since a 2015 downturn that resulted in dozens of companies filing for bankruptcies, billions of dollars in losses and tens of thousands of layoffs as oil prices sputter, producers cut back and Wall Street investors become unwilling to float the bill, the CEO of the Houston oil field services company Halliburton said. Click here to red the Houston Chronicle article.
Online Poker Legislation Introduced in Three US States: Bills in Kentucky, New York and Nebraska present hope that more states will legalize online poker in 2020. Click here to read the full article.
For Farmers, Trump and Trade Deals a Winning Ticket: President Donald Trump came to Austin on Sunday to celebrate the administration’s breakthrough trade deals at the annual convention of the politically consequential American Farm Bureau Federation. Click here to read the Statesman article.
