Newsroom
Senate Democrats elect new leadership as legislative interim approaches
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Following a successful eight-year tenure as Democratic Leader in the Texas Senate, Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) stepped down as Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus today and welcomed…Watson budget transparency measures in must-pass bill
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Several of the budget transparency provisions pushed by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, made it into the final version of a key budget-related bill that won final Senate approval today.…What Texas’ new television recycling law means for consumers
Friday, June 24, 2011
Texas has a new law requiring television manufacturers to take back and recycle old sets in an effort to keep toxic materials including lead and mercury out of landfills and…TV Recycling Bill Has Better Chance This Session
Friday, June 24, 2011
Showing me around Corona Visions recycling off I-35 near BAMC, Vandell Norwood said his crew carefully takes apart every piece of every computer monitor, hard drive, mouse, telephone, and television…Families hope teens learn new Texas law takes fear out of calling for help
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a bill into law that gives immunity to a minor seeking help for a friend in an emergency.Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, authored the…New Laws Push Government Transparency, Protect Privacy
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
It's a tough balance to strike for state officials: promoting government transparency on the web while protecting people's private information. Lawmakers just wrapping up the 82nd legislative session…Perry Signs, Abbott Lauds Sexting Bill
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Prosecutors will be able to punish kids who send explicit photos to each other without resorting to putting them on the sex offender registry, under a bill Attorney…Consensus reached on water, energy and state parks bills
Thursday, June 16, 2011
We've sadly come to expect reports from the Legislature to be the same old story: fights, finger-pointing and details of who won and who lost. In frustration, we often…Watson: Texans will pay a steep price for the Legislature’s budget failures
Friday, June 03, 2011
For 140 days, Texas' budget writers leaned on the glue and duct tape of gimmickry and denial, trying to patch up the state's rickety budget and school finance system.Bill to lessen sexting offense heads to governor
Friday, May 27, 2011
The Senate sent the bill to the governor Friday that would allow minors who send nude or sexual pictures to each other to receive a misdemeanor instead of a felony…