Capitol Annex’s Press Room

[Press Release From State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville)]
Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. yesterday filed Senate Bill 1131 that would repeal tuition deregulation for higher education institutions in Texas and return control of setting tuition rates to the Legislature.

[Press Release From Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.]
AUSTIN, TX— Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. joined his colleagues today in the Texas Senate as it suspended rules to meet
after they adjourned earlier in the day. Senate Resolution 384 passed with a majority vote.
Sen. Lucio thanked Sen. John Whitmire, author of SR 384, and other Senators for their leadership […]

[Press Release from State Sen. Kevin Eltift (R-Tyler)]
Austin, Texas–Monday Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, filed SB 742 which would repeal the authority of a gas utility to assess a surcharge for capital costs that many Texas customers have been paying.

Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) provided the following statement at the meeting of the Texas Southern University Advisory Council.

[Press Release from State Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)]
(Austin)//Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) today passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 15, declaring February 20, 2007 as Vince Young Day at the Texas Capitol.

[Press Release from Texas Senate Committee On Transportation And Homeland Security]
Austin, Texas - Senator John Carona, Chairman of the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security, today announced a special hearing to take public testimony on transportation policy.
“We have initiated some sweeping changes in transportation policy over the last four years,” said Carona.
“The state […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Mark Strama and State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte]
State Representative Mark Strama today filed HB 1300, legislation that would make higher education more affordable for military veterans in Texas. Senator Leticia Van de Putte, the chair of the Veterans Affairs and Military Installations Committee and a member of the Senate […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Bill Callegari (R-Katy)]
In an effort to allow state water planners greater flexibility with Texas’ water resources, State Representative Bill Callegari (Katy) filed House Bill 911 to facilitate the transfer of water from one river basin to another.  As introduced, H.B. 911 would eliminate the legal hurdles to the transfer of […]

[Press Release from State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.]
AUSTIN, TX—Retired teachers in Texas stand to receive a boost to their pensions under a bill introduced by Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. earlier this week. Senate Bill 492 would increase a retired teacher’s monthly retirement, disability or death benefit by a five percent cost-of-living adjustment. Retired teachers have […]

[Press Release from State Sen. Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)
AUSTIN, Texas–State Senator Kel Seliger has filed Senate Bill 528 (SB 528) to create a specialized listing of qualifications for appellate attorneys representing indigent defendants in capital cases.  The goal of the legislation is to increase the number of lawyers who are eligible to represent defendants upon appeal […]

[Press Release from Sen. Leticia Van De Putte (D-San Antonio), Chair, Texas Senate Democratic Caucus]
Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus, said the following today in response to the Governor’s State-of-the-State address:

[Statement From State Sen. Eddie Lucio]
“I sincerely believe that Gov. Rick Perry has the best interest of the state at heart, as do I. Many of his proposals certainly hold my interest and many of his efforts have my support. Our agendas for the people of Texas share many commonalities, but until we take the […]

[Statement from State. Sen Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)]
I am adamantly opposed to the Governor’s Executive Order mandating the HPV vaccine.  I would ask Governor Perry to reconsider his decision.

[Press Release from State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.]
AUSTIN, TX— Today State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr filed Senate Bill 419 to improve the outlook of children afflicted with Autism.
“On behalf of thousands of Texas families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), I am extremely excited to announce new legislation that will help assure vital services are […]

[Press Release from Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)
Austin, Texas–Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, announced today that he filed Senate Bill 407, legislation authorizing cities and counties to impose an additional half-cent sales tax for property tax relief.   Under the legislation, cities and counties could, with voter approval, enact an additional one-fourth cent each exclusively for the purpose […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)]
(Austin)//Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) released the following statement regarding Governor Rick Perry’s proposed overhaul of higher education.

AUSTIN, Texas–Today, State Senator Kel Seliger filed Senate Bill 379 to eliminate the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test at the high school level and replace it with end-of-course exams based on the recommended curriculum.  “I believe that too much classroom time is devoted to preparing for and taking the TAKS test. This […]

Austin, Texas–On Monday Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, received the “Freedom to Teach” Award from the Association of Texas Professional Educators at the Texas State Capitol.

[Press Release from State Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio)]
AUSTIN - Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, today filed a bill that would give Texans broader power to protect themselves, their families and their property.

[Press release from the office of Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa).]
A major new initiative that can have a positive impact on every meals on wheels organization in Texas will be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Jointly holding the press conference will be Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) and Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin).  It will be […]

[Press Release from State Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas)
On January 19, State Senator John Carona, R-Dallas, filed SB 257, which would allow local option elections to add up to an extra one-cent to the local sales tax for funding local transit projects.

[Senate Democratic Caucus Press Release]
Late Friday evening, January 19, Senator Mario Gallegos was called to the hospital and underwent a liver transplant procedure, which had been anticipated for several weeks.  He has passed the crucial 48 hour mark following the surgery, and is in good condition. He will remain hospitalized for the next few days.

[Press Release from State Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa)]
A major new initiative that can have a positive impact on every meals on wheels organization in Texas will be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Jointly holding the press conference will be Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) and Sen. Kirk Watson (D-Austin).  It will be at 9:00 […]

[Press Release from the office of State Sen. Eddie Lucio]
AUSTIN, TX—State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. filed several bills yesterday for the upcoming 80th Legislative Session beginning Jan. 9, 2007. Bill filing officially began Monday, Nov. 13, 2006.

[Joint Press Release from State Sen. Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston).]
Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and Representative Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) will discuss the future of the State’s investment in historically black universities Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M at a press conference at TSU on Thursday,  May 25.