Capitol Annex’s Press Room

Due to some technical difficulties, we’ve been forced to suspend posting new press releases until Wednesday afternoon. Thank you for your patience.

[Press Release From State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball)]
The House Committee on Jurisprudence unanimously approved a measure Wednesday that would deny parole to certain first-time sex offenders and put the death penalty in play for repeat offenders.

Here at Pressroom, we’re going to try something new this week. Instead of posting the complete press releases, we’re just going to post the first paragraph of the release and a link to a .pdf file of the releases. Every release we receive that isn’t a .pdf, we’ll turn into one. Let us know what […]

[Press Release from the Texas General Land Office]]
AUSTIN - On February 23, Jerry Patterson, Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office, will unveil a letter from the Land Office archives written more than 171 years ago. Patterson said the letter, written by a soldier fighting for independence from Mexico, is much like e-mail soldiers in […]

[Statement Of House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam (D-Waco)]
AUSTIN– State Representative Jim Dunnam issued the following statement today in response to the House of Representatives passing SCR 20, a resolution to exceed the state spending limit:

[Statement by former House Appropriations Chairman Talmadge Heflin]
“While conservatives are naturally hesitant to broach a constitutional spending limit that has been in place for 30 years, the goal of property tax relief justifies such a vote tomorrow.

[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 […]

[Floor Statement From Congressman Charles Gonzalez (D-San Antonio)]
This afternoon, Congressman Charles Gonzalez delivered remarks on the House floor to demonstrate his support for the bipartisan Skelton-Lantos-Jones (NC) resolution.  The resolution, which showcases strong support for our troops while opposing the President’s plan to escalate the war in Iraq, is scheduled for a full vote by […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Houston)]
AUSTIN - The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence announced late Wednesday night it would consider HB 8, also known as Jessica’s Law, in a public hearing on Tuesday.

[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.

[Press Release from State Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio)]
Today State Representative Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) filed legislation to encourage Texas school districts to use green building standards in the construction and renovation of schools. The bill, HB 1824, increases state aid to districts that meet guidelines established by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design […]

Press release here.

[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 State Rep. Ellen Cohen (D-Houston)
(Austin) - Rep. Ellen Cohen urged lawmakers to put aside politics and work toward meaningful measures designed to combat sexual assault.  “Talking tough on crime is easy,” said Cohen, “but providing resources to local and state agencies should be our focus.”

[Press Release from Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie]
Below is a statement from Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie on the passage of SJR 13 in the State House of Representatives, which will allow voters to approve lower property tax rates for Texas seniors, who have yet to receive the same reduction as other homeowners.  […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin)]
Today Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) took a stand today to decrease property taxes for the elderly and disabled, increase the homestead tax exemption and raise teacher salary.

[Press Release From Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston)]

Washington, DC - Today on Capitol Hill, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18) held a celebration of the enactment of legislation they sponsored and the President signed into law requiring that a statue of Sojourner Truth be placed permanently in the United States […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio)
State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon (D-San Antonio) voted for House Bill 2, which ensures that the public schools will receive the funding they were promised during the third Special Session in May.

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

[Press Release from State Rep. Veronica Gonzales (D-McAllen)]
AUSTIN– State Representative Veronica Gonzales D-McAllen joined her Democratic colleagues in unanimously voting for a constitutional amendment, (SJR 13) extending the tax cuts passed last year to include seniors and disabled persons. Though the amendment passed unanimously, it had been endangered last week when it was attached to […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin)]
AUSTIN– Today State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) voted against the resolution to break the constitutional spending cap for the first time in Texas history.
SCR 20 allows the legislature to break the constitutional spending cap in order to pay for local school property tax cuts, however, with the passage […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (R-Kerville)]
Rep. Harvey Hilderbran’s bill which eliminates the cap on the sporting goods tax to fund state and local parks will go before the Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20.  The committee, which is led by Rep. Hilderbran (R-Kerrville), will hear testimony from […]

[Press Release from State Rep. Jerry Madden]
The Council of State Governments Justice Center announced today that Texas’s Court of Criminal Appeals has been selected to participate in the Chief Justices’ Criminal Justice / Mental Health Leadership Initiative, a national project designed to assist state supreme court chief justices in guiding efforts in their state to […]

[Statement From House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam (D-Waco)]
House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) issued the following statement today regarding HB2 and SJR13, both of which passed the House today:

[Press Release from State Rep. Dianne Delisi (R-Temple)]
Austin – State Rep. Dianne White Delisi stated today that she looks forward to hearing from the public on two pieces of important legislation on the topic of state policy regarding Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Delisi was one of the participants in a press conference held at the […]