Texas Lawmakers Urgently Pass Bills Before Legislative Session Ends

Legislative Session Urgency

• ⏰ Texas lawmakers are working through the Memorial Day holiday to pass critical bills before the legislative session concludes in one week.
• 🏛️ The House remains in session, with members prepared to work until midnight and beyond to meet the 140-day constitutional limit.

Key Bills Passed and Debated

• ⚖️ The House passed a ban on non-disclosure agreements in sexual abuse cases, sending it to the governor.
• 🎬 Hundreds of millions of dollars were finalized for movie and TV productions.
• 📚 Initial approval was given to a bill that would place school boards in charge of books in school libraries, rather than school librarians.
• 🔫 The Senate debated a potential state ban on gun buybacks sponsored by cities or counties, with no final action taken.
• 🌿 No final action was taken on medical marijuana.

Budget and School Funding

• 💰 The overall state budget remains a significant decision point.
• 🏫 Final approval is still pending for a large school funding bill.

Lieutenant Governor's Stance on Marijuana

• 🧑‍⚕️ Following the criminalization of THC, the lieutenant governor indicated a plan to expand access to doctor-prescribed marijuana for veterans with chronic pain.
• ❓ The specifics of this plan have yet to be revealed as the session nears its end.