Texas

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/30218735

12 republicans joined all 60 democrats in the Texas house to vote to formally repeal the gay sex ban that was ruled unconstitutional in 2003

First time the Texas house has passed any repeal attempts. It still faces steep odds in the Texas senate

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/29762276

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/29324469

Archived at https://web.archive.org/web/20250508114222/https://boltsmag.org/texas-1925-abortion-law/

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21747943

It was a tough night for MAGA-aligned candidates in Texas. In the May 3, 2025, local elections, voters across the state decisively rejected far-right candidates, particularly in school board and city council races. From Tarrant County to Collin County, and from San Antonio to Dallas, communities chose leaders who prioritize public education, inclusivity, and pragmatic governance over culture wars and partisan agendas. This widespread shift signals a growing resistance to extremist politics at the local level.

Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to pull state funding after the City of San Marcos placed a resolution in support of a ceasefire in Gaza on its City Council agenda for Tuesday.

The resolution, proposed by council members Alyssa Garza and Amanda Rodriguez, calls for an “immediate, permanent and sustained ceasefire in occupied Palestine,” an “arms embargo on the state of Israel” and “recognition of Palestinian sovereignty and protection of constitutional rights.”

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/28742362

Why is Cornyn running these ridiculous border security ads on YouTube? Midterm elections aren’t until November 2026.

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/21125802

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/28402969

"The Texas Senate voted 22-9 to pass Senate Bill 819. The bill places restrictions on solar and wind power projects, requiring new permits, assessing fees, adding new regulatory requirements and placing new taxes on the projects.

The legislation “adds onerous requirements to new solar projects that would not apply to other energy sources except wind,” said the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).

Texas has the nation’s largest utility-scale solar market – a $50 billion industry that has enough solar installed to power nearly 5 million homes. The bill is expected to slow development, raise Texans’ utility bills, harm rural economies, worsen grid reliability and encroach on private property rights.

“This bill will kill renewable energy in Texas,” Jeff Clark, CEO of Texas Power Alliance, said during public testimony.

Senate Bill 819 requires solar and wind projects of 10 MW or larger to obtain a permit from the Texas Utilities Commission to interconnect to the grid. It requires projects to report a notice of applications and hold a public meeting for proposed projects.

The bill also places a new environmental impact review by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and established an annual environmental impact fee for permit holders.

SB 819 also requires all permitted facility equipment for solar projects be at least 100 feet from property lines and 200 feet from habitable structures unless it obtains a written waiver from the property owner.

The bill also prohibits property tax abatements for solar or wind projects of 10 MW of capacity or more. Property tax abatements are a common regulatory structure for utility-scale solar projects nationwide.

“We cannot afford to turn away from the pro-energy and pro-business policies that made the Lone Star State the energy capital, but that’s exactly what SB 819 does,” said Daniel Giese, Texas director of state affairs, SEIA. “We urge the Texas House to reject this bill.”

If approved by the House and Governor, the bill is expected to raise electricity costs for Texans. Clean energy is estimated to save ratepayers in the state $11 billion over the last two years.

The restrictions are also expected to lower grid reliability. Solar is the largest source of new generation added to the grid in Texas, and experts from the state’s grid operator ERCOT, the Texas Comptroller’s office, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas credit solar and storage for helping the grid remain stable during heat waves and cold snaps.

For rural economies, a slowed solar and wind power industry means less tax revenues. Research from the University of Texas estimates that existing and planned solar, wind and energy storage projects in that state will contribute $20 billion in local tax revenues and $29.5 billion in landowner payments over the life of the projects.

The bill also claws back the right of landowners in Texas to make land use decisions on their private property.

“The state telling landowners that they can’t use their land in the way they see fit is antithetical to the Texas identity,” said SEIA.

The solar industry employs over 12,000 people in Texas. It is expected to add the most solar among all states over the next 5 years, with a projected growth of 41 GW, according to SEIA. For context, the United States has about 224 GW of solar installed cumulatively in its entire history through 2024.

The bill next heads to the Texas House of Representatives for vote. If approved, it will be sent to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature."

• How much money on big energy causing this through lobbying?

Thanks for wasting our taxpayer money on this political theatre, you prick. There's real crises happening right now, and you're over here going, "Buh duh statues make me horny!" JFC.

cross-posted from: https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/34366704

Interesting article about all the crappy energy legislation being pushed and passed in Texas.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/27836793

Summary

Texas hospitals are treating children with vitamin A poisoning linked to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s promotion of the supplement as a measles treatment.

At Covenant Children’s hospital in Lubbock, patients with measles showed abnormal liver function due to excessive vitamin A intake.

Kennedy, the U.S. health secretary, claimed vitamin A dramatically reduces measles mortality. Experts warn his messaging confuses parents and downplays the proven protection of the MMR vaccine.

The U.S. faces its worst measles outbreak in decades, with nearly 500 cases across 21 states and two confirmed deaths.

Current events and all. I got all of mine as a kid, but thinking now would be a good time for a booster.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/27797091

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/27796205

cross-posted from: https://reddthat.com/post/38394903

South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new bill.

The lawmakers behind the bill promised there would not be an increase in the number of days the beach is closed.

cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/20224513

Operation Lone Star has turbocharged DPS’ surveillance capabilities. Lawmakers say they want to prevent Texas from becoming a police state but have filed only modest legislation to regulate use of AI.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/27506751