Anti-gun violence protests and more school safety measures
Anti-gun violence protests were held in multiple cities across the state over the weekend, while the state has imposed additional measures designed to strengthen school security.

TEA directed to make schools safer
Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Education Agency to ensure school facilities are made safer in the wake of the killing of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
In a letter to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, the governor requested the agency:
• Instruct school districts to identify actions to make campuses more secure prior to the start of the new school year.

Note: This is a bulldog edition of the May 29 Capital Highlights column, to accommodate papers with early holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if events dictate.

Wildfires continue across state
Firefighters are looking to the skies for much-needed rain this week as crews continue battling wildfires across the state. Fires reported Sunday by the Texas A&M Forest Service were being fought in Brown, Taylor, Wilbarger, Llano, Schleicher and San Saba counties. 

Early runoff voting ends Friday
Early voting in the May 24 primary runoff elections ends Friday, May 20. Under state law, voters who cast ballots in either party’s primary election must vote only in the same party’s runoff election. Voters who did not cast ballots in the primary may vote in either party’s runoff election.

Voters back property tax amendments
Texas voters overwhelmingly approved two proposed amendments on Saturday that will provide property tax relief to homeowners.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, nearly 85% of voters supported Proposition 2, which raises the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 starting this year. That will save the average homeowner about $175 in school property taxes.

Texas challenged by nursing, trucker shortage
Texas has the fourth-lowest nurse-to-population ratio in the country, with only 9.25 nurses per 1,000 residents, according to a recent report by the comptroller’s office.

Early voting underway for May 7 election
Early voting began Monday for local elections and two proposed constitutional amendments relating to property tax reductions. Early voting continues through Tuesday, May 3, with election day on Saturday, May 7.
One proposed amendment would authorize the Legislature to limit property taxes on homesteads of elderly or disabled residents, while the other would increase the homestead exemption for school taxes from $25,000 to $40,000. 

Abbott halts border truck inspections
Gov. Greg Abbott halted the state’s aggressive truck inspection at all Texas border crossings after days of bipartisan criticism over the extended delays of goods entering the United States.

Traffic deaths spike in highway work zones
The Texas Department of Transportation wants motorists to be aware of dangerous conditions in road construction zones after crashes in those zones killed 244 people last year.
The death toll is an increase of 33% over 2020 and is the highest in 40 years. The majority of those who died were drivers or their passengers, according to TxDOT.