Eight proposed amendments on November ballot
Capital Highlights is premium content. Please select Premium Content from the Publishing options tab.
Workforce commission announces job surge
The Texas Workforce Commission released June employment figures that showed Texas employers added nearly 56,000 jobs in June, while the unemployment rate dropped to 6.5%.
“The Texas economy is booming,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “Businesses are investing in the Lone Star State at a record pace because we've built a framework that allows free enterprise to flourish and hardworking Texans to prosper.”
Absent lawmakers stymie special session
Legislature returns for special session
The Texas Legislature convened in special session last Thursday and GOP legislators introduced a fresh set of voting bills after Democrats blocked an earlier attempt during the regular session by walking out in May, preventing a quorum.
This edition of Capital Highlights is being sent early to accommodate papers with early deadlines because of the July 4 holiday.
Gas prices at highest level since 2014
Democrats sue over defunding of legislative branch
Heat wave prompts conservation call
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas urged Texans to cut back on power usage last week when an unusually large number of power plants shut down for unexpected repairs as temperatures soared. ERCOT officials announced Friday that Texans could resume normal levels of electricity use, however.
ERCOT came under fire after widespread outages during the winter storm in mid-February, resulting in the CEO being forced out and much of the board replaced.
Saturday marked the official first day of summer.
Abbott vows to expand border ‘barrier’
Population gains, losses in state detailed
Budget headed to governor’s desk
The Texas Legislature sent a $248 billion two-year state budget to Gov. Greg Abbott after the House approved the measure last Thursday.
The 140-day legislative session ended at midnight May 31. Senate Bill 1 is $13.5 billion less than the previous biennial budget, with the difference to be made up from COVID-19 relief funds from the federal government. As previously reported, Abbott plans to allow legislators to decide how to allocate those funds during a special session this fall.