Today, the Texas Senate approved the passage of SB 715, the Texas Annexation Reform Act, which would reform municipal annexation practices. This legislation, authored by Sen. Donna Campbell, requires consent from a majority of those being annexed, streamlines voluntary annexations, and generally prohibits limited purpose annexation.
Press Release April 24, 2017The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Economist Dr. Vance Ginn will testify before the Texas Senate Finance Committee TODAY, Monday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. CDT in room E1.036 of the Texas State Capitol. Dr. Ginn will testify for Senate Bill 1831, which would require the comptroller to provide an annual report on state programs and functions that are not funded by appropriations.
Press Release April 24, 2017Today, the Texas Workforce Commission released labor market information in Texas for March 2017. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Economist Dr. Vance Ginn issued the following statement:
Press Release April 24, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst with the Center for Local Governance, issued the following statement on House Bill 100. The bill, which passed the House today, would set a statewide policy on ridesharing.
Press Release April 20, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) J.D. Rimann, research analyst with the Center for Economic Freedom, testified last night before the Texas House Committee on State Affairs in favor of House Bill 2838, relating to the deployment of network nodes in public rights of way.
Press Release April 20, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance, issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 43. The resolution proposes a constitutional amendment specifying that state government is not liable for unfunded pension liabilities accrued by local retirement systems and prohibits the appropriation of funds by the legislature for that purpose.
Press Release April 20, 2017The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Economist Dr. Vance Ginn testified before the Texas House Appropriations Committee today on House Bill 3849, which would increase budget transparency and reduce the dependency on excessive general revenue-dedicated accounts to fund the state's budget.
Press Release April 17, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst with the Center for Local Governance, is testifying today before the Texas House Committee on Elections in support of House Bill 3335, regarding local debt transparency
Press Release April 17, 2017The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on pretrial diversion programs and mental health in policing by Randy Petersen, senior researcher for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “Pre-arrest and Pre-booking Diversion and Mental Health in Policing,” examines the effectiveness of pretrial programs around the nation.
Press Release April 13, 2017The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on recording the police by Randy Petersen, senior researcher for Right on Crime and the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “Recording the Police,” examines proper balance between public protection and accountability.
Press Release April 13, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Megan Ingram, research analyst in the Center for Energy and the Environment, will testify on House Concurrent Resolution 84, which is related to state authority of oil and gas production. Ingram will testify before the Texas House Select Committee on State & Federal Power & Responsibility TODAY, Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. CDT in Room E2.036 at the Texas State Capitol.
Press Release April 13, 2017Today, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm sent a letter of encouragement to every member of the Texas Legislature to continue on the path to ending forced annexation. By putting a stop to this practice and allowing property owners a chance to vote on annexation, the Legislature will “protect Texans’ rights to self-determination, free association, and private property,” Gramm wrote. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the letter:
Press Release April 12, 2017