Featured story, from Mary Tuma: “These laws are torturing women, there’s no other way to put it. It is absolutely horrible having to try to help patients get care when the state has barred us from using our best medical judgment.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

“[SB 12] will create an atmosphere where minorities are forced to conform. If achievement gaps for minority students widen, we can look back to this bill as the start. The state has demonized #DEI. But I refuse to accept the narrative.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/senate-gop-parental-rights-bills-school-control/

“There have been significant changes made to these bills, and they’re going to be heard in a closed door meeting that’s not accessible to the public. No livestream. No public comment.”

New from @josephinelee: Vouchers came one step closer to law, along with what Democrats say is a deeply inadequate public ed funding bill. https://www.texasobserver.org/house-ed-committee-approves-vouchers-and-public-school-funding/

“School boards and boards of trustees have been infiltrated by a lot of right-wing politician. By using the board of trustees to implement pieces of anti-LGBTQ and anti-DEI law, it makes it really clear that this bill is not about parental rights, but it’s about pushing forth a political agenda.” https://www.texasobserver.org/senate-gop-parental-rights-bills-school-control/

#LGBTQIA+ #schools #education #politics #USpol #news #TXlege #Texas #censorship

“[If you tell parents] that their education is being politicized, I think you can really control people’s fear. People have a lot of fear around how their kids are growing up.” https://www.texasobserver.org/senate-gop-parental-rights-bills-school-control/

#education #schools #censorship #politics #USpol #news #Texas #TXlege #FreeSpeech #LGBTQIA+

Earlier, from Francesca D'Annunzio and Pulitzer Center: 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.
https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

New today: “This will strip schools of the ability to foster inclusive environments under the guise of protecting parents. But let’s ask which parents, because they sure aren’t the ones with LGBTQ+ kids, children of color, or students who rely on schools as safe spaces.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/senate-gop-parental-rights-bills-school-control/

#LGBTQIA+ #politics #USpol #news #Texas #TXlege #schools #censorship

Featured story: These legislative proposals mark the most significant effort by Republicans to allay concerns from patients and providers about Texas abortion law. But now advocates worry this "clarification " poses new dangers to pregnant people. https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

As DPS expands the scope of its #AI policing capabilities, lawmakers have put forth legislation aimed at regulating the use of the rapidly advancing technology in #Texas. But experts say these bills don't go far enough. https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surveillance-arsenal-artificial-intelligence-lege/

#txlege #tx #texas

Texas House committee cancels school vouchers funding proposal hearing hours before meeting was to begin

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/04/01/watch-at-8-am-texas-house-committee-considers-school-vouchers-funding-proposal/

“These laws are torturing women, there’s no other way to put it. It is absolutely horrible having to try to help patients get care when the state has barred us from using our best medical judgment.” https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

An informative piece by a trans Texan for the Texas Observer, borrowing their choice of quote:

”Trans people are not a threat. We just want to exist and be left alone. Our dignity cannot be taken. But the #Texas Legislature is in danger of trading away its own.”

From April Maria Ortiz in 2023: Coming out in small town Texas ... https://www.texasobserver.org/i-am-a-trans-texan/

#trans #LGBTQIA+ #transphobia #Uvalde #TXlege #politics #USpol #TDOV #TransDayOfVisibility #news #culture

Link to post:

https://hachyderm.io/@TexasObserver@texasobserver.social/114258185785311529

”Trans people are not a threat. We just want to exist and be left alone. Our dignity cannot be taken. But the #Texas Legislature is in danger of trading away its own.”

From April Maria Ortiz in 2023: Coming out in small town Texas ... https://www.texasobserver.org/i-am-a-trans-texan/

#trans #LGBTQIA+ #transphobia #Uvalde #TXlege #politics #USpol #TDOV #TransDayOfVisibility #news #culture

Featured: “It’s more government, more bureaucracy, more money, and there’s no oversight. And it’s taxation without representation,. The taxpayers don’t get to pick who these private companies are that our tax dollars are going into. So that is not a free market.” https://www.texasobserver.org/school-vouchers-vendors-millions-legislature/

“It feels like they are playing a semantics game that is ultimately not going to help people. The GOP is looking for a deflection from the crisis they’ve caused. I urge Democrats not to settle for crumbs this session—we really deserve better, our state deserves better.” https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

"Critics, meanwhile, told lawmakers that Senate Bill 31 doesn’t go far enough to protect women facing pregnancy-related medical emergencies and even quietly resurrects 160-year-old laws that could be used to criminalize those who have undergone an abortion or have helped those who receive an out-of-state abortion."

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/27/texas-abortion-bill-senate-31/

“They are trying to squeeze medical decision-making into narrow exceptions that cannot possibly cover every case. Exceptions give a veneer or gloss to make bans appear more [palatable] for people who have never really worked in the medical field. But in practice, they rarely work.” https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

“Up until now, the state of Texas—like most other banned states—has made it very clear they are not interested in providing clarity for providers and patients. And #Texas doctors face some of the most draconian penalties in the country.”
https://www.texasobserver.org/republican-abortion-laws-texas-legislature-exceptions/

Featured story: SB 2 stipulates that up to 5% of appropriated funds may go to pay up to 5 outside vendors like ClassWallet, which the legislation calls “certified educational assistance organizations.” If the bill were to pass, these private companies could soon be reeling in tens and even hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars per year. https://www.texasobserver.org/school-vouchers-vendors-millions-legislature/