Transgender Texans and doctors say Republican lawmakers misconstrue what science says about puberty blockers and hormone therapy
In 2021, a bill that would block transgender kidsโ access to transition-related care passed the Senate but died in the Texas House. This year, a majority of House members back such a ban.
Texas Senate committee advances bills restricting certain drag shows
Proposed legislation from Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, would criminalize explicit performances where children are present and strip libraries of state funding for hosting any event featuring performers in drag. Critics say the bill is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
San Antonio state senator says Texas energy market is โbrokenโ
Texas Sen. Josรฉ Menรฉndez said Wednesday the stateโs energy market needs to be addressed by the legislature after the stateโs power grid overcharged power companies by $16 billion during the winter storm. In an interview with the Texas Tribune about the winter storm, Menรฉndez applauded Gov. Menรฉndez also blamed the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which oversees ERCOT, for refusing to correct the mistake. AdโI was extremely disappointed with the PUC for not having the backs of the ratepayers of Texas,โ Menรฉndez said. โThe problem is not so much whether weโre deregulated or regulated ... the reality is the market for energy is broken,โ Menรฉndez said.
Watch San Antonio state Sen. Jose Menendez discuss Texas blackouts March 10 at noon in interview with Texas Tribune
Editorโs note: This story was initially published by the Texas Tribune. Throughout his career, Goldman has worked on campaigns helping to elect Republicans at the local, state and national levels. This conversation is presented by Lone Star College and Texas State Technical College and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Texas McCombs Energy Institute and Texas Construction Association. Foundation support is provided by the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation, the Energy Foundation and the Catena Foundation. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.
Join The Texas Tribune for an interview with state Rep. Craig Goldman and state Sen. Josรฉ Menรฉndez on the winter storm, the power grid and the aftermath
State Rep. Craig Goldman and state Sen. Josรฉ Menรฉndez discuss what the Texas Legislature can do to better prepare for extreme weather and the impact the winter storm will have on the energy industry. Join The Texas Tribune at noon Central March 10 for a live interview with state Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, and state Sen. Josรฉ Menรฉndez, D-San Antonio. He serves as chair of the House Energy Resources Committee and sits on the Licensing and Administrative Procedures and Redistricting committees. This conversation is presented by Lone Star College and Texas State Technical College and supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.
Proposed bill would require Texas high school students to take a mental health class
Davidโs Law, which was named after David Molak, was passed into law in 2017 with the help of the District 25 senator. The three new bills drafted are:SB 405 would require students to take one mental health class in high school. SB 406 would require school board and trustee members to take a course on trauma-informed school care. โWe saw a decrease in 23% of our students across the state of Texas who had tried to take their own life after Davidโs Law passed,โ Davidโs mother, Maurine Molak said. โItโs really important for us to make sure that they all know that theyโre not alone.โRelated:Davidโs Law, aimed at combating cyberbullying, signed into lawCyberbullying and mental health: How is it tied to depression?
Two San Antonio lawmakers file bills to allow Texans to vote on time change
SAN ANTONIO โ Are you tired of changing your clocks twice a year? More than 200 daylight saving bills and resolutions have been introduced in almost every state across the country since 2015, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Several states have passed bills in favor of permanent daylight saving time. This bill will allow Texans to pick a time they feel is best for them.โโThe practice of changing our clocks is nonsensical and has significant drawbacks. We want to give Texans an opportunity to vote on ending this practice by choosing between standard time year-round or daylight saving time year-round,โ Larson, a Republican, said.
SAISD teacher recognized for โinspiring, motiving students to succeed in classroom and beyondโ
SAN ANTONIO โ A middle school history teacher in the San Antonio Independent School District has been selected as a recipient of the 2020 Humanities Texas Outstanding Teaching Award, a press release said. Adrian Reyna, a teacher of nine years at Longfellow Middle School, was recognized for his exceptional leadership in the educational field. โHumanities Texas is pleased to recognize the achievements of Adrian Reyna and Longfellow Middle School,โ said Humanities Texas Executive Director Eric Lupfer. Each winning teacher receives $5,000 and an additional $1,000 for his or her school to purchase humanities-based instructional materials, the press release said. Reyna creates opportunities and provides encouragement for students to tell their stories and advocate for themselves,โ stated Texas State Senator Josรฉ Menรฉndez.