March 16, 2025
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
The Texas legislative session has reached another key milestone: the deadline for lawmakers to file bills. With the session lasting 140 days, legislators have had the first 60 days to introduce their proposals, and as of 6 p.m. on Friday, that window has officially closed.
In total, 5,646 bills were filed in the Texas House and 3,028 in the Senate, excluding resolutions. From this point forward, new bills can only be introduced if a lawmaker secures a four-fifths majority vote in their respective chamber to suspend the rule—a high hurdle that ensures only the most urgent or widely supported measures can still be considered.
The 60-day mark also signals another major shift: all filed legislation is now eligible for debate and votes. Until now, lawmakers could only take action on bills designated as emergency priorities by Gov. Greg Abbott or those that received the rare four-fifths approval to bypass the restriction.
So far, the Senate has wasted little time advancing Abbott’s legislative priorities, including property tax relief, school choice, increased teacher pay, and bail reform. In contrast, the House has yet to pass a single bill.
With the bill-filing deadline now behind them, lawmakers will turn their attention to committee hearings and floor debates before the regular session adjourns on June 2.
Featured Dade Phelan Doubles Down on Meme Regulation Bill Despite First Amendment Concerns [[link removed]]
Former House Speaker Dade Phelan isn’t backing down from his controversial push to regulate political memes and altered images.
House Bill 366, which would require disclosures on altered media used in political advertising, received a hearing in the State Affairs Committee on Wednesday morning.
During the hearing, Phelan (R–Beaumont) insisted the bill was about addressing artificial intelligence in political advertising. But as critics have pointed out, the legislation itself doesn’t distinguish between AI-generated content and simple Photoshop edits—meaning it could criminalize even rudimentary image manipulation in political speech.
Read More [[link removed]]
Real Texans Dr. Mary Talley Bowden [[link removed]]
In this week's edition of REAL TEXANS, Dr. Mary Talley Bowden talks about being targeted by the medical establishment because she has been successfully treating her patients.
New interviews with REAL TEXANS [[link removed]] every Sunday!
State F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act Would Ban Animal Behavior in Class [[link removed]]
The proposal would require all public school districts to include prohibitions on “non-human behavior” in their student codes of conduct. Letter Highlights Challenges for Gambling Lobby Amid Lottery Scandal [[link removed]]
Several House lawmakers are calling for the rejection of all gambling expansion attempts. School Choice Battle Intensifies as Texas House Committee Hears Testimony [[link removed]]
The proposal is a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott, who made school choice a central issue in last year’s Republican primaries.
Read more in State news... [[link removed]]
Local Harris County Employees Working From Home Found Living in Austin and Dallas [[link removed]]
More than 2,000 Harris County employees work from home while federal, state, and Houston’s city governments return to the office. Attorney General Paxton Investigates Dallas Over Potential Sanctuary City Policies [[link removed]]
Paxton seeks documentation and communications between the City of Dallas and the Dallas Police Department about immigration enforcement. Blue Ridge Residents Convince City To Pause Muslim-owned Developments [[link removed]]
City council tabled a vote on two proposed communities pending a review of annexation agreements with the properties’ owners.
Read more in Local news... [[link removed]]
Federal Texas Congressman Proposes Ban on Foreign Adversaries Buying US Farmland [[link removed]]
The proposal would ban U.S. land purchases by hostile foreign countries that prevent Americans from purchasing their land. ICE Reportedly Maxes Out Detention Capacity [[link removed]]
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said she is standing by and prepared to help however she can, having offered state land for additional facilities. Trump Administration Converts CBP One App to Self-Deportation App [[link removed]]
Over one million foreign nationals have utilized the CBP One app to enter the United States.
Read more in Federal news... [[link removed]]
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