KUT
It s unclear whether any Texas cities have banned natural gas hookups in buildings. But now they won t be able to if a bill approved by the state Senate on Tuesday becomes law.
House Bill 17 by state Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, was initially written in
response to California cities banning natural gas use in new buildings to fight climate change. With the support of the natural gas industry, Oklahoma and Louisiana have already preemptively passed laws
But Deshotel’s legislation got a rebranding in Texas when it was included on the list of bills prioritized in response to the February blackout. In explaining the bill to fellow lawmakers, Deshotel said gas played an important part in helping a lot of people” during the blackout.
Texas Lawmakers Advance Bills to Protect Oil and Gas From Climate Initiatives
Texas lawmakers this week advanced bills aimed at shielding the state’s oil and gas industry from climate initiatives pushed by the Biden administration.
The Texas House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 13, which requires the state’s comptroller to prepare, maintain and update a list of all companies that boycott energy companies. The state may then divest funds from those firms unless they cease boycotting energy companies within 90 days of receiving a written warning from state governmental entities, the legislation states.
“Oil and gas is the lifeblood of the Texas economy,” state GOP Rep. Phil King of Weatherford told the House floor Monday. “In the world of capital, there’s a movement to deny funds to businesses that will not sign on to extreme anti-fossil fuel policy.”
Austin voters appear poised to reinstate city s ban on public homeless encampments
May 1, 2021
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A woman sorts through her possessions before state workers clear out a homeless camp in Austin under a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott. But is that a lasting solution?Bob Owen / Staff photographer
Austin voters appear poised to reinstate a ban on public homeless encampments, according to unofficial early voting results. Proposition B on that city’s ballot would also criminalize panhandling at certain places and during certain times.
Austin’s City Council decided to lift the ban on public encampments in certain areas in 2019, arguing that the policy had led to citations for people experiencing homelessness that hurt their ability to find housing. The move was quickly criticized by Gov. Greg Abbott, who promised to take action against Austin.
May 1, 2021 at 9:23 p.m.
Austin voters appear poised to reinstate a ban on public homeless encampments, according to unofficial early returns. Proposition B on that city’s ballot would also criminalize panhandling at certain places and during certain times.
Austin’s City Council decided to lift the ban on public encampments in certain areas in 2019, arguing that the policy had led to citations for people experiencing homelessness that hurt their ability to find housing. The move was quickly criticized by Gov. Greg Abbott, who promised to take action against Austin.
Although the visibility of homeless encampments has increased in Austin in recent years, both the Dallas and Houston areas have more people living in the streets, according to 2020 data. Some Austin residents have complained that allowing the encampments on public property many are beneath overpasses or next to major roads has created health and safety problems.
Jasper County switching government associations By KTRE Digital Media Staff and Jeremy Thomas | April 28, 2021 at 4:53 PM CDT - Updated April 29 at 12:36 AM
JASPER COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - Gov. Abbott approved Jasper Countyâs request to transfer from the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (State Planning Region 14) to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (State Planning Region 15).
The transfer effective date is April 27, 2021 although the actual transfer of programs and services will take place over a period of time.
âOver the past two years, we participated in several meetings and workshops conducted by the SETRPC to determine the benefits, feasibility and challenges that a move of this nature would bring,â reported Jasper County Judge Mark Allen. âThese workshops included, but were not limited to, short and long-term transportation and transit planning, hazard mitigation planning, 9-1-1, radio communications infrastructure, public safe