After a slow start to the session, the House finally started hearing substantive bills on March 25. Topping the calendar was House Bill 873, the film incentives reform bill, by Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin… After a daylong debate on March 24, the Senate voted 22-8 to place a 60% cap on university admissions under the top 10% rule. The bill, Senate Bill 175, now heads to the House, where near-identical language failed last session… With final rules pending for the federal stimulus cash, Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said the House Appropriations Committee is still working on the state budget, and it will be up to Gov. Rick Perry to veto it and force a special session… House Appropriations approved more than $800 million from the Rainy Day Fund on March 20 for Hurricane Ike reconstruction, including $300 million for University of Texas Medical Branch. Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, had originally asked for $933 million; the new figure gives schools more, state agencies less, and adds $250 million for future disaster relief… Attorney General Greg Abbott has issued an opinion saying the Lege can pass laws forcing cities to become more active in enforcing federal immigration law. The opinion, requested by Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio, could open the door to legislation ending sanctuary cities… Lege TV: Time Warner Cable will start providing live floor broadcasts for its San Antonio cable customers in April, and AT&T U-verse will roll out House coverage in select markets. The Texas Cable Association told legislators Lubbock may have to wait until at least 2011… House Resolution 285, memorializing the life of former Travis Co. Green Party Co-Chair Bill Holloway, is scheduled to be read on March 30. Holloway died on Jan. 8… For breaking news and analysis, visit austinchronicle.com/legeland or sign up to www.twitter.com/legeland.
This article appears in March 27 • 2009.