Border security was an emergency item on Gov. Greg Abbott’s list of priorities at the beginning of the regular legislative session.
HB 7 contains measures that were lost in the House, including a border protection force and criminal penalties for illegal border crossings.
The bill would have made it a state crime to cross the border illegally, including a felony charge for illegal aliens who disobey an order to leave.
Legislation that prohibits straw purchasing of firearms is posed to become law if both chambers concur on the final draft.
Speaker Dade Phelan scuttled his own priority border security bill after he sustained a point of order Rep. Rafael Anchia raised against the bill.
Two Republicans joined House Democrats to advance a measure raising the age to purchase certain firearms.
The budget now moves to the Senate, where the upper chamber will make its changes before the legislation must be reconciled in conference committee.
Speaker Dade Phelan previously promised a border security plan that would challenge federal laws concerning enforcement.
Speaker Dade Phelan has established the new committee to review all proposed gun laws.
Republicans are galvanized to build upon their current stature in Texas politics as the economy brings down the president's approval ratings.
Incumbents and challengers for office in the federal and state governments have weighed in on the Supreme Court’s decision.
A new political action committee funded by Miriam Adelson donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Texas candidates.
