Recap of the 1st week of the 81st Texas Legislature
AUSTIN -- The first week of the 81st Texas Legislature has wrapped up, and here is a quick recap of some of what lawmakers worked on.
A state budget has been set and a new Speaker of the House has been elected.
Here are a couple of bills that have received a lot of attention so far. A state-wide smoking ban is on the table, calling for the ban of smoking in public places.
Locally, Senator Kel Seliger filed bills that call for the generation of clean coal power plants that have the ability to capture the majority of their own carbon dioxide emissions. Seliger is also working on a pilot program for A.I.S.D. students. This would give some students the ability to take online courses.
House Rep. Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) filed bills that would send certain couples filing for divorce to marriage counseling classes. He is also working towards tax exemptions for some charitable organizations.
Representatives David Swinford (R-Dist. 87) and John Smithee (R-Dist. 86) have not yet filed any bills.
Lawmakers are off on Monday and Tuesday in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
Legislators will be back to work on Wednesday.
