As U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports a surge in enforcement encounters, some members of Congress are urging President Biden to reinstate the national emergency previously instituted by former President Trump.

Citing Surge on Southern Border, Members of Congress Ask Biden to Reinstate National Emergency | The Texan The members of Congress said “there will be unnecessary deaths at our southern border” if Biden does not act. https://txnne.ws/3sZyFA5

Medicaid expansion has been rejected by the Texas legislature every session since Obamacare’s inception. This session, Speaker Dade Phelan said any related discussion would have to center on a “revenue neutral” starting point.

Medicaid Expansion Again Brought Up for 87th Texas Legislative Session Every year since Obamacare's inception, some have pushed Texas to expand Medicaid. And every session since, it has declined. https://txnne.ws/30iqoL2

School boards have the power to decide their own COVID-19 protocols, including whether to mandate masks, according to new TEA guidelines.

Texas School Boards Allowed to End Mask Mandates in Districts, Per TEA | The Texan The TEA guidance assumes mask requirements but says that school boards are allowed to keep or remove them as they wish. https://txnne.ws/3kSZJ0P

In light of February’s winter storm and subsequent blackouts, citizens and legislators are questioning the impact the proposed high-speed rail system between Dallas and Houston could have on the Texas power ://

Concerns Raised About High-Speed Rail’s Potential Impact on Texas Energy Grid | The Texan Citizens and legislators are concerned about the possible impact the proposed high-speed rail system between Dallas and Houston could have on the Texas power grid. https://txnne.ws/38aJUxh

Facing pressure to adjust market-cleared prices during the Texas blackouts, the PUC declined to remedy its earlier decision that created $16 billion in overcharges for electricity.

After $16 Billion in Overcharges, Public Utility Commission Declines to Reprice Texas Blackout Transactions The post-winter storm financial fight is in full swing in Texas' energy industry. The PUC is facing pressure to intervene in the power market again after its first intervention created astronomically... https://txnne.ws/3sLh66C

Joint authored by 15 senators, a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution would require the state legislature to approve any renewal to a disaster declaration covering a large portion or the entire Lone Star State.

Expansion of Legislative Checks on Governor During Disasters Gets Bipartisan Support in Texas Senate Authored by nearly half of the Texas Senate, a proposed constitutional amendment would require legislative approval for extending disaster declarations. https://txnne.ws/3kPcwBn

Though former President Trump completed more than 450 miles of his promised border wall system, President Biden stopped construction on day one of his administration. Now, a state lawmaker is proposing that Texas finish the job on the state's border.

Texas Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Finish Trump's Border Wall Using State Funds The East Texas Republican wants to name the state’s portion of the project the “President Donald J. Trump Wall.” https://thetexan.news/texas-lawmaker-introduces-bill-to-finish-trumps-border-wall-using-state-funds/

Despite a historic enrollment drop, the state will keep schools steadily funded through this school year. The announcement comes on the heels of predictions that K-12 and higher education will both cling to hybrid instruction even after the pandemic.

As State Extends Hold Harmless Funds, Leaders Predict Long Future for Hybrid Learning The state's top two education leaders told the legislature that schools from kindergarten to college will probably cling to computer learning. https://thetexan.news/as-state-extends-hold-harmless-funds-leaders-predict-long-future-for-hybrid-learning/

Less than one-half of one percent of convictions in Texas ranging from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to robbery were committed by adults with a valid License to Carry who are 21 years or older.

Texas License to Carry Holders Account for Minute Fraction of Convictions Per DPS Report Texans who are active License to Carry holders account for a small fraction of convictions according to the Department of Public Safety. https://thetexan.news/texas-license-to-carry-holders-account-for-minute-fraction-of-convictions-per-dps-report/

Less than one-half of one percent of convictions in Texas ranging from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to robbery were committed by adults with a valid License to Carry who are 21 years or older.

https://txnne.ws/2MLvFHS

A total of 23 candidates, including 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats, filed to run for the special election in Texas’ Sixth Congressional District which was left vacant after the death of Republican Congressman Ron Wright in February.

https://txnne.ws/3belPb6

Rep. Scott Sanford has authored a bill that would require nursing homes to allow daily visits by family members designated as essential caregivers in an effort to ensure residents do not suffer in isolation as they did for months in 2020.

New Bill Aims to Protect Nursing Home Residents From Isolation by Securing Visitation Rights | The Texan Rep. Scott Sanford has authored legislation that would require nursing homes to allow daily visits by family members designated as essential caregivers. https://txnne.ws/3qiSHU5

Rep. Dustin Burrows filed House Bill 3 to create new guidelines for a pandemic response that codifies the approach Gov. Abbott took to COVID-19, prompting criticism from some conservatives. Here’s a look at the debate and what’s in the bill.

The Texas Pandemic Response Act: The Proposal to Codify Abbott’s COVID-19 Approach Rep. Burrows filed a bill to create new guidelines for a pandemic response that solidifies the approach Gov. Abbott took to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting criticism from some conservatives.... https://txnne.ws/3sM0E5V

While President Biden expressed optimism about vaccines, he condemned Texas’ decision to pare back coronavirus rules, saying “the last thing we need is neanderthal thinking[.]”

Biden Condemns Texas' Upcoming Reopening: 'I Think It's a Big Mistake' | The Texan A reporter asked the president for his thoughts on Texas and Mississippi rescinding coronavirus restrictions. https://txnne.ws/30aH33m

Two days after DeAnn Walker resigned her position as chair of the PUC, Gov. Abbott appointed former aide and current commissioner Arthur D'Andrea to fill the vacancy.

Abbott Appoints Former Aide, Commissioner Arthur D’Andrea to PUC Chairmanship | The Texan Arthur D'Andrea has served on the PUC as a commissioner since November 2017. https://txnne.ws/3e6Z6zm

A new report from a court-appointed monitoring group says Harris County misdemeanor bail reforms are helping reduce the jail population and use of cash bail. Although the group acknowledges spikes in violent crime, it says those increases are unrelated.

New Report Praises Harris County Misdemeanor Bail Reforms, Says Spiking Violent Crime Not Related | The Texan A report for Harris County acknowledges spikes in violent crime, but says misdemeanor bail reform policies are unrelated and are helping to reduce misdemeanor filings and use of cash bail. https://txnne.ws/3sMFxRa

When Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texans will soon be allowed to make their own decisions about COVID-19 precautions, Beto O'Rourke said, “Add them to the 44,000+ killed as [Abbott] failed to confront the pandemic & botched the vaccine rollout[.]"

https://txnne.ws/3uPL0Zg

The Texas Supreme Court ruled that after challenge from Save Austin Now the Austin City Council's proposed language for the homeless camping ban proposition was written too broadly, and must revise it. Austin voters will see the question on their May ballots.

Austin City Council Must Slightly Revise Homeless Camping Ban Ballot Language, Supreme Court Rules In only two short months, Austin voters will get their say on whether to reinstate the city's previous homeless camping ban. https://txnne.ws/2OcirV0

Authored by Rep. Bryan Slaton, the bill would most obviously grant protection to Confederate statues that have been targeted for removal around the capitol, though he also made sure to include the Alamo Cenotaph.

Texas Lawmaker Files Bill to Protect Historical Monuments, Cenotaph Some Democrats have put Confederate monuments in their crosshairs, though Slaton’s bill also nods in a different direction: the Alamo. https://txnne.ws/3e2840N

On this day 185 years ago at Washington-on-the-Brazos, 44 Texian delegates to the Convention of 1836 signed their names to the Declaration of Independence from Mexico. Read their names and declaration ⬇️

Today in Texas History: Texas Declares Independence from Mexico | The Texan 184 years ago today, delegates to the Convention of 1836 signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, proclaiming, ”Our Political Connection with the Mexican Nation has Forever Ended.” https://txnne.ws/37YUGqz