This week, there was a high-profile jury decision in another state involving a former elected official.
Closer to home, there was a Texas Supreme Court decision in the Zurawski case. In the decision, the Court ruled against the plaintiffs, rejecting their complaint that the narrow exception to Texas’ abortion ban is too vague. The Court’s decision raises the stakes for the Texas Medical Board’s rulemaking process attempting to clarify the exception.
Significantly, the Court ruled that only a doctor had standing to bring the lawsuit. None of the women who were parties to the lawsuit had standing in the case because they would not be subject to any kind of penalty under current law—even though women are, in fact, the parties most at risk of potential harm from the law’s vagueness.
Also this week, the Senate State Affairs Committee held a 12-hour interim hearing on an assortment of interim charges including election integrity, featuring a committee vote to issue subpoenas to several tech firms and hours of testimony regarding countywide voting, foreign ownership of Texas property, and regulation of various forms of THC.
Meanwhile, the Texas Water Development Board held a public hearing on the proposed first-ever state flood plan, which is open for public comment until June 17. The hearing happened to coincide with this month’s actual flooding in East Texas.
Watch Becca’s testimony to the Water Development Board
Watch Cyrus Reed’s testimony to the Water Development Board
In the blog, in addition to Becca’s posts, you’ll also find Madison’s reflection on the connection between mission and climate change. While you’re on the website, be sure to check our Events page for upcoming live and virtual events.
The climates—weather and political—seem increasingly extreme. Don’t get overheated: watching the same news on repeat won’t do any good for you or your community, nor will worrying about future catastrophes. Learn all you can about the issues, listen to folks who have different perspectives from you, and meet the people who represent you at all levels of government. Texas Impact is here to help.