Legislation is what pushes this country further by way of new laws. On city, state and national levels, legislation can have sweeping effects on citizens. The most controversial will see challenges made in court, perhaps all the way to the Supreme Court, like several well-known cases. Sometimes legislation is symbolic, sometimes too little, too late. In recent history, some of the most contentious debates and political battles center around specific legislation. Measures can polarize parties, polarize administrations, and polarize Americans.
Following the California Supreme Court’s decision allowing cities to use zoning ordinances to ban medical marijuana dispensaries, several municipalities have become very vocal regarding the issue of medical cannabis.
On Friday, members of the Texas Legislature agreed to a deal on the Texas State Budget that includes more money for public schools in exchange for $1 billion in tax cuts and fee rebates. The agreement comes after a tumultuous round of negotiations that was nearly derailed Wednesday
A recent piece of legislation in California would allow transgendered student athletes to use restrooms of their gender identity and not their biological sex. Assembly Bill 1266, authored by Assemblyman Tony Ammiano (D-San Francisco), passed the state Assembly, 45-24..
Last week, the Senate overwhelmingly voted to pass the “Marketplace Fairness Act,” better known as the Internet sales tax, 69-27. Framed as a move toward “leveling the playing field,” the bill has sparked some debate among Republicans.
House Republicans released a bill last week to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling by permanently setting them according to the markets, an idea initially put out by President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal.
House Bill 928, also known as the “Come and Take It” law, passed the Texas House on May 8. The legislation mandates that no state money can be spent to enforce federal firearm regulations that do not also exist in state law and is a push-back against proposed federal rules
On April 30, the Texas Senate passed SB 1907, a campus handgun bill that would allow university and college students to store handguns in their vehicles while on campus. The bill was written by Republican State Senator Glenn Hegar.
