Every Texan Talks - Legislative Podcast from Every Texan

Every bill that goes to the Governor's Texas has to pass through committee, both in the House and Senate. Committee members vote to send a bill to the full chamber BUT it's the committee chairs who decide which bills get hearings and which ones die on the vine. Many conservatives tried to pressure Speaker of the House Phelan away from giving committee chairmanships to Democrats and breaking the tr...

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is using its first hearing of the year to focus on how the Biden administration has handled record-high numbers at the southern border and other immigration issues. Meanwhile, here in Texas, our state spends millions of dollars every week on Operation Lone Star, a border security initiative launched by Gov. Abbott in 2021 to respond to what he claimed were rising...

"Preemption" is a big buzzword at the Capitol this session. This week Marisa talks to Luis Figueroa, Every Texan's Chief of Legislative Affairs, to decode the term, explain how it will come into play in the coming months, and share why we should all be concerned when state government tries to prevent local government action. 

State budget expert Eva De Luna Castro, Every Texan Director of Policy and Advocacy Chandra Villanueva, and Every Texan Director of Economic Opportunity Jaime Puente weigh in with Marisa on new preliminary state budget bills from the House and Senate for the 2024-25 biennium, with each proposing to shell out a historic $130 billion in general revenue. Do the proposed budgets help benefit every Tex...

With a historic budget "surplus" and the voucher debate well underway, school funding will be a hot topic at the #txlege. This week, Marisa talks to Chandra Villanueva, Texas school funding expert and Every Texan's director of policy advocacy, who explains the basics of school funding in Texas and what to watch this legislative session.  Learn more about how teachers are doing in Texas here ....

It’s finally here! Happy Session Day. After two years, we’re finally back for an in-person legislative session at the Texas Capitol. Chief of Legislative Affairs Luis Figueroa breaks down what to expect. 

What is the Texas Biennial Revenue Reveal (and why should we care)? The Texas Legislative Session starts tomorrow, but we got the real news today with a historic cash balance for legislators to invest in state services....or will they? Texas budget and fiscal policy experts Eva DeLuna Castro and Dick Lavine respond to the Texas Comptroller's revenue report today and how it will come into play this...