AUSTIN, Texas -- High emotions marked this week in the Texas legislature as lawmakers in the House approved controversial anti-sanctuary city legislation.
Sanctuary City Bill Passes House
It was one of the most heated debates of the session.
In a party-line vote the Texas House passed a bill that includes first-of-its kind jail time punishments for law enforcement officials who don't fully cooperate with the feds on immigration. It also allows police to ask the immigration status of anyone they lawfully detain, not just arrest.
"If your goal was to use immigrants for political gain, you have succeeded," said Democratic Representative Rafael Anchia.
Democrats say the bill could lead to racial profiling and law enforcement statewide have come out overwhelmingly against it, but those in favor of the controversial provision say it only reinforces the law.
"The vast majority of jurisdictions around the state: this is gonna be business as usual because they're not going to do anything different than they already have been," said Republican Representative Matt Schaefer.
House and Senate Budget Leaders Begin Negotiations
Senate and House budget writers began their negotiations this week. One of the biggest sticking points is over delaying a 2.5 billion dollar payment to the state's highway fund to fill a revenue shortfall.
"It's a bit of a slight of hand," said Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, who like many House members has been critical of the Senate's plan. "I think we provided a very in-depth brief that would suggest it's not constitutional."
House leaders instead want to tap the state's rainy day fund. But attorney general Ken Paxton wrote an opinion in favor of the Senate's plan. The two sides will continue to conference in search of a budget they can all agree on.
Charter School Supporters Rally for More Funding
Hundreds of parents, students, and teachers converged on the State Capitol Wednesday in support of charter schools. Charter school advocates say they want to be on a level playing field with traditional public schools.
The next day a bill passed the senate that would provide a few more dollars for them to expand.
Voting District Fight on Horizon
It appears another trial looms over Texas' political maps.
A judge told attorneys on both sides of the issue that he'd make a decision by next week -- about heading back to court to determine what the state's House and Congressional boundaries will look like.
Senators Take Symbolic Move Against Refugee Settlement
A bill that would shutter the state's refugee resettlement office cleared the Texas Senate.
It's a symbolic move that comes months after Governor Greg Abbott said Texas would withdraw from the federal refugee resettlement program.He cited security concerns over proper vetting for refugees coming from countries with ties to terrorism.
But refugees are still coming to Texas since the program is fully federally funded.
Still, Republicans moved to close Texas' Office of Immigration and Refugee Affairs, which oversee federal refugee resettlement in Texas.The bill's author says the agency "was only a go-between" and the move is "completely symbolic."