On Wednesday, October 4th, Rep. Howard hosted the first in her series of October Town Hall Meetings. The event was well-attended, and it was a vibrant discussion that covered topics such as women's health, property taxes, school finance, redistricting, and transgender health, among many others. You can watch the video below, or by clicking this link.
HD 48 Town Hall Meeting w/ Rep. Donna Howard
On October 4th, Rep. Howard will host a Town Hall Meeting at Small Middle School in House District 48. She'll provide a recap of the recent Regular and Special Sessions of the Texas Legislature, discuss what to expect in the legislative interim, and answer questions from the audience.
You can RSVP for the meeting by going to its Facebook Event Page.
Rep. Howard Decries Latest Rate Changes For Acute Therapy
Rep. Howard Authors Op-Ed on Women's Health
Over the weekend, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times ran an Op-Ed by Rep. Howard, in which she discussed the veto of her SB 790. That bill would have extended the Women's Health Advisory Committee for another two years. You can read the piece here:
Rep. Howard to Appear in Opening Night of "Over the Lege"
On Friday, September 8th, Rep. Howard will make a special guest appearance in the opening night performance of Over the Lege at the Institution Theater. The production is described as a "political satire variety show exposing the shenanigans of the Texas Legislature."
New Laws Authored By Rep. Howard Take Effect Today
September 1 marks the effective date of hundreds of new laws in Texas. Here's a graphic detailing the ones that were authored or sponsored by Rep. Donna Howard:
Rep. Howard Signs Bipartisan Letter in Support of Acute Therapy Access
Resources for Hurricane Preparedness
Forecasters have just upgraded Tropical Storm Harvey to a Category 1 hurricane, and it is expected to make landfall tomorrow. Computer models have already suggested it will increase to a Category 3 hurricane by landfall and could drop a dozen or more inches of rain in less than a day, posing risks of severe flooding and storm damage all along the coast. Here are some resources to help you prepare for the storm.
Team Howard Recap of Final Women's Health Advisory Committee Meeting
Last Monday marked the final meeting of the Women's Health Advisory Committee (WHAC), which is set to expire on September 1st of this year. The agenda featured two major items: a presentation on maternal mortality in Texas by Dr. Lisa Hollier, the Chair of the state's Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force, and an update on the state's women's health programs. Here are a few key points from that discussion:
Special Session Wrap-Up, Part II: Here's What Didn't Pass
We recently took a look at the 12 bills that passed during the recent Special Session of the Texas Legislature. Here's a sample of some of the big items that didn't pass:
Special Session Wrap-Up: Here's What Passed
Adjusting the Limit on Appropriations Makes No Sense
Real Property Tax Reform Equals School Finance Reform
Rep. Howard recently wrote an Op-Ed making the point that any real property tax reform requires real school finance reform. To further illustrate that point, she's pulled together a handy infographic.
Rep. Howard Fights Against Anti-Abortion Legislation
Rape Kit Tracking System: From Idea Into Law
Rep. Howard recently authored a blog entry for End the Backlog, detailing the steps which brought her HB 281 into law. The bill establishes a secure, confidential tracking system for rape kits, so that sexual assault survivors can easily see where their evidence kits are in the process.
Real Property Tax Reform Requires Real School Finance Reform
HB 280 and HB 281 Pass House, Move on to Texas Senate
HB 280 Seeks to Help Prevent Violence Against Nurses
Today, the House took up Rep. Howard's HB 280, which would establish a grant program to help prevent violence against nurses in the health care workplace. The bill is the latest step in Rep. Howard's multi-session effort to address such violence.
HB 630 by Rep. Howard Passes Out of the House
Today, Rep. Howard's HB 630 passed out of the Texas House with unanimous support. She released the following statement:
Capital Tonight Interview on the Budget
On Monday, Rep. Howard appeared on Capital Tonight to discuss the differing House and Senate proposals for the state budget.