Gambling News by Gambling Headquarters

When the 80th Texas Legislature convenes for a 140-day session Jan. 9, lawmakers will tackle a bevy of bills that target thousands of state laws - some newly introduced and at the forefront of national debate, and others dealing with unresolved matters that were swept aside last session amid the state's school-finance woes. Legislators will consider changing a range of state policies, including: water use and reuse, conservation and environmental flow; placing a cap on extreme price increases on electricity or extending regulation; overhauling how governmental bodies can seize private property; and disclosure of all real estate sales prices. The fight over how to fund public schools and fix a flawed property tax system topped the state's biggest battles in 2006. Legislators cut school property taxes and replaced that revenue with a new state business tax and a higher cigarette tax that became law Jan. 1. A pack of cigarettes rose nearly $1 and about $12 per carton. The boost is expected to bring in $680 million over the next year. But the smoke over an educational overhaul won't have entirely cleared by the time the bell rings for the next session. A bill proposed by the Texas Gaming Association would merge resort-style casinos, video slot machines at racetracks and gambling at state Indian reservations - all proposals that face strong opposition from social conservatives in the Legislature. The gaming association proposes opening 12 resort-style casinos in Texas, including one in Tarrant County and two in Dallas County. Advocates of the proposal, which would require voter approval for a constitutional amendment, estimate that the gambling expansion would bring in $3.2 billion in tax revenue to the state's coffers and an additional $800 million to city and county governments. The bill would allocate half of the state's revenue, or $1.6 billion, into a financial aid fund that would pay college tuition for every Texas high school graduate who meets certain requirements. The remainder would go into the state's general fund. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, meanwhile, said he'll ask lawmakers to approve a plan to revamp standardized testing for high school students. His proposal, which teachers oppose, would replace the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills with end-of-course exams in each of the core high school subjects. The proposal also would require high school juniors and seniors to take the ACT or SAT college entrance exams at taxpayers' expenses.

Following a national trend, immigration will no doubt be front and center with Texas policymakers, who may pass diverse legislation, including laws that would: restrict birthright citizenship; deny undocumented residents state assistance such as health care and education; make it illegal for them to obtain business permits; impose an 8-percent tax on money transmitted from Texas to Mexico or Central and South America.

The federal government has authority over most laws governing international borders, but Gov. Rick Perry used border security as a cornerstone of his re-election bid. He's expected to ask the Legislature for additional funding to border counties for law enforcement.

On another front, House Bill 349, filed by state Rep. Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, would require more disclosure from cities, counties and school districts about what they spend on lobbyists. The bill would also require more detailed financial disclosure from lobbyists and political consultants who work for governmental entities. Critics of the lobbying system say that more jurisdictions are hiring private lobbyists, with taxpayers footing the bill for funding that goes to the public entities - ranging from water districts to city councils - that they represent.

The issue of conflicts involving political consultants and lobbyists spurred local controversy recently after no-bid contracts totaling almost $2 million were given by the Tarrant Regional Water District and the Trinity River Vision Authority to consultant Bryan Eppstein. Eppstein, one of the top political consultants in the state, helped elect two members of the Water District board.