Abbott Wants To Increase Illegal Voting Penalties

Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Legislature to increase the penalty for illegal voting, adding the item to the third special session now underway. However, House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, quickly rejected the proposal, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

During the second special session, Senate Bill 1 was amended to decrease the penalty. House Democrats twice broke quorum in failed attempts to stop the elections bill from passing.

“Now is not the time to relitigate,” Phelan said. “Instead, the House will remain focused on its constitutional obligation to pass redistricting maps, and members look forward to fulfilling this critical task.”

The measure has moved forward in the Senate. It would make the penalty for voting illegally a second-degree felony, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. SB 1 reduced the penalty to a Class A misdemeanor, with up to one year in jail. However, Phelan’s opposition means it is unlikely to move forward.

More Antibody Infusion Centers Open in State

The Texas Division of Emergency Management continues to open new COVID-19 therapeutic centers across the state, providing monoclonal antibodies to treat outpatient cases with a doctor’s referral. The treatment is provided at no cost. Antibody infusion treatment can prevent patients from becoming seriously ill, requiring hospitalization.

Infusion centers are now operating in Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Burnet, College Station, Corpus Christi, Edinburg, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Laredo, Livingston, Lubbock, McKinney, Nacogdoches, Nash, Odessa, San Antonio, Seguin, Tyler, The Woodlands, Victoria and Waco. Visit meds.tdem. texas.gov for more information.

TCEQ Pushes Recycling with Marketing Plan

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has released its recycling market development plan, which found the recycling industry adds $4.8 billion to the Texas economy. In 2019, 12.9 million tons of solid waste were recycled, up 40% compared to four years earlier. However, nearly 44% of the total solid waste in Texas landfills could have been recycled, according to TCEQ.