Bill Tightening Voting Restrictions In Texas Passes Senate Committee
A Texas Senate committee on Friday passed an elections bill that would tighten the state’s voting rules by limiting extended early voting hours, requiring proof of disability to qualify for mail-in voting and prohibiting drive-thru voting. Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is one of Gov. Gregg Abbott’s legislative priorities this session.
During testimony Friday, the committee received opposition testimony from AARP, the League of Women Voters, NAACP and other groups. Hughes described his bill as attempting to strike a balance between “maintaining fair and honest elections with the opportunity to exercise one’s right to vote,” according to the Texas Tribune.
COVID Vaccine Age Requirement Lowered
More than 10.2 million Texans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Sunday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The pace is expected to quicken now that anyone 16 years and older can receive one of the three versions available in the state. A total of 3.57 million Texans are fully vaccinated — about 12% of the state’s population. DSHS has directed vaccine providers to give priority to people 80 years and older.
To that point, a new outreach partnership between the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and several partners was announced last week by Gov. Gregg Abbott. Among those participating to expand the state’s Save Our Seniors program launched in February are the Texas Employee Retirement System, Texas Teachers Retirement System, AARP and various Medicare health plans.
More than 1 million doses of the vaccine are being shipped to Texas providers this week. Texans can call 2-1-1 or go to https://tinyurl.com/9dvpetm9 for more information about getting the vaccine.
COVID-19 Cases Drop Slightly
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Texas dropped to 27,185 last week, with 741 deaths reported.
Both are down just slightly from the previous week, according to the Coronavirus Center at Johns Hopkins University. Hospitalizations of confirmed COVID-19 cases also showed a slight decrease to 3,308, according to DSHS.
Social Media Identity Theft
The Texas Department of Insurance has some advice on taking simple steps to protect social media accounts and thus avoid most scams. Those tips include:
• Don’t post ID cards, including a COVID-19 vaccination card.
• Watch out for online quizzes and surveys that ask for personal information.
• Don’t overshare.