News Archives 2003
December
12/05/2003 
Legislative Committee Completes Second Day of Two Day Meeting
12/04/2003
Joint Committee Examines New Public School Funding Plans
November
11/20/2003
Senator Bill Ratliff Steps Down
11/06/2003
Joint Committee Continues Work on Education Funding
October
September
09/17/2003
Senate Committees Tackle Redistricting, Election Dates and Transportation Issues
09/15/2003
Third Called Session Convenes in Austin
09/10/2003
Governor Calls Legislature Back for Third Special Session
August
08/06/2003
Work on School Reform Begins in Texas
July
07/30/2003
The Senate Stands at Ease
07/23/2003
Redistricting Now in the Hands of the Full Senate
07/10/2003
Redistricting Returns to Austin
07/01/2003
Congressional Redistricting Comes to McAllen
June
06/30/2003
The Senate First Called Session is Called to Order
06/28/2003
Senate Begins Redistricting Hearings
06/04/2003
78th Legislative Session Wrap-Up
06/02/2003
78th Legislative Session Ends with a Bang, Nelson Elected Interim President Pro-Tempore
06/01/2003
LATE NIGHT EDITION: Ethics and Transportation Legislation Passed, Session Ends with Filibuster
06/01/2003
Senate Approves Budget Compromise On Last Day to Pass Legislation
May
05/31/2003
Senate and House Compromise on Homeowners Insurance Legislation
05/30/2003
Agreement Reached on Damage Caps for Medical Malpractice Lawsuits and Fallen Soldiers Remembered
05/29/2003
Ratliff Reports on Status of Medical Malpractice Bill
05/28/2003
Transportation and Environmental Legislation Considered By Senate
05/27/2003
Senate Approves Legislation Necessary to Balance Budget
05/26/2003
Senate and House Conferees Reach Budget Agreement
05/24/2003
Conference Committee on Appropriations Bill Reaches Agreement
05/23/2003
Budget Writers Receive Gift of $1.3 billion in Federal Assistance
05/22/2003
Senate Unanimously Approves Government Reorganization and Savings Bill
05/21/2003
Budget Conference Committee Continues to Work Out Differences
05/20/2003
Abortion Bill Requiring 24-Hour Wait Gains Preliminarily Approval
05/19/2003
Legislature Authorized to Set Liability Limits if Approved by Voters
05/16/2003
Tort Reform Legislation Passed By Senate
05/15/2003
Legislation Aids Insurance Policy Search for Holocaust Victims' Heirs
05/14/2003
Senate Approved Legislation to Release Tulia 13
05/13/2003
Dewhurst Disappointed in Representatives, Says Senate will Pick up Slack
05/12/2003
Despite A Halt in the House, Senate Will Pick Up the Pace
05/09/2003
Approved Legislation Would Change Education Fund Investment Strategy
05/08/2003
Senate Votes to Provide Zero-Interest College Loans
05/07/2003
Senate Approves Radioactive Waste Facility in Texas
05/06/2003
Senate Approves Plan to Kill "Robin Hood" System of School Funding
05/05/2003
Environmental and Economic Legislation Highlight Session
05/02/2003
Committee of the Whole Senate Approves Overhaul of School Finance System
05/01/2003
Brimer, Harris, and Dewhurst Committed to Supporting UT-Arlington
April
04/30/2003
The Budget and Twenty Bills Dominate Senate Session
04/29/2003
Senate Approves Appropriations Bill for Next Biennium
04/28/2003
Judicial Election Reform Legislation Passed by Senate
04/26/2003
Lucio Honored as Governor for a Day
04/25/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
04/24/2003
Legislation Aimed at Protecting Texas' Freshwater Areas Passes Senate
04/23/2003
Creation of Virtual Charter School Program Endorsed by Senate
04/22/2003
Bivins Bill Drives at Uninsured Motorists
04/17/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
04/16/2003
Senate Approves Legislation to Protect the Rights of Death Row Inmates
04/15/2003
Insurance, Defense of Marriage Act, and Criminal Competency Bills Highlighted
04/14/2003
Wentworth Bill Bans Recognizing Same-Sex Civil Unions
04/11/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
04/10/2003
Dewhurst and Zaffirini Discuss Budget, Rainy Day Fund, and Reducing Paperwork for Teachers
04/09/2003
Averitt Legislation to Make Insurance More Accessible and More Affordable Approved
04/08/2003
Dewhurst, Wentworth, and Ellis Address Topics of Budget, Prayer, and Insurance
04/07/2003
Senate Approves Shapiro Legislation Combating Dropouts
04/04/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
04/03/2003
West Legislation Passed to Help Victims of Identity Fraud
04/02/2003
Insurance Regulation Legislation Passed by Senate
04/01/2003
Criminal Justice Committee Considers Life Without Parole Option
March
03/31/2003
Lucio Introduces the Texas Schoolchildren's Nutrition and Health Act
03/28/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
03/27/2003
Senate Finance Committee Starts Budget Mark-Up
03/26/2003
Dewhurst Reports on Progress of Insurance Bill and Budget Talks
03/25/2003
Legislation Addressing Criminal Justice Issues Presented Today
03/24/2003
Shapleigh Introduces the Texas Health Improvement Act to Address the State's Health Care Crisis
03/21/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
03/20/2003
Tightened Security and Prayers for Our Troops at the Capitol
03/19/2003
Senator Frank Madla hears testimony during Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
03/18/2003
Dewhurst Committed to Protecting Texans Against Terrorist Attacks
03/17/2003
Fraser Reports on Progress of Insurance Rate Regulation
03/14/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
03/13/2003
Preliminary Report Shows Insurance Companies Charging Excessive Rates
03/12/2003
Senate Passed Legislation on Education, Safety Issues
03/11/2003
Dewhurst Promises to Act on Medical Malpractice Crisis
03/10/2003
Senate Passes Legislation Intended to Remove Bad Physicians
03/07/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
03/06/2003
Wentworth Supports Name Change for Southwest Texas State University
03/05/2003
Dewhurst Supports Mentoring to Keep Students in School
03/04/2003
Senate Working Together in Bipartisan Manner on Upcoming Homeowners Insurance Regulation Bill
03/03/2003
Zaffirini Files Legislation Aimed at Immunizing More Texas Children
February
02/28/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
02/27/2003
Dewhurst Hopes to Continue Current Medicaid Coverage
02/26/2003
Gallegos Files Bill Restricting Use of Pyrotechnics in Response to Lieutenant Governor's Concerns
02/25/2003
Senate Authorizes Spending of $2.5 Million in Federal Funds for Medically Deserving Children
02/21/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
02/20/2003
Senate Makes Progress on Insurance Legislation
02/19/2003
Averitt Files Legislation to Insure Working Texans Without Health Insurance
02/18/2003
Insurance Regulation Bill Proposed to Require Companies to Rollback Rates
02/17/2003
Senators Criticize Agencies for Not Complying with HUB Requirements
02/14/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
02/13/2003
Lucio Proposes Legislation to Fight Obesity Epidemic
02/12/2003
Shapleigh Files Act to Strengthen State's Military Bases
02/11/2003
Senate Unanimously Passed Legislation Requiring Insurers to Disclose Rates, Supporting Data
02/07/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
02/06/2003
Duncan Files Legislation to Set Stronger Standards for Residential Construction
02/04/2003
SENIOR DAY AT THE CAPITOL
02/03/2003
Columbia Crew Remembered and Homeland Security Issues Discussed
January
01/31/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
01/30/2003
Senate Business and Commerce Committee Considers Insurance Legislation
01/29/2003
Fraser Fights for Insurance Company Data and Senate Finance Committee Files Zero-Based Budget Bill
01/28/2003
Lieutenant Governor Committed to Reaching Consensus and Providing Funding for Essential Services
01/27/2003
Insurance and Healthcare Legislation Declared Emergency Matters for the 78th Legislature
01/24/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
01/23/2003
Dewhurst Proposes Freeze in State Spending
01/22/2003
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst's First Session
01/21/2003
Texas Governor Rick Perry and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst Inaugurated
01/17/2003
WEEK IN REVIEW
01/16/2003
Senate Adopts Rules and Meets for Joint Session to Canvass Votes
01/15/2003
Dewhurst Addresses the Budget and School Finance Reform
01/14/2003
78th Regular Session Opens
01/13/2003
Comptroller's Biennial Revenue Estimate Outlines Budgetary Challenges
