Texas Lawmakers Advance Diverse Controversial Bills

Texas lawmakers are advancing multiple bills this legislative session targeting a range of issues including public transit, criminal justice, education, and food regulation. House Bill 3187 would cut Dallas Area Rapid Transit funding by 25%, potentially eliminating 5,800 jobs and affecting 220,000 daily riders. Senator John Cornyn introduced a bill to mandate the death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of murder, aiming to enshrine a Trump-era policy. House Bill 1655 threatens school funding if educators support transgender students expressing gender identities different from their assigned sex at birth, sparking criticism from LGBTQ advocates. Another proposed bill would ban the production, sale, and possession of lab-grown meat in Texas. These measures reflect a broader conservative agenda to reshape funding and policy priorities across the state.