AUSTIN, Texas -- Our state lawmakers will soon be getting ready to make their way to Austin.
Budgets will be a major focus this session, but there are also plenty of bills already being floated. The following are 5 bills we'll be watching:
Senate Bill 11. Senate Bill 11 would require drug testing for Texans asking for public assistance and unemployment benefits. The goal is to make sure taxpayer money isn't going to drugs and alcohol. Florida has a similar program, and 98-percent of people tested passed.
House Bill 29. Rising tuition rates are making it tough to get a college education. Along with Governor Perry's call for a $10,000 degree plans, Dan Branch out of Dallas has filed House Bill 29 which would freeze tuition rates for 4 years. The hope is to cut costs but also push students to graduate on time.
House Bill 96. San Antonio Representative Mike Villarreal is taking a que from Mayor Castro. He's offering up House Bill 96, which would offer eligible 4-year-old across the state access to a full day of Pre-K. The bill would also restore funds cut in the last session.
Senate Joint Resolution 6. Could 2013 be the year for casinos in Texas? Senate Joint Resolution 6 would help out property taxes and higher education by okaying video slot machines. A similar plan failed last session.
House Bill 23. San Antonio State Representative Trey Martinez-Fischer wants to make sure sex offenders can be easily identified on social websites like Facebook. House Bill 23 would require sex offenders to post details about their crime somewhere on their profiles.
