State

Introduced by state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, House Bill 63 would downgrade possession of an ounce or less of cannabis from a Class B to a Class C misdemeanor, removing the possibility of jail time for offenders.

Students are unlikely to see any benefits and could even be hurt by the state’s proposal to counterbalance the property tax rate cap with an increase in the state sales tax, experts say. However, in its current form, the tax swap also faces a potentially steeper battle than other tax proposals.

House Bill 357, which would allow Texans to openly carry a handgun without a permit, was withdrawn April 5 after a pro-gun activist visited the homes of lawmakers, such as House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton.

Two decisions have been made this month regarding two separate Texas universities’ affirmative action policies. But while one university can still use race as a factor in their admissions process, the other cannot.