Resisting the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remained a priority this session, as it was the last session of the Texas Legislature, but the issue was not as hotly contested this time around, and none of the Medicaid-expansion bills filed received a hearing. Likewise, bills that would have created a state health-insurance exchange under the ACA did not get a hearing. Texas lawmakers held the line and resisted implementing the ACA despite pressure from a coalition of hospitals, providers, chambers of commerce, county judges, school districts, and various advocacy groups.
Criminal Justice
Safer Communities Through Second Chances: The Case for Federal Expungement
When criminal records follow people forever, families struggle, employers lose workers, and communities lose productive citizens. Federal law offers almost no path to redemption, even though second chances strengthen public safety and the economy. Key Points The federal expungement system is effectively nonexistent. Permanent criminal records for non-violent federal offenses undermine work opportunities, family stability,...
September 15, 2026