Fantasy sports, foster care among last-minute bills in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas lawmakers have filed hundreds of last-minute bills in their final chance to propose new laws for 2017.

Friday was the last day to file bills in the Texas Legislature. It included efforts to help reform a deeply troubled foster care system and legalize fantasy sports. Another would exempt breast-feeding moms from jury duty.

The powerful House budget chairman also called for rolling back billions of dollars that voters approved for state highways in 2015 to make more money available for a tight budget.

Friday’s flurry brings the number of bills filed to about 8,000 for the session that ends in May. Two years ago, Texas lawmakers filed more than 11,000 bills – but only about 1 in 10 ultimately made it to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

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3/10/2017 4:28:49 PM (GMT -7:00)