
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán is Nashville Public Radio’s political reporter. Prior to moving to Nashville, Sergio covered education for the Standard-Examiner newspaper in Ogden, Utah. He is a Puerto Rico native and his work has also appeared on NPR station WKAR, San Antonio Express-News, Inter News Service, GFR Media and WMIZ 1270 AM.
In his free time (once in a blue moon), Sergio can be found playing volleyball or in Flamenco Beach in Culebra, Puerto Rico. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and the coolest uncle (feel free to fact-check) to Olivia and Jimena.
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The Legislature also failed to pass election-related bills.
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Senate Bill 6 was filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, in an effort to skirt a handful of lawsuits that could delay the implementation of changes approved by Texas voters in last month’s constitutional amendment election.
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Some Texas public school teachers say they have to do side jobs in order to be able to live.
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House Bill 1 includes funding for school safety and salary raises for teachers. But the measure’s most controversial provision, one creating a school voucher-like program, was stripped from the bill on Friday afternoon.
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The bill has brought together an unlikely coalition of Republicans and Democrats and may keep lawmakers in Austin even longer.
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Abbott’s agenda for the new special session includes — once again — school vouchers, school safety, and border-related bills.
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Under Senate Bill 7, which now heads Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, private employers in Texas can’t require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Any found in violation of the ban would be fined $50,000.
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Wednesday night’s development comes after months of fierce infighting between GOP lawmakers — and with less than a week left in the current special session. Lawmakers only have until Tuesday, Nov. 7 to send legislation to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
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Abbott's announcement Tuesday suggests a renewed effort to divert public funds to private schools. Phelan’s office stopped short of calling it an agreement, saying the Republican speaker “looks forward to having robust discussions on school funding, teacher pay, and other critical issues with his House colleagues."
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The bill now goes back to the Texas Senate since the version passed by the House makes some minor changes to the version passed by the upper chamber two weeks ago.