Capitol Briefs

• Texans like to think they speak their own language, but an Arlington House member wants to mess with our culture and have English – not Texan, not Spanish, not Azerbaijani – declared the official language of Texas. Republican Rep. Bill Zedler last week filed House Joint Resolution 83, which would ask voters to approve a constitutional amendment prohibiting government representatives from taking "official action that ignores, harms, or diminishes the role of English as the official state language." The law would also "protect the rights" of people who use or attempt to use English in public or private communication. For example, when President Bush tries his hand at English and comes out with something like, "Is our children learning?" just let it go, OK? Texas is one of a few states with English-related legislation pending this year. Arizona voters passed such a law last year, by a whopping 74% margin. According to an English-only watchdog group, U.S. English Inc., 28 states have made English the official language – Amy Smith

• A proposed Darfur divestment bill is headed to the Senate floor, possibly next week, after winning committee approval Monday. The legislation calls for teacher and state employee retirement funds to remove their pension investments from publicly traded companies doing business in Sudan. The Senate bill, authored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, carries a number of bipartisan co-sponsors, as do similar divestment bills moving through the House. Gov. Rick Perry has also thrown his support behind divestment legislation. – A.S.

• Rep. Rob Eissler, chair of the House Public Education Committee, has filed a bill to phase out, or "sunset," the state's educational accountability system. If the bill passes, an interim committee will take another look at what educational measures are important for Texas students to know, a logical step to take before replacing the exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills with end-of-course exams. That, of course, is another bill that has yet to pass the Lege this session, but that could have a big impact on Texas schools. – K.R.

• Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, unveiled three bills last Friday to address regional growth concerns around the Highway 130 corridor. One would give smaller cities the ability to apply limited-annexation powers near the corridor. A second would give constrained zoning authority to Williamson and Travis counties along the corridor. And a third would give Austin limited annexation power along the corridor and also create an infrastructure district to help fund city services out to the area, as long as residents in the area approve the bonds. – K.R.