Did Your Station’s Reporting Lead to Legislation, Policy Change in the 88th Texas Legislature?  Tell TAB!

posted on 6.12.2023

TAB knows that local stations’ news teams work diligently to keep local communities informed.

As broadcasters, we pride ourselves on being agents of positive change within the communities in which we live and serve.

Sometimes, our local news reporting leads to legislation filed at the Texas Capitol that impacts the entire state.

Did your station’s news reporting lead to a bill being filed by a state lawmaker this session on a particular issue?

If so, TAB wants to know about it.

We want to identify such issue reporting as it helps TAB press newsrooms’ case with policymakers as to the importance of public information and its impact on the lives of all Texans.

For example, on May 29, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law SB 490 by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola.

It was shepherded through the Texas House by freshman lawmaker Rep. Caroline Harris, R-Round Rock, a former Hughes staffer. 

The bill followed a series of KXAN-TV Austin investigative reports, Medical Debt Lawsuits, which detailed how a Central Texas hospital sued hundreds of patients over unpaid medical bills. 

Patients complained they received vague bills and were unable to get itemized receipts before being served with a lawsuit for non-payment. 

The new law, which goes into effect Sept. 1, requires hospitals requesting payment from patients to provide a written, understandable itemized invoices before sending billing to collections. 

TAB is certain there are other good examples out there and wants to know about them.

Does your station have an example or examples?

If so, please let us know by emailing TAB with story links and any additional background that would be useful.

Questions? Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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