In today's subscription edition, we reported on the passage of the Voter ID bill in the House, 101-48.

Such momentum for election reform bodes well for other bills attempting to reform the process -- some filed by Hispanic House Republicans to further address Voter ID (among other issues), and others filed in wake of the HD 48 election contest where mail-in ballot procedures have been called into question.

After about 11 hours of amendments and parliamentary stalling tactics, the Texas House approved the Voter ID bill along party lines.

The vote, which came shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday, was 101-48. SB 14 hit the floor on Monday, before Rep. Mando Martinez (D-Weslaco) raised a point of order kicking the bill back to committee.

We'll have more on this development -- and what it may mean for future legislation -- in our subscription edition on Friday. 

Like a certain episode of "Tom and Jerry" in which the famed cat and mouse duo teamed up to fight a bulldog, two unlikely allies are defending a House bill in committee today.

Reps. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) and Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) have sponsored a bill to repeal the Driver Responsibility Program (DRP), which charges dangerous drivers additional fees for certain convictions based on a "points system."

SB 18, the Legislature's flagship eminent domain reform bill, passed the House Committee on Land and Resource Management unanimously this afternoon. This comes two weeks after a long day of testimony and a warm reception by House committee members, and a month folllowing unanimous passage by the Senate. Now it heads to House Calendars.

But despite the smooth sailing so far, becoming law isn't a guarantee. The following appeared in our subscription edition (LSR, 3/11/11):

A point of order raised by Democrats postponed what was expected to be a long day of debate over the Voter ID bill.

Rep. Patricia Harless (R-Spring) said Wednesday is the likely day for continuing debate on SB 14. [...]

Republican Dan Neil dropped his election contest against Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) today. This comes after the House special election contest committee upheld Master of Discovery Rep. Will Hartnett's (R-Dallas) prior findings that Howard was ahead by four votes. Below is Neil's statement:

After discussing five concealed carry bills in the House Homeland and Public Safety committee Wednesday afternoon -- and after six hours of public testimony -- legislators voted out HB 750 by Rep. Joe Driver (R-Garland) by a 5-3 party-line vote.

Driver's bill would allow concealed handguns on certain premises of schools and colleges. ...

The House Election Contest special committee voted unanimously Tuesday to keep a colleague seated.

The nine-member committee let stand Rep. Will Hartnett's (R-Dallas) prior findings that Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) is the rightful holder of the HD 48 seat. "The contestant has failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the election's outcome was not the true outcome," the motion stated. 

Contestant Dan Neil, a Republican, could still take the matter to the House floor, which has the power to call a new election.

With little debate, the Texas Senate passed on first reading the "Choose Life" license plate bill, SB 257, this afternoon, 21-10. Final passage is expected Wednesday (UPDATE: The bill passed on third and final reading).

The House version of the bill, HB 238, passed in committee 6-3 on March 9.

Texas is doing better financially than originally thought. Well, a little bit better.

At the first of the year, Comptroller Susan Combs reduced her sales tax collection forecast for fiscal year 2011 -- to $20.2 billion, down from the $22.6 billion her office predicted last session. Now, it seems, the state sales tax will bring in $20.5 billion -- $300 million more than expected back in January due to increased sales tax performance. Below is Combs' letter to state leaders: