These 2 senators were the only Republicans to vote for Paxton impeachment articles
Kelly Hancock and Robert Nichols broke from the rest of their party, but longtime observers said they weren’t surprised. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff6ead0cc60065dfd17dd584333090b1/0916%20Nichols%20Hancock.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate Republicans say House managers failed to meet high burden of proof
Democrats, however, said their GOP colleagues “caved” to outside pressure in voting to acquit and return Ken Paxton to his job as attorney general. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/396646529fbed9c1a50eb508fd9324f8/0916%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%2010%20BD%20TT%2024.jpg)
![State senators file into the Texas Senate to cast their votes on the articles of impeachment on Sept. 16, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas Republican senators march in lockstep, Robert Nichols is willing to break away
Whether it’s supporting a rape exception for abortion or opposing school choice, Nichols has gone his own way on certain GOP priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b897b30790472889eac28a092830d5c/040919%20Senate%20Floor%20JF%2015223.jpg)
![State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes school safety bill that would require districts to bolster their active-shooter plans
Both chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05489248d267d144ff1ed1d77ed000a8/School%20Police%20TK%20TT.jpg)
![A police officer monitors Maplewood Elementary School in Austin a week following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune. -
Economic incentives clear Senate committee as negotiations continue
Lawmakers are trying hard to come up with an agreement on how to replace an embattled 20-year tax abatement program for big companies that expired in December. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9159181317d93a00d049c792cfddf813/Turbine%20and%20Pumpjack%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A working pump jack sits near wind turbines on the Cline Shale near Maryneal, south of Sweetwater, on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Mark Graham for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Education Agency would have new power to enforce school safety plans under Senate bill
The bill, introduced months after the Uvalde school shooting, also allocates more funds to the state’s school safety allotment, which is money given to districts to improve campus security. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-SchoolSecurity001.JPG)
![A police officer monitors Maplewood Elementary School in Austin the Monday morning following the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas senators seem open to major change in state’s public education funding formula
Senators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c35b3dd7e0f7f446a064344c58b853a7/0127%20School%20Choice%20Lufkin%20CO%20TT%2023.jpg)
![The sun sets over Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 29, 2023. Public school officials in rural areas like Lufkin face budget challenges because of proposed school choice legislation, which provides taxpayer-funded alternatives to sending a child to a local public school.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Leading anti-abortion group drops support of Texas lawmaker after he pledges to support exceptions for rape
Other anti-abortion groups and Republicans said they will continue to support state Sen. Robert Nichols after his comments at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/089caeb9cceccd6f650f4d8fa8623218/0923%20Nichols%20TTF%20GOP%20AS%20TT%2010.jpg)
![State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, speaks at a panel moderated by Tribune political reporter James Barragán at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2022.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
Republican Texas senator says he will support new rape exceptions for abortion
One of the longest-serving Republican state senators, Robert Nichols is among the first to say publicly he’d support revising the state’s abortion prohibition. He spoke Friday at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/49ad22f59e0dd5b3c2f48bff5251536a/0923%20Senate%20GOP%20AS%20TT%2001%20-%20REEDIT.jpg)
![Senate Republicans Peter Flores, Kevin Sparks, Robert Nichols and Phil King speak on a panel moderated by Tribune political reporter James Barragán at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2022 in Austin, TX.]()
Credit: Azul Sordo/The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: King of the road
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Senate Transportation Chair Robert Nichols about Infrastructure Week and the challenges of getting people and goods from point to point in a fast-growing, rapidly urbanizing state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Watch: Rural Texas and the 86th Legislature
We're livestreaming a conversation in Lufkin with state Sen. Robert Nichols and state Rep. Trent Ashby. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/22cb975e85a1f536421bbb3f9db74671/TTE-CS-ETX_leadart_tt-c.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Why the Battleship Texas may soon be leaving Harris County for good
The century-old dreadnought, currently located near Houston, is in danger of rusting away. The state has ponied up $35 million to save it, but with the condition that it attract enough visitors to pay for its own maintenance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0bd0b933a2ab98eadd93ef622128b9c8/Battleship%20Texas%20TT.jpg)
![The Battleship Texas is currently docked in the Houston Ship Channel in LaPorte.]()
Credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife -
Letting researchers study plants and animals on your Texas land can get you a property tax break
A little-known and ill-defined provision in state statute offers big tax breaks to landowners who host university research on their property. Two lawmakers are trying — again — to close the "loophole." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af8f68574d4c8681e4dfcfcadc38a6ba/lbs_txtrib_ecolab-14.jpg)
![A heavily wooded area (left) of a property off of CR 4515 near Athens that the owners got designated as an ecolab research area.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
East Texas legislators discuss education funding, border security and the race for House Speaker
Watch the video of our conversation with state Sen. Robert Nichols and state Rep. Travis Clardy, or check out the recap. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Nacogdoches.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Bill that would reduce handgun license fee headed to full Senate
A measure approved by a Senate committee would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry a handgun from $140 to $40 and the annual renewal fee from $70 to $40. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/15/7C2A5183.jpg)
![Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, during a Sept. 15, 2016 Senate Finance Committee hearing.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate panel considers bills that would draw Uber and Lyft back to Austin
A Senate committee heard testimony on three bills that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/03/09/SchwertnerTT.jpg)
![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, at a Business and Commerce Committee hearing on March 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick makes only one change atop Senate committees
Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Senate-Chamber.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Rick Mach -
Patrick Would Fast-Track Sanctuary Cities Bill
Aides to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, leader of the Texas Senate, say a bill cracking down on sanctuary cities would be fast-tracked in a special session. But so far Gov. Greg Abbott is resisting calls to convene one, meaning any reforms would be put on hold for more than a year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/08/03/Abbott-Patrick.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texans to Vote on Plan to Boost Road Funding
The Texas Legislature voted Saturday to ask the state's voters in November to approve a plan to boost annual transportation funding by billions of dollars. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/07/7C2A6195.jpg)
![State Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, right, at a Texas Tribune event on April 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House, Senate Leaders Confirm Transportation Funding Deal
House and Senate leaders have come to an agreement on a deal to significantly boost the Texas Department of Transportation’s funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/07/UP9A6193.jpg)
![State Sen. Robert Nichols R-Jacksonville, and state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, speak at a Texas Tribune event on April 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera