Bills advance to close loophole allowing some lawmakers to increase their pay to $140,000
Two bills that advanced in House and Senate committees on Wednesday both exempt any lawmaker who has already taken advantage of the benefit. Full Story
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![State Representatives and their families sit on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Why three longtime Texas lawmakers are now eligible for an extra $140,000 a year
A few of Texas’ most veteran lawmakers may have seen their part-time legislative compensation skyrocket from $7,200 to nearly $150,000 annually, thanks to a law passed quietly at the end of the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![From left: State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, State Reps. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, and Tom Craddick, R-Midland.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune; Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune; Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: A haunted House story about Texas speakers and redistricting
Texas House speakers come and go. So do redistricting sessions in the Texas Legislature. And maybe — just maybe — there's a relationship between those two cycles. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, is sworn in as House speaker by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Looking on is Speaker Bonnen's wife Kimberly.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Eminent domain reform died in the Texas Legislature this session
Despite hundreds of hours of negotiations between Texas landowners and industry groups, legislation to address concerns over the eminent domain process could not be finalized, with lawmakers pledging to make it a top priority for future sessions. Full Story
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![State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, and State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland.]()
Credit: Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Bill to better protect landowners during land condemnations passes Texas House
Although it cut some provisions from the Senate version, the House committee substitute to Senate Bill 421 keeps public meeting requirements and protects against low-ball offers for landowners facing eminent domain actions. Full Story
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![A warning sign indicates where the Exxon Mobile Pegasus pipeline cuts through the Harbor Point Estates neighborhood and into the Cedar Creek Reservoir in Gun Barrel City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: The man of the House
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former Speaker Tom Craddick, the longest-serving lawmaker in state history, about how life and work under the pink dome has changed since he was first elected half a century ago. Full Story
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"Some people play golf. I’m in the Legislature.” Rep. Tom Craddick’s tenure in the Texas House will soon reach 50 years.
Craddick, who is best known for his iron-fisted grip on the gavel during his six years as speaker of the Texas House, has not lost any interest in serving in the Capitol. Full Story
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![Rep. Tom Craddick, pictured above on the House floor on March 25, 2015, was re-elected to his 50th year in office.]()
Credit: Texas House of Representatives -
How a chaotic night in the Texas House paved the way for Speaker Straus
Angry outbursts. Abrupt resignations. A Texas House speaker fleeing his own chamber. While Joe Straus is voluntarily stepping down as speaker, the day many view as pivotal to putting him in that position of power was far less orderly. Full Story
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![(Left) House Speaker Tom Craddick at the House dais on May 25, 2007. (Right) House Speaker Joe Straus adjourns the House sine die on the final day of the special session of the 85th Legislature on Aug. 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott signs statewide ban on texting while driving
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed into law a bill that creates a statewide ban on texting while driving. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Abbott appears undecided on signing texting-while-driving ban
Gov. Greg Abbott appears to be undecided on whether he will sign a proposed statewide ban on texting while driving that is now on his desk. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Outlook good for texting-while-driving ban, key lawmakers say
Key lawmakers are optimistic about the passage of a bill that would ban texting-and-driving across Texas, despite failed attempts over the last few sessions. Full Story
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Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes statewide ban on texting while driving
Members voted 113-32 to tentatively approve the legislation, which will get a final vote in the House before it can proceed to the Senate. A Senate committee has passed a similar measure. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
For fifth time, lawmakers to decide ban on texting while driving
Texas remains one of four states without a statewide ban on texting while driving, but Rep. Tom Craddick and Sen. Juddith Zaffirini plan to try again. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: In Texas, You Can Fight City Hall
The Texas Legislature has become the court of last resort for companies and industries fighting local regulations in the state's cities and counties. And for those interests, Austin can be a very favorable venue for appeals. Full Story
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![A gas well is shown in 2014 sitting less than 400 feet from a home in Denton.]()
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Texting Bill's Demise a Victory for Tea Party Freshmen
It was a mostly new cast of characters in the Texas Senate, a chamber historically ruled by seniority, that flexed its political muscle to stop a statewide texting-while-driving ban this year. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 29, 2015
The Dallas Morning News takes a detailed look at the evolution of the deal on tax cuts this session and finds that at a few critical junctures, the deal almost derailed entirely. Full Story
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![House Ways and Means Chair Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks with House Appropriations Chair John Otto, R-Dayton, and House Administration Chair Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Proposal Targets Residency Requirement for Statewide Elected Officials
Statewide elected officials would no longer be required to live in Austin under a constitutional amendment that could be headed to voters on a general election ballot. The House tentatively backed the measure on Monday. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chair John Otto explains a budget amendment to a colleague during House Bill 1 debate March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: May 21, 2015
Budget conferees on Wednesday settled on funding levels for public education and border security, but big decisions on property tax cuts and roads funding remain for Thursday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, and Chairman Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, embrace prior to Wednesday's Joint Committee on Appropriations discussing the state budget May 20, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmakers Lend an Ear to Concerns Over Payday Loans
Lawmakers from both chambers gathered Wednesday to lend support to a range of bills that would limit the loan size and number of installments offered by payday and auto title lenders. Full Story
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![State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, speaks at a press conference on payday lending bills April 29, 2015. He is flanked by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, left, and Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, to his right.]()
Credit: Eva Hershaw -
Will Texas Ever Change Railroad Commission Name?
A group of lawmakers is trying – again – to change the Railroad Commission's name to reflect what it does. This time, proponents want to call the agency the Texas Energy Commission. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman