With a crucial deadline looming at midnight May 14, the Texas House embarked on a 15-hour legislative day that alternated between drama, comedy and forced march. Photographer Bob Daemmrich chronicles the day's waning hours.
8:25 p.m. — A party balloon hangs outside the south door of the Texas Capitol, left by a visitor and his daughter while inside taking pictures of the Capitol rotunda.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
7:40 p.m. — State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, talks to a colleague.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
9:20 p.m. — House sergeant-at-arms Kimberly Nemecek watches a House staffer clean up in the back hall after state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, hosted a barbecue dinner for legislators.
9:30 p.m. — State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, checks his email.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
9:52 p.m. — Light streaks in through the House windows illuminating state Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, as she talks to a colleague.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
A view above the Texas House Speaker's dais on during the 2015 legislative session.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
10:09 p.m. — State Rep. Paul Workman, R-Austin, listens to late night debate.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
10:22 p.m. — State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Fort Worth, center, and others listen as legislation is debated.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
10:52 p.m. — State Rep. Molly White, R-Belton, pretends to throw an object to someone in the gallery.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
11:06 p.m.— State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, pauses before exiting the chamber.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
11:08 p.m. — House staff members pack the gallery to watch their bosses wrap up legislation.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
11:14 p.m.— State Rep. Rene Oliveira, D-Brownsville, enters the chamber during a vote verification.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
11:36 p.m. — State Reps Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, left, and Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, watch the voting board.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
11:38 p.m. — State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, at the front microphone, slowly manages a bill as time slips away.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
12:00 a.m. — State Rep. John Zerwas, MD, R-Richmond, reacts as the final bill passes before a midnight deadline.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
12:01 a.m. — House members crowd the back microphone as the the midnight deadline passes, marking the end of the marathon.
Credit:
Bob Daemmrich
Quality journalism doesn't come free
Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our mission: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/Partyballoon1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/TurnerChris1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/NemecekKimberly.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/IsaacJason1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/BurkettCindy1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/HouseWideView1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/WorkmanPaul1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/TnderholtTony1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/WhiteMolly1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/DarbyDrew1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/HouseStaffMembers1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/OliveiraRene1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/HughesCapriglione1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/GutierrezRoland1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/ZerwasJohnMD1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/CrowdatBackMike1.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Daemmrich-Bob.jpg)