Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick supports "House companion" to "bathroom bill"
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed support Friday for "a House companion" to the so-called "bathroom bill" that has been one of his biggest priorities this session. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Harris County Republican Party's annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner in Houston on April 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Spike Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Attempts to overhaul Hazlewood veterans tuition program are losing steam
A change of heart by a powerful lawmaker and vocal opposition by veterans groups have imperiled hopes for a major overhaul of Texas' free tuition program for veterans and their kids. Full Story
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![Texas A&M Kingsville Army ROTC cadets (l-r) Andrew Wilson, Nathaniel Estes, Octavio Calleja-Ponce, Daniel Obrego and Cristian Barriosalas raise the flag in front of Texas A&M Kingsville's College Hall on October 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for the Texas Tribune -
Rick Perry’s father, Joseph “Ray” Perry, dies
Joseph “Ray” Perry, father to former Texas governor and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, died Thursday. Full Story
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![Gov. Perry greets veteran Thomas Ellis as Perry's father Ray Perry smiles during a ceremony commemorating World War Two veterans on the Senate floor on May 8, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
What unusual maneuver happened in the Texas House to halt amendments on “sanctuary” bill?
The marathon debate on the “sanctuary” bill in the Texas House had impassioned speeches, tears and what some House Democrats called a surprising move by a House Republican to cut short debate on adding amendments to the bill. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, left, talks with Rep. John Cyrier, R-Lockhart, on the House floor on April 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Former President George H.W. Bush discharged from hospital
Former President George H.W. Bush, who was admitted to the hospital in mid-April for a consistent cough, was discharged Friday. Full Story
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![Former President George H.W. Bush and wife Barbara Bush in Houston Methodist Hospital.]()
Credit: Jim McGrath Twitter feed -
The Brief: The "sanctuary" bill is closer to Abbott's desk
After a marathon debate that went into the early hours of the morning on a bill that would ban “sanctuary” policies in Texas, the Texas House officially approved the measure along a party-line vote Thursday afternoon. Full Story
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![Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, speaks to Rep. Victoria Neave, D-Dallas, at the back mic in the Texas House during the debate on a bill that would ban "sanctuary" policies in Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House panel considers "private school choice" for kids with disabilities
House Bill 1335 by Rep. Ron Simmons would give students with disabilities online accounts of state money to use for private school tuition and certain homeschooling expenses, such as textbooks and curricula. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, at a House Education Committee meeting on March 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
"Sanctuary" bill passes with "show me your papers" provision
After 16 hours of tense debate, the Texas House passed a bill that would outlaw so-called "sanctuary" cities. The measure would allow law enforcement officials to ask the immigration status of any person legally detained. Full Story
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Analysis: A high-stakes budget duel — if Texas lawmakers want one
The Senate doesn't like the House's hit on the Rainy Day Fund. The House doesn't like the Senate's delay of a deposit into the state's highway fund. Neither wants to raise taxes. But all is not yet lost — unless they want to fight about it. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.]()
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Trump's first 100 days tax Texans on Capitol Hill
The early days of the Trump presidency have exhausted, exasperated and enthralled members and staffers in Texas' congressional delegation. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 28, 2017.]()
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Texas House votes to cut business tax that funds public schools
The Texas House on Thursday approved a proposal that would phase out an unpopular business tax that provides funding for public schools. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on the House floor on May 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Senate passes bill to give charters funding for facilities
The Texas Senate voted to give charter schools state money to build facilities, with a caveat: traditional public schools get a little extra, too. Full Story
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![Advocates showed their support for charter schools during an April 29, 2015, rally at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Brian Babin becomes second Texan to quit Freedom Caucus since March
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, joins Ted Poe of Humble in publicly ending his ties to the arch conservative group in Congress, the Freedom Caucus. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville]()
Credit: Courtesy, Library of Congress -
"Sanctuary" bill heads back to Senate after marathon House debate
A bill that would outlaw “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas cleared its last procedural hurdle in the Texas House Thursday afternoon, just hours after the end of a marathon debate on the measure that stretched into Thursday morning. Full Story
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![Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, votes on an amendment to Senate Bill 4 on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Ahead of 2018, trial likely looms in Texas political map battle
“I think the trial is certain,” said Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, a lead plaintiff in the years-long challenge of the state’s political boundaries. Full Story
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![Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.]()
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House panel considers bill requiring parental consent for minors to join unions
A House committee Thursday considered a proposal that would require parental consent for minors to join a labor union. Full Story
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![United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000 in Grapevine.]()
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ExxonMobil ordered to pay $20 million for air pollution at Houston plants
Environment Texas described the fine against the world's largest oil company as the “largest penalty resulting from a citizen suit in U.S. history.” Full Story
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![ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown, Texas.]()
Credit: Dave Fehling NPR StateImpact / KUHF Houston Public Radio -
The Brief: While you slept, the Texas House tentatively passed a sanctuary cities ban
After more than 16 hours of emotional debate — which left some lawmakers in tears — the Texas House tentatively passed a controversial bill that would ban "sanctuary" policies in Texas. Full Story
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![State Rep. Veronica Neave, D-Dallas, gives an emotional speech as a picture of her father is held up during the debate on SB4 — the "sanctuary cities" bill — on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Edu: Trump's first 100 days in ed policy
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Trump's first 100 days yield relatively few changes in education policy, schools scramble for subs and an interview with Stephanie Al Otaiba of Southern Methodist University. Full Story
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After emotional debate, Texas House tentatively passes "sanctuary" legislation
The 93-54 vote fell along party lines and came after one of the slowest moving but most emotional legislative days at the state Capitol. Full Story
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![Texas House members on April 26, 2017, voted on an amendment to Senate Bill 4, legislation that would outlaw "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera