Bill declaring fantasy sports legal passes House committee
In a hearing Tuesday, the House Committee on Licensing and Administrative Procedures approved a bill that would affirm the legality of online fantasy sports. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Senate approves recusals for county clerks, judges objecting to same-sex marriage
Under a Senate-backed proposal, county clerks with religious objections to same-sex marriages can recuse themselves from signing marriage licenses. Full Story
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![Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for the Texas Tribune -
Senate panel considers requiring rest breaks for Texas construction workers
A Texas Senate panel considered legislation Tuesday that would require construction companies to give workers mandatory rest breaks — an effort to prevent illnesses and deaths from the sweltering Texas heat. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers seek to ensure no state funds reach abortion providers
An amendment to ban abortion providers from receiving any funds from the state budget passed in the House, but it's unclear how effective it would be in fully defunding groups like Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, speaking at a Texas Tribune symposium. Jan 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton trial moved to Harris County
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's trial on securities fraud charges was moved Tuesday to Harris County, prompting Paxton to seek a new judge in the case. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Steve Stockman trial on corruption charges to begin June 5
Former U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman is set to go to trial June 5 on federal corruption charges. Full Story
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Credit: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call -
The Brief: The battle over veterans' tuition
For years, Texas universities have raised alarms about the increasingly high cost of a state program called Hazlewood, which offers free college tuition to veterans' kids. This session, lawmakers are poised to scale the program back. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott greets WWII veterans Gene Myers (Navy) and Eugene McClarq (Air Force) at the Capitol Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New in Trib+Health: More Zika testing urged in Texas
In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: Officials urge Zika testing in six South Texas counties, upcoming event discusses effect of "repeal and replace" of Obamacare on Texas and an interview with Tyler Curiel of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Full Story
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Hazlewood plan would leave benefits for current veterans untouched
Colleges are asking the state to pare back the state program that offers free tuition to veterans or their children. But key lawmakers in the Texas House don't want to mess with what's being offered to current veterans and their families. 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 -
Here’s what the Texas school choice bill means in plain English
Despite lobbying from Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the leading private school choice bill of the session is facing strong resistance in the Texas House. We've updated our annotation of Senate Bill 3 to reflect the version that passed out of the Senate. Full Story
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![Children from charter and private schools all over Texas turned out for the 85th legislative session's National School Choice Rally on Jan. 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Study: Texas voter education campaign failed to prevent ID confusion
Texas’ court-ordered $2.5 million voter education campaign failed to prevent widespread confusion about the state’s identification rules ahead of the 2016 General Election, according to a new study. Full Story
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![During the first week of early voting for the 2016 presidential elections, civil rights lawyers took issue with this sign outside of a polling place in Cuero. It did not mention options for casting a ballot without photo ID.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
"David's Law" would criminalize cyberbullying, mandate school policies
A Texas senator wants to criminalize cyberbullying when it leads to a minor's serious injury or suicide. Critics of the bill say prevention is more effective than punishment. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Has the Top 10 Percent Rule impacted diversity at UT-Austin? It's complicated.
It's hard to know exactly how the Top 10 Percent Rule has impacted diversity at UT-Austin, but data suggests it does boost the school's Hispanic population right now. Full Story
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![The University of Texas Tower, Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Mexican journalist's case suggests changes to asylum process under Trump
A Mexican reporter who sought asylum in El Paso after receiving death threats has been detained by federal officials —despite having passed an initial test to determine whether he faces a "credible fear" back home, his attorney said. Full Story
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![Journalist Martin Mendez Pineda fled the Mexican state of Guerrero in February and sought asylum in El Paso.]()
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Senate backs bill requiring minors obtain parental consent before joining unions
Minors in the state may be required to obtain parental approval before they can join a labor union under a proposal the Texas Senate tentatively approved along party lines Monday. Full Story
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![Happy Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, watches passage of SB 1 budget bill on a 30-1 vote April 14, 2015. Lone no vote was Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston.]()
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Bill penalizing celebratory gunfire up for debate in House panel
The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee heard testimony for a bill Monday that would penalize people for discharging a firearm without an intended target. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers consider election law change for language interpreters
Texas lawmakers on Monday considered changes to the state's election code regarding language interpreters for voters who are not proficient in English, three years after a voter's son was blocked from helping her cast a ballot. Full Story
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Texas intentionally discriminated with 2011 voter ID law, judge rules (again)
A federal judge has ruled — for the second time — that Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated against Latino and black voters in passing a strict voter identification law in 2011. Full Story
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![Voters line up outside the Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse in Dallas, Texas, for the first day of early voting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Hinojosa, Howard and Watson on public ed, taxes, CPS (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 4/10 conversation at Austin Community College with three state legislators from Austin: Reps. Gina Hinojosa and Donna Howard and Sen. Kirk Watson. Full Story
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The Brief: Will Texas Senate pass a texting ban?
The Texas Senate may take up a bill this week that'd ban texting while driving, marking the first time in six years the measure may make it a step further in the legislative process. Full Story
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Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune