Paxton, prosecutors tangle over court's jurisdiction to oust judge
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's months-long effort to remove the judge in his securities fraud case is coming to a head in a Dallas appeals court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/12/UP9A0072.jpg)
-
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a news conference on Jan. 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Senate looks to resurrect bathroom, property tax bills
The Texas Senate, hoping to resurrect its versions of bathroom and property tax proposals dear to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, grafted both of them onto unrelated county affairs legislation early Wednesday morning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/19/Patrick_presser_May_17_BD_TT.jpg)
![At a May 17, 2017, news conference, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told reporters that the House had to pass two items — property tax reform and the "bathroom bill" — or he'd look to force a special session.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate will reject House's "bathroom bill" compromise
The legislative wrangling over where transgender Texans can use the bathroom isn’t over yet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/23/Larry_Taylor_Sunday_TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, on the floor of the Senate on Sunday, May 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: A late-night blow to Texas "bathroom bill" compromise
Inching toward the legislative finish line and with the possibility of a special session looming in the distance, the Texas Legislature had another busy Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/03/LBGQ_Capitol_BD_TT.jpg)
![Members of the clergy and others supporting LGBT rights gather outside the Texas House chamber May 3, 2017 to show support for the community affected by "bathroom bill" legislation pending at the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Bills exempting tampons from Texas sales tax went nowhere this session
Despite state lawmakers filing several bills exempting tampons and other menstrual products from sales taxes, the measures didn't draw serious attention from the legislature this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/06/iStock-468846250.jpg)
![Texas would be the first southern state to provide tax exemptions on female hygiene products related to menstrual cycles.]()
Credit: iStock.com -
Field to replace former Texas GOP Chairman Mechler takes shape
The most-discussed potential candidates had all made up their minds by the end of Tuesday, with a two-way race emerging between Houston-area businessman Rick Figueroa and Travis County GOP Chairman James Dickey. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/20/Mechler_May_13_2016_BD_TT.jpg)
![Texas GOP Chairman Tom Mechler speaks at the State Republican Convention in Dallas on May 13, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Killing Texas ethics legislation without leaving fingerprints
It's hard to get tougher ethics laws for politicians and officeholders through the Texas Legislature. It can be even harder to figure out exactly who killed them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/05/Bonnen_confab_BD_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, leads a discussion on House Bill 501, an ethics bill, on May 3, 2017. The bill passed, 147-0.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Conference committee approves convention of states-related measure
A Texas legislative committee reinstalled a Senate provision in a bill that would only allow state lawmakers to serve as delegates in a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/06/_BDE0122_crowd.jpg)
![People interested in the convention of states process listened to Gov. Greg Abbott speak on Texans' role at the state Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Bill on certification pits doctors against hospitals
A bill slated to hit the Texas House floor on Tuesday would bar hospitals and health plans from differentiating between physicians who have undergone a widely-used recertification process and those who haven't. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/31/Hospital-Explorer-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Texas legislators pass bills aimed at maternal mortality, postpartum depression
Both chambers passed bills on Tuesday aimed at curbing postpartum depression and the alarming rise in Texas mothers dying less than a year after giving birth. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Pregnant-Mother-Holding-Belly.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Bas Silderhuis -
House votes to end jail time for being too poor to pay fines
Senate Bill 1913, by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would allow courts to ask defendants if they are too poor to pay for traffic tickets, fines for other low-level and fine-only offenses or court costs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-MentalPrisonCuts-TW310.jpg)
![Inmates in the Harris County Jail in 2011.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House backs voter ID overhaul, with changes
The 95-54 vote followed a six-hour debate that saw fierce pushback from Democrats, who argued the legislation wouldn’t go far enough to expand ballot access and might discourage some Texans from going to the polls. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/23/Anchia_Voter_ID_MKC_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, asks questions about Senate Bill 5, the voter ID bill, which has been declared an emergency item by Gov. Abbott, on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Grieving mom “humbled” and “relieved” after Senate passes autopsy bill
Lara McDaniel was devastated when her 7-year-old son died in an accident. An investigator didn't allow her to see her child's body until three days after his death — after an autopsy had been conducted. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/16/Wyatt_4_TT.jpg)
![Wyatt McDaniel died in an accident while playing in a sand pile with his little brother on Jan. 25, 2013. His mother, Lara McDaniel, was not able to view his body until after his autopsy and is advocating for Texas lawmakers to adopt "Wyatt's Law."]()
Credit: Facebook page/used with permission -
Dozens of Abbott appointees surpass donor threshold targeted by stalled "pay for play" bill
At least 71 of Gov. Greg Abbott's nearly 800 current state board and commission appointees appeared to have donated more than $2,500 to the governor's campaign account since 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/19/Abbott-Event-Speaking.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaking on Sept. 19 at a conference hosted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Workforce Commission.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes religious protections for child welfare agencies
Texas state senators voted to allow child welfare providers to be protected from legal retaliation if they assert their “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Colonias__Children.jpg)
![A father holds his child in a public health clinic outside of McAllen, Texas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Even under Trump, state budget writers deliver big on border security funding
Texas budget writers plan to spend another $800 million for border security over the next two years, matching what lawmakers allocated in 2015. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/08/TT_DRUGS_004.jpg)
![Bundles of marijuana seized by Border Patrol and DPS agents near Roma, TX, on Mar. 8, 2016.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento -
Watch as House debates voter ID legislation (video)
Watch the Texas House debate legislation that would change the state's voter ID law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/27/KarnesCity_BD8855.jpg)
![Voter ID regulations posted at a south Texas early voting location on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House members issue loud demand for Senate action
Members of the Texas House on Tuesday issued a loud demand for the Senate to take action on their bills — or else. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/20/__BDC4361_Dutton.JPG)
![State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, gives closing arguments on House Bill 122, which would raise the age of criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18. The House passed the bill 92-52 on April 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New in Tribtalk: Sid Miller urges Gov. Greg Abbott to veto barbecue bill
In a column for our op-ed site, TribTalk, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller writes that a bill headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk related to barbecue restaurants "needs to be stopped." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/02/bbq2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Lawmaker announces donation page to address “lunch shaming”
Rep. Helen Giddings announced the launch of a donation page that allows the public to contribute money to clear the debt of schools that feed schoolchildren when their lunch accounts are empty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/23/Giddings_shaming_presser_MKC_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-De Soto, speaks during a press conference regarding the "lunch shaming" bill on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune