After helping defeat the “bathroom bill” in 2017, business groups are back to oppose “discriminatory and divisive measures”
The groups are targeting two priority bills in the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![Angela Hale, executive director for Texas Welcomes All, speaks during a press conference on March 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas abortion bills pass committees, gaining momentum in Senate
Anti-abortion bills have gathered steam in the upper chamber — including a proposal to limit local funding for abortion providers and another to protect infants born alive after an abortion. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion advocates at the Rally for Life march in Austin on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Hundreds of agents will be pulled from ports of entry to help El Paso Border Patrol process undocumented immigrants
The agency's chief said 750 agents will be reassigned indefinitely from across the southwest border to aid the El Paso sector, where agents apprehended more than 1,000 immigrants Monday. Full Story
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![The Border Patrol is seen along the border fence between El Paso and Juarez on Sunday, February 10, 2019, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
"This is not Mexico": Texas official criticizes county judge for speaking Spanish
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo had been speaking Monday in English and Spanish about the fire that broke out at a storage facility in the Houston area. Mark Tice, a Chambers County commissioner, posted a comment saying, “She is a joke.” Full Story
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![Newly-elected Harris Co. Judge Lina Hidalgo at the Harris County Administration Building in downtown Houston on Dec. 3, 2018.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texans are waiting for birth and death certificates amid health agency understaffing
The backlog — exacerbated by the state's switch in January to a new computer system for processing records — comes as the short-staffed Texas Department of State Health Services vies for a boost in funding. Meanwhile, families anxiously wait. Full Story
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![Jennifer Lambrecht holds a portrait of her deceased grandmother, Gerda Hughes, on Feb. 14, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Property tax relief — but not for all Texas taxpayers
Giving every property owner in Texas a significant tax cut is expensive, but there are less ambitious plans under consideration along with the big ones. Full Story
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The Texas budget is up for debate in the House. Here are four things to know.
House members have proposed more than 300 amendments to the chamber's spending plan. The proposals that pass could have major implications for hundreds of other issues regulated by the state. Full Story
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![A view of the house floor during the second day of the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
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Updated property tax reform proposal surfaces in the Texas House
The House Ways & Means Committee is expected to vote on the bill Wednesday. Full Story
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![Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, listens to testimony at the Ways and Means hearing on SB 2. Feb 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
UT faculty, students feel the impact of Airbnb blacklist
Texas added Airbnb to a short list of companies that can’t receive state money because they boycott Israel, though Airbnb says it does not. Now, employees at the University of Texas at Austin can no longer stay in Airbnbs while on school business. Full Story
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![The iPhone Airbnb app. March 26, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Backlash builds against UTEP president nominee Heather Wilson
Student activists, professors and community members have rallied to oppose Wilson's nomination, citing her anti-LGBTQ voting record. Full Story
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![Heather Wilson.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Court decisions have weakened Texas' open-government laws. Advocates hope that's addressed this year.
Lawmakers in the House and Senate have filed bills that aim to address a pair of 2015 court decisions seen as threats to open government. Full Story
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![Austin, Texas May 24, 2017: House and Senate coverage Rep. Dan Huberty on school finance, House pallbearers, Senate bills piling up, Dan Patrick selfie with Drew Springer, and Rep. Garnet Coleman feature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Everyone wants a piece of the Texas budget. It's hard to succeed when most of the money is accounted for.
Disability advocates want the Texas Legislature to invest in pay raises for home care workers. Even in a year of surplus, it's a difficult battle. Full Story
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![Susie Angel on the back patio of her home with her attendant Sandy White in Austin on Jan. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
When big businesses want to fight their property tax bills, Texas law hands them an easy way, critics say
Supporters of the provision, known as equity appeals, say it's valuable for all property owners and stops taxing units from imposing unfair taxes. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State monitor orders Houston school trustees to halt superintendent search, according to reports
The directive came the same day that Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath expanded a conservator's oversight of Houston public schools. And it followed on the heels of Gov. Greg Abbott advocating for the state to take over the district. Full Story
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![Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath speaks to the State Board of Education members during a meeting in Austin on Jan. 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune -
Debate over Texas abortion bill prompts tears, frustration and a boycott from Democrats
The hearing on a bill regarding "the rights of a living child born after an abortion" was delayed Monday morning due to a lack of a quorum. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Border Patrol closes West Texas checkpoints as influx of migrants strains resources
A government spokesman said shutting down the checkpoints near El Paso is a temporary measure. Full Story
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![The United State Border Patrol inspection station on U.S. 67 between Presidio and Marfa, Texas is responsible for checking northbound traffic for undocumented immigrants and drugs.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O'Rourke hires former top Obama aide as campaign manager
O'Rourke has brought on veteran Democratic strategist Jennifer O'Malley Dillon to lead his White House bid. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso speaks to his supporters at the final campaign rally before elections at UTEP, Monday, November 5, 2018, in El Paso, Texas. Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Texas investigating highly contagious whooping cough at state Capitol
Lawmakers were alerted that a page on the House floor had the infection, triggering discussions about vaccine policies in the state. Full Story
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![State Capitol on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate advances bill to shore up teacher pension fund
The bill would increase state, school district and teacher contributions to the fund, and provide a one-time additional check for retirees. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Some of the secrets of Texas government aren’t supposed to be secrets
The Texas Legislature, full of people who believe in open government and who also like to settle things quietly and outside of public view, is diving into open-government legislation. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, during the Senate Education Committee meeting on Mar. 5, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver / The Texas Tribune
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