The bill, a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, is part of a larger effort to limit the power of elected prosecutors, especially in Texas’ largest, left-leaning counties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e0d8b75d623c081b9450baae2ef3f5c1/Travis%20County%20Courthouse%20KC%20TT%2007.jpg)
The chamber has repeatedly passed legislation in recent sessions eliminating the death penalty in cases of severe mental illness, but this year the measure faced increased pushback from conservative lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cfaaee317cdac2ee22fcd5b617bbb11d/Texas_Death_Row_Illustration.jpg)
Jones said in a new statement that she was outraged at the allegations the former employees made about her son, who works in the office, which she said are false. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2dab56afeb6f783c324629dc590601d1/0330%20Jolanda%20Resign%20TT.jpg)
Sen. Joan Huffman said the bill was in response to increased violent crime since 2019. Legislative researchers could not determine how the bill would affect the state’s prison population. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3adb074781f45a14d9b8ef4d68b3c13a/McBrides%20Gun%20File%20JV%20TT%2017.jpg)
Budget proposals in the Texas Legislature include billions in raises for current and retired teachers, as well as current state employees. So far, retired state employees are not mentioned in the budget plans. The state’s former public servants haven’t had a pension raise in 20 years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c4b59d85e6b332e91559b0e167d3b6fb/0403%20State%20Retirees%20VGC%20TT%2004.jpg)
The U.S. Department of Justice also agreed to drop its appeal of a lawsuit in which a judge found the military mostly at fault for the 2017 mass shooting at a church. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/12/21/Sutherland_Springs_Wed_SK_TT.jpg)
Days after it went missing, DPS identified the person who removed a family Quran Rep. Salman Bhojani had placed in the chapel. The state has since provided its own copy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d26c9978977f6bb3ef6c977dfb8bce72/0110%20Salman%20Bhojani%20EL%20TT%2008.jpg)
In a first-of-its-kind survey of public water utilities, the EPA estimates that 7% of water lines in Texas, more than 647,000, are lead based. It’s the fifth-highest proportion of lead-based water lines in the country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e2690f38c1f6d944dcd10806b04d078e/Water%20Faucet%20Pipes%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
The Senate approved Senate Bill 14, which would ban transition-related care for transgender kids. Republicans had previously voted to allow kids currently receiving such care to continue doing so. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23d4b8bd2625c5f25ed71a769b3ae6f1/0314%20Senate%20and%20Labor%20Committee%20File%2011.JPG)
Passage of a school choice measure is anything but a sure bet, as there is little evidence that the governor has been able to convince rural Republicans in the Texas House — who have for years been a reliable firewall — to drop their opposition. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/add519bcebe85650231fa9f196e0de20/0131%20Abbott%20Ed%20Savings%20BY%20TT%2018.jpg)
While the state guarantees law enforcement officers, like Department of Public Safety troopers, a $500,000 death benefit for their families if they die on duty, National Guard troops who stand shoulder to shoulder with those DPS officers on Operation Lone Star don’t have the same benefit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2f9ef3db677d467c8961e0a08d2b4a05/Bishop%20Evans%20Act%20ST%20TT%2023.jpg)
The fight is the latest skirmish between Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Harris County leaders over whether they “defunded” law enforcement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a0de9e1d2500ac5f40bfb987be4c1d4/0109%20TT%20Event%20Glenn%20Hegar%2004%20TT.jpg)
The Senate on Monday passed a bill that would create a new state fund tailored for large or long-shot water supply projects, including marine desalination. The bill will advance to the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/37f7fa5857fdc0eaa598794d6fe41577/Odessa%20Water%20Crisis%20EH%2009.jpg)
Gaming advocates are pushing to legalize casinos and sports betting in Texas. The committee votes represent more progress than the proposals made last legislative session, when they got hearings in committee but were never voted out. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9aa084590318cd30a055164755226bdf/Casino%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
The vote ensured the Senate met its constitutional requirement to redraw districts in the first regular session after publication of the 2020 census results. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e2b5e5b9760bb19816c0294744adb08c/1025%202017%20Joan%20Huffman%20BD)
The upper chamber unanimously passed Senate Bill 182 after The Texas Tribune reported that a state-licensed foster care facility hired a caretaker whom the Texas Juvenile Justice Department previously fired for having inappropriate relationships with children. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/601f964aa4d43dde1bdd11c8bcc948c9/Bastrop%20Refuge%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
The U.S. House Democratic campaign arm will target the 15th Congressional District in next year’s elections, hoping to reclaim the seat from Republican Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the first Republican ever to represent the district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2291e4ff1a1cd9f5d461bd2124f38f3e/TX%2015%20Rep.%20Candidates%20VC%20TT%2013.jpg)
Two bills would form the foundation for companies to build more electric vehicle charging stations across the state, supporters say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7122f2472728744ad3c0c3925ed8369/0331%20EV%20Charging%20Houston%20JB%2006%20TT.jpg)
The Texas Legislature wants to crack down on who can claim their honey is made in Texas. Beekeepers say the proposed legislation is too stiff and doesn’t take into account real-world production issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/868d4050604799a9ac8549e0767a56b6/Beekeeper%20REUTERS.jpg)
Among the fastest-growing segments of the Texas population, Chinese Americans fear their rights are becoming collateral damage as Texas officials seek to limit investment from China and ban a popular app that many rely on to keep in touch with family. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b2363d8a020e299a4d9569a3f6b81bb2/0309%20Woori%20Juntos%20AAPI%20Day%20EL%2021.JPG)