A new law, set to take effect Friday, aims to crack down on frivolous insurance lawsuits. But House Bill 1774 also reduces the penalty fees that insurance companies face for late payments if the policyholder files a lawsuit.
Alana Rocha
Alana Rocha was the director of news partnerships for The Texas Tribune until June 2022. She was previously a multimedia reporter, after working in television and radio news for eight years. Alana covered politics for stations in Florida, Kansas and Texas and traveled the country reporting from the 2012 and 2016 presidential campaign trails. She was the lead reporter on several award-winning projects and launched “The Brief,” a daily audio update. A native of Tampa, Florida, Alana received bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish from the University of Florida.
Posted in
Texas Elections 2018
Court throws out Texas’ voter ID law (video)
A federal judge struck another blow to the state’s voter ID law this week – ruling the Legislature’s attempted fix does nothing to address the problems the courts have raised throughout the six-year legal fight.
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Texas Elections 2018
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke on impeaching Trump and the 2018 elections
In a Tuesday interview at one his campaign stops in Killeen, U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke talked about his 2018 Senate run, why he supports impeaching President Trump and which El Paso Democrat he hopes will replace him in the U.S. House.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Gov. Greg Abbott weighs in on Confederate monument debate
In the Roundup: In the wake of the white nationalist rally in Virginia, Abbott weighs in on the removal of confederate statues, and Texas A&M blocks a similar rally from happening on campus.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas lawmakers condemn Trump’s remarks on Charlottesville (video)
Controversial statements President Donald Trump has made about the violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville have invited criticism from Texas Democrats and Republicans alike.
Posted in
Health care
Bill requiring separate abortion insurance among those Texas House passed this week
A bill that advanced in the Texas Legislature this week would require women to pay an additional insurance premium if they want their health plan to cover abortions not considered medical emergencies.
Posted in
Politics
Showdown shaping up in special session
Lawmakers have yet to send Gov. Greg Abbott a single bill to sign from the special session, and with less than two weeks left, it’s highly unlikely Abbott will get his entire 20-item agenda through the process.
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Politics
Dallas, Fort Worth mayors discuss meeting with Abbott (video)
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price talked about their Tuesday meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott about several local control issues he put on the agenda for the special legislative session.
Posted in
State Government
Senate speeds through the special session
The Texas Senate is just about done passing bills on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda, including the controversial “bathroom bill.”
Posted in
State Government
Source of Senate’s speed in special session? “Pizza and soda pop” (video)
Donning an apron, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick offered senators dinner for coming back in the early morning hours Thursday to vote out two special session bills that would extend the life of five state agencies.