If you’ve watched the Texas Legislature in action, you’ve probably heard lawmakers use some terms that sounded foreign. As part of an occasional series explaining the Legislature’s inner workings, we define a couple of key terms and techniques that lawmakers use under the Pink Dome.
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.
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State Government
Roundup: Bills, Deadlines and “Chubbing”
In the Roundup: The end of the week marked the death of scores of bills in the Texas House, including school finance reform legislation. Lawmakers were strategically long-winded when considering bills, leaving little time to take up legislation before a key deadline.
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State Government
Video: House Members Get By With a Little Help From Their Friends
Your state lawmakers are keeping busy in these final weeks of the 84th Legislature — negotiating bills, debating on the floor and, in the House, probably helping the representatives seated near them cast votes. Here’s a look at the rules that govern House votes.
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State Government
Roundup: Garland Shooting, Jade Helm and a Lege Update
This week in the Roundup: Gov. Greg Abbott calls the Garland shooting a “heinous crime,” Abbott also defends his decision to order the Texas State Guard to monitor a federal military training exercise, and the Legislature advances key measures as the end of session nears.
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Health care
Video: Seeing an Unintended Consequence for Parents in CPS Law
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit the Department of Family and Protective Services from making a finding of “abuse” or “neglect” against a parent who surrenders parental rights to get a child mental health care.
Posted inState Government
Video: Seeing an Unintended Consequence for Parents in CPS Law
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would prohibit the Department of Family and Protective Services from making a finding of “abuse” or “neglect” against a parent who surrenders parental rights to get a child mental health care.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott Defends Decision to Have State Guard Monitor Jade Helm 15
Gov. Greg Abbott defended his decision to have the Texas State Guard monitor a military training exercise known as Jade Helm 15. He said his office is simply looking to serve as a “communication facilitator” between the military and concerned citizens.
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Health care
Roundup: Abortion Bills, Drug Testing and #Hashtags
As state lawmakers enter the last month of the 84th Legislature, they advanced a number of measures that would further restrict abortions, drug test political candidates and facilitate engagement with constituents on social media.
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State Government
Video: Abbott Reports for Jury Duty
Gov. Greg Abbott answered a jury duty summons on Monday afternoon, reporting to the Travis County criminal court building in downtown Austin. After about two hours of waiting and chatting with fellow potential jurors, he learned he was not selected.
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State Government
Roundup: The Politics of Pre-K and George P. Marks 100 Days
In the Roundup: The debate over early education reforms gets caught up in politics, a private school scholarship plan advances in the Legislature and George P. Bush marks his first 100 days as land commissioner.
