Behind the 181 members of the Texas Legislature, thousands of people work to keep the Capitol humming during legislative sessions. The work isn’t always glamorous, but many view their small roles in helping state government function as an honor.
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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Texas Legislature 2019
It’s crunch time: Texas bills are going to start dying
Is paid sick leave on life support? Did “constitutional carry” advocates shoot themselves in the foot? With just weeks to go in the session, lawmakers are handling the pressure to get their bills across the finish line in different ways.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Hurricane Harvey destroyed every apartment in Rockport, Texas. Some residents are still waiting for help from lawmakers.
This is the first legislative session since the storm devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017. Several measures are afoot to aid in recovery and mitigate the effects of future disasters.
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Texas Legislature 2019
“We’re all afraid to go to school”: After Santa Fe, Texas seeks to make students safer
Almost a year after the massacre at Santa Fe High School, state lawmakers are considering ways to make students and teachers feel safe in the classroom again.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Meet the advocates lobbying Texas lawmakers for more money and support this session
During the Texas legislative session, the Capitol sees a rush of advocates. Our latest “Under the Dome” episode features two people lobbying on issues they are all too familiar with.
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Texas Legislature 2019
What the “wave of women” elected in 2018 looks like in the 2019 Texas Legislature
This freshman class of female legislators is young, diverse and — thanks to the women who came before them — treated as equals in the traditionally male-dominated chambers.
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Texas Legislature 2019
The top places Texas lawmakers go to wine, dine and deal during legislative session
Not everyone in the Texas Legislature gets deals done under the dome. Some lawmakers are drawn to bars, clubs and restaurants around the state Capitol for the quiet or the queso.
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Texas Legislature 2019
The state of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items: Will property tax and school finance get reformed?
The governor has laid out his legislative priorities. In our latest “Under the Dome” episode, we look at the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the issues of property taxes and school finance.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Political hardball, committee assignments spark joy and drama alike in the Texas Legislature
In this episode of our documentary series “Under the Dome,” House and Senate leaders make their highly anticipated committee assignments — and one longtime lawmaker ends up in the doghouse.
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Texas Legislature 2019
First day of 86th session is “launching pad” for new and veteran members
There’s a lot of work that goes on at the State Capitol even before lawmakers gavel in. This “Under the Dome” episode takes you through the behind-the-scenes start of the 86th Texas Legislature.