The Texas Senate has passed legislation that would end the state’s practice of collecting membership dues for certain public employees who are members of labor unions and associations.
Cassandra Pollock
Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Texas Senate moving fast on Abbott’s special session agenda
The Texas Senate on Monday approved six bills related to Gov. Greg Abbott’s 20-item special session agenda — and they’re expected to consider another chunk of legislation today.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: The Texas Senate had a whirlwind special session weekend.
With the first week of the special legislative session in the rearview mirror, the speedy Senate shows no signs of slowing down.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: How to watch today’s bathroom bill proceedings
Say hello to the “bathroom bill” for the third time this year. A Senate committee will hold a hearing on the controversial legislation this morning.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Abbott expands special session agenda after Senate speeds through sunset legislation
By the time you read this, critical legislation keeping several key state agencies alive is out of the Texas Senate and on its way to the House — and Gov. Greg Abbott has officially green-lighted the Legislature to begin working on the other 19 items he wants passed during the special session.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: First day down, #txlege — and there could be 29 more to go
Good news: We survived the first day of the special legislative session. Bad news: There could be 29 more days to go. And if Monday was any indication, the next few weeks could be a bumpy ride.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: The #txlege is back for its special session
And they’re back: State lawmakers return to the Capitol today to tackle business left unfinished during a divisive legislative session that ended in May. But a seven-week break doesn’t appear to have mended their ill will.
Posted inState Government
The Q&A: Joy Schmitz
In this week’s Q&A, we interview Joy Schmitz, director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction and the Louis A. Faillace Professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Your weekend recap — Abbott’s re-election bid and Texas’ redistricting trial
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced his re-election bid Friday, and a trial over the state’s political maps reached its tail-end Saturday. Catch up on what you missed over the weekend and dive into a couple of must-read Tribune stories this Monday morning.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: The Texas Senate’s new school finance plan and an anticipated re-election announcement
With the special session in sight, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick used Thursday to underline the Senate’s support for Gov. Greg Abbott’s 20-item agenda — and to roll out a priority of his own: pump millions into bonuses and retirement for Texas teachers.