In Texas, parents can get their children exemptions from the vaccines required to attend public and private schools for “reasons of conscience.” Use our lookup tool to see how exemption rates have changed in school districts and private schools across the state.
Elizabeth Byrne
Elizabeth Byrne was a reporting fellow at The Texas Tribune in 2019, covering health and human services issues. She graduated from Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and sociology. Elizabeth previously served as the summer editor in chief and campus editor for The Daily Northwestern, where she covered local and campus news. If she's not in the newsroom, then she's enjoying the outdoors or searching for the perfect mac and cheese.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill requiring children under 2 to ride in rear-facing car seats
Abbott said the measure “is an unnecessary invasion of parental rights and an unfortunate example of over-criminalization.”
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Abbott extends state plumbing board until 2021 after Legislature abolished it
The governor cited Texas’ continued recovery from Hurricane Harvey as a reason why he was issuing an executive order to continue the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which was on track to shut down.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas vaccine exemption rates have reached an all-time high. Did Texas make it too easy for parents to opt out?
Texas has resisted recent attempts to change its vaccine laws, allowing parents to get their children exemptions for “reasons of conscience.” Use our lookup tool to see how exemption rates have changed in school districts and private schools across the state.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas governor signs bill clarifying that women are allowed to pump breast milk in public
Previous state law explicitly permitted breastfeeding in public, but the bill adds a protection for women who choose to pump breast milk in public.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
The Texas governor accused people of lying about Texas’ maternal mortality rate. The critics relied on the state’s own bad data.
Problems with the state’s data led to initial reports that Texas’ maternal mortality rate was far higher than it is.
Posted inState Government
Gov. Greg Abbott deploys DPS to combat Dallas violent crime spike
The city had 40 homicides last month, the highest monthly total since the 1990s.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas governor signs bills to combat human trafficking, aid sexual assault survivors
The bills aim to create a “hostile environment” for human trafficking in Texas and address sexual assault, said Gov. Greg Abbott at a bill signing ceremony Tuesday in Dallas.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas has more than 200 freestanding ERs. Lawmakers just passed bills to combat patient confusion and price gouging.
One bill awaiting action by the governor will require freestanding emergency rooms to clearly disclose the in-network health plans they accept and the fees patients may be charged.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas law will outlaw minors from buying popular cough medicine
Texas joins 18 other states that have passed similar laws restricting access to over-the-counter cough medicines like Nyquil and Robitussin that include the ingredient dextromethorphan.
