Members of the Texas House and Senate wasted little time touting the never-ending “kumbaya” feeling that enabled them to reform school finance and property taxes. For those who covered the Capitol, a substantive, successful session meant a “boring” one.
Woojae Julia Song
Woojae Julia Song was a 2019 multimedia fellow at the Texas Tribune. Julia is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she studied journalism and Asian American Studies. She previously worked as a communications intern and translator for Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. She reported and edited for her school's student-run quarterly magazine and covered climate justice for the Medill News Service. When not reporting, she is walking, photographing and learning about food systems (sometimes simultaneously).
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Texas Legislature 2019
Many marijuana and pro-LGBTQ bills died this legislative session. Expect to see them back in 2021.
While lawmakers in the 86th Texas Legislature advanced measures on some controversial issues, they know it often takes several sessions to pass bills and say they intend to refile them next time.
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Texas Legislature 2019
“I’m honestly still stunned that I work here”: Meet the staffers who keep Texas lawmakers in check under the dome
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.
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State Government
Point of Order: Appraising the House
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what’s likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die.
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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.