Analysis: A winter storm leaves Texas with a black eye
The Texas government's failures in the face of a winter storm have been very hard on Texans, and could do lasting damage to the state's reputation. Full Story
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![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: State Rep. Harold Dutton, chair of public education committee, discusses how Legislature should respond to pandemic, winter storm
Dutton joined The Texas Tribune on Thursday for a conversation moderated by Aliyya Swaby, the Tribune's public education reporter. Full Story
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Republican who helped Trump campaign challenge Joe Biden's win will lead election work in Texas House
State Rep. Briscoe Cain was named chair of the House Elections Committee months after traveling to Pennsylvania to help the Trump campaign challenge the results of the 2020 election. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cain Briscoe, R-Deer Park, on the House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott sets Feb. 23 special election runoff date for race to succeed Drew Springer in Texas House
The race for the solidly red seat in Northwest Texas pits David Spiller against fellow Republican Craig Carter. Full Story
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![A young women wearing a face covering votes inside the polling location at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, on Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Speaker Dade Phelan shakes up Texas House leadership with new chairs on key committees
With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs. Full Story
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![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Four years in, the Freedom Caucus finds a less contentious role in the Texas House
The group of hardline conservatives made waves in 2017 by sparring with House leadership and fellow Republicans. Now members say relationships with the broader chamber have improved. Full Story
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![The state Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Greg Abbott’s priorities match what lawmakers are already doing
In his State of the State speech this week, Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his top priorities, and his chances of success might be pretty decent: They match up with the issues Texas legislators were already working on. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State speech at Visionary Fiber Technologies outside of Lockhart on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
Analysis: Not every legislative day in Texas is a workday
During the first month of the Texas legislative session, the House and Senate will have met for less than a week, and most lawmakers will have been away from the Capitol for most of that time. It’s an early sign that this pandemic-shadowed session might be limited in scope. Full Story
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![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: How Texas lawmakers are conducting a session during a pandemic
The 2021 Texas legislative session will be unlike any other, as lawmakers work to get the people’s business done in the midst of a pandemic that shows few signs of slowing. Full Story
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![A temporary tent outside the north entrance to the Texas State Capitol offers complimentary rapid COVID-19 testing for all who may enter the building. Testing is not mandatory. Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
“If we’re all sick, we can’t legislate”: Coronavirus cases at Texas Capitol put lawmakers further on edge
At least four Texas House members have tested positive for the coronavirus since the legislative session began this month. Full Story
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![A state trooper stand guard outside of the door to the House chamber on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Two Republicans headed to runoff for Northwest Texas House seat
David Spiller advances along with second-place finisher Craig Carter in the race to replace outgoing state Rep. Drew Springer, who was elected to the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas state Rep. Carl Sherman says he’s tested positive for COVID-19
Sherman did not say how he thought he contracted the virus. The House, which gaveled in for start of the 2021 legislative session last week, adjourned Jan. 14 and is not set to convene again until Tuesday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto, on the House floor on May 8, 2019.]()
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Texas House and Senate propose similar spending amounts in preliminary budgets
The proposals are about $7 billion over the amount Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar said lawmakers have to spend during the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Is the Texas Capitol a government building or a petri dish?
Legislating is a social enterprise. It draws crowds of Texans who want to testify, to be heard, to sightsee and to watch government in action. And it’s tailor made for spreading a contagious disease. Full Story
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After a year of racial reckoning, Black lawmakers believe they can finally eliminate Confederate Heroes Day in Texas
On Tuesday, some Texans will take a paid day off for a state holiday honoring Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and other leaders of the Confederate army. Full Story
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![The 1903 Confederate monument at the south entrance to the state Capitol grounds in 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Dade Phelan raised $4.4 million as he ascended to Texas House speakership
The Beaumont Republican saw a flood of campaign cash in the weeks before he was elected speaker on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks to the House of Representatives during opening ceremonies as the 2021 legislative session begins. Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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Texas House member Joe Deshotel tests positive for coronavirus, forcing other state lawmakers into quarantine
State Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, told The Texas Tribune he tested positive Thursday — three days after lawmakers gaveled in for this year’s legislative session Full Story
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![State Rep. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont, during a State Affairs committee hearing in Austin on Feb. 27, 2019.]()
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Texas House requires masks for 2021 legislative session, declines to expand virtual testimony
The rules, which passed unanimously Thursday, will help govern the House during the Legislature’s 2021 session. Full Story
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![Legislators greet each other on the floor of the House of Representatives prior to the opening of the 2021 Legislative Session.]()
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A Texas lawmaker worked with the state restaurant association to draft an alcohol-to-go bill. His wife lobbies for the group.
State Rep. Charlie Geren filed legislation that would let restaurants battered by the coronavirus pandemic permanently sell alcohol to go. The measure already has backing from top state officials. Full Story
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![A Waterloo Margarita DIY Cocktail Kit and two margaritas to-go from Waterloo Icehouse on June 30, 2020 in Austin.]()
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Texas legislative session begins with heavy security presence following U.S. Capitol riot
Lawmakers gathered for the start of the 140-day session Tuesday as the coronavirus continues to rage in Texas. Full Story
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![Security at the state Capitol increased after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., earlier in January of 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
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