Texas House and Senate about $3 billion apart on public education spending
Two rival budget proposals offer a starting point for debate between the two chambers on public school funding and property tax relief. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, visits with Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, on the Senate floor on May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
5 candidates file in special election to replace state Rep. Justin Rodriguez
Rodriguez, a San Antonio Democrat, was appointed earlier this month to fill a seat on the Bexar County Commissioners Court. Full Story
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![State Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, during a hearing held by the Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding in Austin on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Dennis Bonnen promise unity in 2019 legislative session
Texas' top three leaders are eager to show they're on the same page as the 86th legislative session begins. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen hold a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to strengthen sexual harassment investigations
The chamber voted on a resolution that moves misconduct complaints to a committee with subpoena power. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen presiding over his first votes as speaker of the house. Jan. 9, 2019. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A Texas House speaker’s first act is to put together a list
Texas House members made Dennis Bonnen their speaker this week. When he names committees in the early days of the session, they'll get their first hard look at what kind of leader he is. Full Story
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![State Rep. and presumptive House Speaker Dennis Bonnen in the House Chamber on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
On first day of session, Gov. Greg Abbott talks priorities and politics
Abbott discussed his agenda for the 86th legislative session during an interview Tuesday with The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott in the Governor’s mansion. Jan. 8, 2019.]()
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Photos from the new Texas Legislature's first day
Check out our photographers' shots of the visitors, the speeches and the election of the new speaker of the House. Full Story
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![Fog shrouds the state Capitol on the first day of the 86th Legislature, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House names Dennis Bonnen new speaker on celebratory opening day
Bonnen’s unanimous election marks a new era of Texas House leadership for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, the leader of the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was conspicuously absent on opening day. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, is sworn in as House speaker by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Looking on is Speaker Bonnen's wife Kimberly.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Everything you need to know about the first day of the Texas Legislature
The 140-day sprint to the finish line will finally begin today, when state lawmakers convene in Austin for the Texas Legislature's 86th regular session. Full Story
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Abbott calls Feb. 12 special election to replace Justin Rodriguez in Texas House
Rodriguez gave up the San Antonio seat after being appointed Bexar County commissioner last week. Full Story
![State Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, during a hearing held by the Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding in Austin on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Justin Rodriguez leaving Texas House after being appointed Bexar County commissioner
The San Antonio Democrat was selected to replace Bexar County Commissioner Paul Elizondo, who died last week. Full Story
![State Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, during a hearing held by the Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding in Austin on Feb. 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
8 file in special election to replace Carol Alvarado; 3 sign up for Joe Pickett's seat
There will be special elections on Jan. 29 in two Texas House districts to fill vacant seats, and the filing deadline was 5 p.m. Thursday. Full Story
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![State Sen. -elect Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, and outgoing state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Does the Texas Legislature work full time?
Texas is one of a handful of states that convenes its Legislature once every two years. And in Texas, a session lasts only 140 days. Full Story
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![Senate Calendar Clerk Tracy Ortiz checks in a few Senate bills on her desk on July 10, 2017. The first-called special session of the 85th Legislature starts Tuesday, July 18th.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
In the Texas Legislature, bills filed on marijuana, daylight saving are all fair game
Watch the first episode of our mini-documentary series, “Under the Dome,” chronicling the cast of characters passing laws in the Texas State Capitol. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Joe Pickett to resign from Texas House after nearly 24 years in office
Citing health issues, the El Paso Democrat announced Saturday that he would step down from his post effective Jan. 4, four days before the start of the next legislative session. Full Story
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![House Transportation Commitee chair Rep. Joe Pickett, D-EL Paso, leads an interim hearing August 30, 2016, at the Texas Capitol. The committee grilled TxDOT director James M. Bass and listened to a Texas Transportation Institute study on ride-hailing companies.]()
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Dennis Bonnen isn't Texas House speaker yet but he's hiring people like he is. How does that work?
The Texas House is about to get a new speaker and more than two dozen new members. While they all have started transitioning into their new roles, they can't do much until they are officially sworn in to their new positions next month. Full Story
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![The House chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: It’s still a Republican Texas government, but it’s a new one
Between the general election results and the changing management of the Texas House — where Joe Straus is retiring and Dennis Bonnen is poised to be the next speaker — the state government is getting a reboot. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton (left), and outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at a Legislative Budget Board meeting in Austin on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Three weeks after election, Texas Democrat concedes to state Rep. Morgan Meyer in tight race
Joanna Cattanach’s concession comes almost one month after the 2018 midterms. The Democrat had trailed state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas, by roughly 200 votes and requested a recount nearly a week after the election. Full Story
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![Joanna Cattanach and state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas.]()
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Despite prior differences, hardline conservatives cautiously optimistic about Dennis Bonnen as speaker
Ten of the 11 returning members of the Freedom Caucus in the Texas House have publicly backed the Angleton Republican as speaker. Full Story
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![The Texas Freedom Caucus on May 23, 2017 (back row, l-r): state Reps. Jonathan Stickland, Briscoe Cain, Matt Krause, Valoree Swanson, Mike Lang, Kyle Biedermann, Matt Rinaldi. (Front row, l-r): state Reps. Matt Shaheen, Matt Schaefer, Bill Zedler, Jeff Leach, Tony Tinderholt.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Beto O’Rourke. Julián Castro. John Cornyn. 2020 already looms large in Texas.
Texas Democrats and Republicans are already gearing up for an action-packed election cycle. Full Story
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![Left to right: Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel: Castro/Marjorie Kamys Cotera: Cornyn/Michael Stravato: O'Rourke