Texas lawmakers focus on friendship on legislative session's first day
With pomp and circumstance inside the Capitol and protests and prayer rallies outside it, the Texas Legislature kicked off its 85th session on Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/10/UP9A0015_preacher.jpg)
-
![A man preaches in the Capitol rotunda before the start of the 85th Texas Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Cotera for the Texas Tribune -
Get all your 85th Texas legislative news in one place
As state lawmakers kick off the 85th Legislative Session on Tuesday, you can use our session page to watch livestreams of the floor action and stay caught up on all the news from the session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/09/TXT_742801.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
House panel warns of "peril" in Texas mental health system
In a report released Thursday, Texas House Select Committee on Mental Health members wrote that mental health “is absolutely one of the most critical areas of concern” facing the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/01/untitled-006-2.jpg)
![Demonstrators participate in a mental health rally at the Texas Capitol, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, on Feb. 28, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Rangers launch criminal probe into Dallas' pension shortfall
Mayor Mike Rawlings blames former pension administration for a "grave breach of trust," but it's unclear who is the target of the state inquiry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/30/Rawlings_PensionTT.jpg)
![Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings]()
Credit: Brandon Formby -
Texas electors cast 36 votes for Trump, 1 for Kasich and 1 for Ron Paul
All but two of Texas' 38 electors voted Monday to officially put Donald Trump in the White House, with one elector casting a ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and another voting for a fellow Texan, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/19/Chris_Suprun_Elector.jpg)
![Elector Christopher Suprun, who said he will vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead of Donald Trump, is sworn in at the Texas Capitol as a member of the Electoral College on December 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
A conversation with Joe Straus (video)
Full video of my conversation with Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at our 11/29 symposium previewing the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BD54299_Straus.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A conversation with Isaac and Murr
Full video of my 11/14 conversation with state Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, and Andrew Murr, R-Junction, on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/IMG_5536.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees
Although Texas offers free tuition waivers and other benefits to ease foster youths' transition to higher education, the number of students using the resources has declined. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/02/Degree0002.jpg)
![Briana Dovi, who graduated from University of Texas at Arlington, is one of the few foster youths in Texas that has taken advantage of the free tuition waiver provided by the state.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
For Dallas Democrat, win in Texas House race "bittersweet" (audio)
Attorney Victoria Neave's victory over state Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Mesquite, was a rare bright spot for Texas Democrats Tuesday night. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/10/neave-victoria.jpg)
![Democratic attorney Victoria Neave defeated Republican incumbent state Rep. Kenneth Sheets by less than 900 votes Tuesday to win eastern Dallas County's House District 107.]()
Credit: Victoria Neave Facebook -
Democrats pick up four Texas House seats
The latest election returns showed Democrats picking up four seats in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/03/7C2A0726.jpg)
![Ryan Babcock make repairs to the Texas House of Representatives board on Aug 3,2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Despite resignation, Dukes handily wins re-election to Texas House
Even after vowing not to serve her district in the next legislative session, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes was winning more than 70 percent of the vote in HD-46. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/16/Dukes_Nila_TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin and Republican challenger Gabriel Nila]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce/Codie Smith -
Analysis: Season of speculating on Trump effect in Texas is over
We've reached the eve of the election, with many political fortune-tellers predicting big changes in Texas. Here's a way to measure it, if it happens. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/26/Trump_Clinton_1_TT.jpg)
![Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during their first presidential debate
at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, on Sept. 26, 2016.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Pool -
Rematches might see two Texas House districts flip
Republicans wrested away seats in Pasadena and San Antonio districts last election, and the ousted Democrats are trying to get them back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/24/PerezPenaCortezGalindo_TT.jpg)
![Democrat Mary Ann Perez is challenging state Rep. Gilbert Peña, R-Pasadena (top right), in House District 144; in another rematch, Democrat Philip Cortez (bottom right) is attempting to regain his seat from state Rep. Rick Galindo, R-San Antonio.]()
Credit: Facebook -
Analysis: High property taxes start in Austin, not in school districts
State lawmakers complain that local property taxes need to be leashed. But state lawmakers are more responsible for the increases than they let on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/21/TxTrib-LanierClass-Sized.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: In Texas, Lawmakers Regulate Their Own Regulators
The Texas Ethics Commission regulates legislators. Legislators control the commission's laws and budget. It's a complicated relationship. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/05/Birdwell_and_Frazier_Ethics.jpg)
![State Sens. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, listen to testimony at a Senate Committee on State Affairs hearing reviewing current ethics laws governing public officials and employees on Oct, 5, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang for The Texas Tribune -
Help Wanted to Investigate Student-Teacher Relationships
Faced with growing state attention on improper student-teacher relationships, the Texas Education Agency is asking lawmakers for hundreds of thousands of additional dollars to help investigate them — plus new legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/10/01/BD7_6562Phillips-crop.jpg)
![Texas Education Agency investigator Doug Phillips testifies on punishing educators for inappropriate student-teacher relationships during a public hearing Dec. 7, 2015 before the Senate Education Committee.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
As Inquiry Lingers, Rep. Dawnna Dukes Resigns, Citing Health Concerns
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, is resigning in January, she said in a statement Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/20/Dawnna_DukesTT.jpg)
![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin.]()
-
Hearings Will Address Criminal Justice Reforms in Sandra Bland's Name
Texas lawmakers will meet Tuesday to discuss the push for reforms in Texas jail standards, police training and care for mentally ill inmates in the wake of Sandra Bland's death in the Waller County Jail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/24/Sandra_Bland_Candlelight_Vigil_Erika_Rich_07.JPG)
![Ayana Flewellen speaks to a large crowd assembled at The Texas Capitol for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of Sandra Bland on Thursday July 23, 2015.]()
Credit: Erika Rich -
A Conversation with Incoming House Members (Video)
Full video of our 9/15 conversation with three incoming members of the Texas House: Republican Kyle Biedermann of Fredericksburg and Democrats Lina Ortega of El Paso and Gina Hinojosa of Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/NewGuys-Screencap.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: Welcome to the Home Stretch of the 2016 Texas Elections
It’s both unofficial and traditional to call Labor Day the beginning of the intense action in a general election year, and it still carries a shred of truth. The slates are set. Summer vacations are over. This election is on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/06/Horse_Race_TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()