Voting by mail in Texas will get a little easier with these legislative fixes
Two bipartisan bills passed this session will give voters more time and opportunities to fix mistakes when they request and return ballots by mail. Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office at 5501 Airport Blvd is now the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county. The drop-off location photographed here on Oct. 2, 2020, will be open until Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House investigation widens to include Ken Paxton real estate purchases, report says
The Wall Street Journal says the impeached attorney general, his wife and a family trust spent nearly $3.5 million buying properties in four states in 2021 and 2022. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement to the press May 26, 2023 a day before a scheduled impeachment vote in the Texas House in a long-running ethics complaint.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Jacey Jetton, called to military service, chooses his wife as temporary replacement
Under a provision of the Texas Constitution, Fanny Jetton will represent her husband’s Houston suburban district during the Legislature’s second special session. Full Story
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![Fanny Jetton is sworn in as a replacement for her husband, state Rep. Jacey Jetton, R-Richmond, after he was called away for active military duty, by House Speaker Dade Phelan at the start of the second special session on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
First special session ends with no new laws, Texas lawmakers still deadlocked on property taxes
Gov. Greg Abbott quickly called lawmakers back to the Capitol for round two, hoping to break an impasse that has outlasted the regular session and one overtime period. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol seen from a parking garage at sunrise on June 6, 2023 in Austin.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Despite promise of “total transparency,” secrecy will be a big part of Ken Paxton impeachment trial
From deliberations to documents, the Texas Senate’s rules create an opaque process for the suspended attorney general’s impeachment trial, set to begin Sept. 5. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 88th Legislative Session with Sherry Sylvester, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF Headquarters in downtown Austin, on May 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate’s handling of Angela Paxton’s role gives small boost to her husband in pending impeachment trial
Sen. Angela Paxton will have no say in deliberations to convict or acquit impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton, but she will sit on the Senate court of impeachment. That means 21, not 20, votes will be needed to convict. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton takes the oath of office for the third time from Gov. Greg Abbott, as his wife, state Sen. Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, holds the Sam Houston bible Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
House impeachment managers got most of what they wanted in trial rules adopted by the Texas Senate
Supporters and opponents of impeached Attorney General Ken Paxton pressed for favorable rules governing a Senate trial that will begin on Sept. 5. Full Story
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![State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, chair of the board of impeachment managers, delivers the 20 articles of impeachment adopted by the House to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, to the Senate on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Half of Texas voters believe the impeachment of Ken Paxton was justified, poll finds
The attorney general’s fellow Republicans were about evenly split in their approval and disapproval, the University of Texas poll determined. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recites the Pledge of Allegiance at a Trump Rally in Conroe on Jan. 29, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial will begin Sept. 5, with his attendance required
Senators, who will sit as a court of impeachment for the suspended attorney general, spent two days drafting rules that were adopted late Wednesday. Full Story
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![State Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Angela Paxton will “carry out my duty” and attend her husband’s impeachment trial
Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton faces charges of bribery and obstruction of justice in his upcoming impeachment trial before the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, on the Senate floor, at the Capitol, on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Here are the top allegations that led to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment
In 2020, deputies in the attorney general’s office met with FBI agents to accuse their boss of misconduct. Their accusations would form the backbone of articles of impeachment against one of the state’s most powerful officials. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Meet the 4 whistleblowers behind most of the impeachment allegations against Ken Paxton
Once high-ranking officials in the attorney general’s office, the four were fired after reporting concerns about Paxton’s behavior to law enforcement. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton steps to the podium to make a statement to the press on May 26, 2023, a day before a scheduled impeachment vote. Behind him, from left: Tommy Tran, executive assistant; James R. Lloyd, associate deputy attorney general for civil litigation; Austin A. Kinghorn, associate deputy attorney general for legal counsel; Ryan Fisher, director of government relations; Joshua Reno, deputy attorney general for criminal justice; and Suzanna Hupp, special adviser.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes more than 70 bills amid property tax impasse
The governor says other issues aren’t as important as breaking a House-Senate stalemate over the best course on reducing property taxes. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the press before signing eight bills during a public safety bill signing session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 6, 2023]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
As Paxton allies press to avoid impeachment trial, House managers warn against “sham” proceeding
All eyes are on a secretive Senate committee that is drafting rules for an impeachment trial. Those rules are expected to be presented to the Texas Senate on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, speaks during a press conference at the Republican Party of Texas headquarters in Austin on June 7, 2023.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott threatens string of vetoes if lawmakers can’t agree on property tax cuts
With several hundred bills awaiting action by the governor, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the veto threat an affront to Texans and the legislative process. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Where Texas redistricting lawsuits stand after U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Alabama case
The high court left intact a key provision of the federal Voting Rights Act in a case many feared would go the other way. The decision’s importance in ongoing litigation over Texas’ political maps will largely be felt in what didn’t happen. Full Story
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![The newest drafts of the statewide congressional districts in Texas outside the Senate Chamber in the Texas Capitol in Austin on Sept. 30 2021.]()
Credit: Dimitri Staszewski for The Texas Tribune -
With $1.4 billion investment, Texas hopes to sprint to the front of the microchip manufacturing race
Microchips are increasingly present in every day life, from phones and laptops to cars and washing machines. Gov. Greg Abbott approved last week a stimulus package in an effort to shore up the supply chain after the pandemic’s disruptions. Full Story
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![Workers inside the clean room of U.S. semiconductor manufacturer SkyWater Technology, where computer chips are made, in Bloomington, Minnesota in April, 2022.]()
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On property tax impasse, Gov. Greg Abbott appears open to House-Senate compromise
The special session churns on with the House adjourned, the Senate still working and the governor welcoming an agreement that has thus far eluded lawmakers. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Nate Paul charged with 8 felony counts of making false statements to financial institutions
The Austin real estate investor was a central figure in allegations that led the Texas House to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton last month. One of the charges against Paul has ties the impeachment allegations. Full Story
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![The United States Federal Courthouse in Austin on June 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas is set to improve in-person and mail-in voting for people with disabilities
Voters with disabilities have been pushing for more accessibility for years. This legislative session two bills gained bipartisan support. Full Story
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![Chase Bearden, 45, of Harlingen, the deputy executive director of The Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, poses for a portrait in his office in Austin on June 8, 2023. “Disability doesn’t discriminate,” Bearden said. “We want everybody to be able to vote independently.”]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune