The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation today wrapped up its annual legislative primer, which has become a must-attend for state Republican leaders. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how the group is already working to influence next year's legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TexasPublicPolicyFoundation.jpg)
Texas abortion providers were hoping they'd have a few more weeks to start abiding by a state law requiring them to play the heartbeat of the fetus and describe its image on a sonogram before performing the procedure. They're not going to get it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/sonogram.jpg)
The Supreme Court examines a simple question without an easy answer: Delay the Texas elections, or use maps that haven't been vetted? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictingAgain.jpg)
Once they have maps, election administrators say they need 60 to 80 days to put an election together, and the April 3 primaries won't be possible, they say, if they don't have maps by the end of the month. That's just a couple of weeks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictingEraser.jpg)
Texas politics are on hold. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b875792c653fad5c8067a036b3f8b32e/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Final%20156%202012)
For this week's edition of Inside Intelligence, we asked about election delays, redistricting maps, who is hurt and helped by delays, and whether Texas still ought to be covered by the Voting Rights Act. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo.png){kind=logo}
At this morning's TribLive conversation, conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan defended the infamous scorecard he publishes grading the fiscal conservatism of state lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/MQS2.jpg)
At this morning's TribLive conversation, conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan explained what he doesn't like about Speaker Joe Straus' leadership of the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/MQS1.jpg)
Full video of our 1/12 TribLive conversation with the conservative activist, who heads the watchdog groups Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/MQS3.jpg)
Evan, Ross, Emily and Reeve analyze the New Hampshire primary results, consider what lies ahead for Rick Perry, and get updates on abortion sonograms and redistricting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
If the federal courts don't come up with political maps in the next three weeks, Texas probably won't be able to hold primary elections on April 3. Full Story
A panel of federal appellate judges has authorized Texas officials to enforce a controversial abortion sonogram law while its constitutionality is being challenged in court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PointingAtSonogram.jpg)
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in Perez v. Perry, the current Texas redistricting case. Some selected quotes — some from judges, some from lawyers — follow. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/scotus_chamber.jpg)
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a case that could determine what Texas’ legislative and congressional districts look like. Matt Largey of KUT News reports from Washington, D.C. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/682badf4b93ace13fa1da9f2180df52a/BD%20INC%20KuempelMap%2001%202011)
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about Texas redistricting today and now must decide whether the state's primaries must be delayed to buy time for the courts to approve new maps. Full Story
The bet here is that the U.S. Supreme Court wouldn't have taken the Texas redistricting case if they thought it was a good idea to hold elections using the San Antonio court's plan. If it was, why issue a stay, set arguments, and risk delaying the primaries? Full Story
Payday lenders are about to come under the microscope — the result of new laws designed to curb predatory lending and prevent a cycle of "debt and dependency." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PayDayLoans_1.jpg)
At our Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on 12/14, state Reps. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, and Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other byproducts of the 82nd Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/HotSeat-UTMB.jpg)
Federal judges will have to move quickly if Texas is going to hold primary elections on April 3. Full Story
The president pro tempore of the Texas Senate on what it was like to be second in line to run the Lone Star State when Gov. Rick Perry was out on the campaign trail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA9990.jpg)