House Poised to Pass Insurance Sunset Bill
House lawmakers voted Tuesday night to continue the duties and operations of the Texas Department of Insurance, giving early approval to the agency’s Sunset bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d49dfc371955bfd644b92c71a438c7e/BD%20INC%20Eiland%202011)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
More Debate, Same Result: House Passes Sanctuary Cities
In a last-ditch effort to tweak one of their most despised bills of the session, House Democrats tried — and failed — to adopt several amendments today to the “sanctuary cities” bill first passed by the House late Monday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texplainer: How Does a Special Session Work?
Hey, Texplainer: How does a special session work? And how is it different from the regular session? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Capsized8.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
After Emotional Debate, House Passes Sanctuary Cities Legislation
After hours of contentious and often emotional debate, the Texas House passed HB 12, the controversial "sanctuary cities" legislation. The measure was passed on a 100 to 47 vote just after midnight. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Sanctuary Cities Bill Still Stuck in House
What will happen next in the debate over the contentious “sanctuary cities” bill is anyone’s guess. As the afternoon bleeds into night, Democrats in the Texas House are still huddling on the floor to discuss their next move. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Amendments Piled Onto Education Finance Bill
Senators today amended an education finance reform bill to allow community college students to carry concealed handguns on campus, increase the cost of cigarettes and allow drastic changes to university administration. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Wentworth Gets a Win for Campus Carry
Sen. Jeff Wentworth is relentless with campus carry, and today, the San Antonio Republican got his way. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HandGunRestingOnWhite.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texplainer: Are There Deadlines for Considering Legislation?
Hey, Texplainer: What's all the talk about deadlines at the Legislature this week? Aren't there three weeks left in the session? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/XMartinezTTA.JPG)
![Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, (left) calls a point of order on redistricting.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Birdwell Tries, Fails to Hike Tuition for Undocumented
An effort by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, to require undocumented Texas students to pay out-of-state tuition rates sparked emotional debate in the Senate today, and forced Birdwell to pull the measure down. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Dream_CapSteps.jpg)
![Dream Act supporters on the capitol steps]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
Senate Adopts Voter ID Report
The state Senate today approved a conference committee report on the voter identification bill that includes changes that would allow citizens to use a new form of documentation to cast their ballots. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Fraudulent Fishermen Could Face Felony
Fraudulent fishermen better reel it in. The Senate passed a bill today to make cheating in a fishing tournament up to a third-degree felony, sending the measure on to the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/FishermanTexas.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: John Menke -
Senate OKs Concealed Carry for Lawmakers
Texas lawmakers — current and former — may soon be able to pack heat at church, the hospital, a sporting event or even bars. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HandgunInPants.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Is David Dewhurst Goofy — or Goofy Like a Fox?
It’s funny that you can win four statewide elections and still have people think you’re a goofball, in over your head. But maybe Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s fumbles leading to the Texas Senate’s budget vote give the lie to that. Maybe he’s goofy like a fox. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Inside Intelligence: With the End of the Session Looming...
For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether lawmakers will agree on a budget and redistricting during the regular session and about what might be left undone. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
House Meltdown Ends in GOP Show of Force
A day of parliamentary chaos in the House ended with the passage of Gov. Rick Perry’s newest emergency item: a tort reform bill. And a powerful message from Republicans to Democrats: mess with us at your own peril. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Liveblog: Parliamentary Deadlock Grips the House Floor
With 37 members missing from House's first Saturday meeting— many of them Republicans — Democrats seized a chance to cause some procedural mischief when they realized only 14 of them would have to walk out to break a quorum. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on the latest attack on Planned Parenthood, Aguilar previews the sanctuary cities debate, Grissom on a death row inmate's unsuccessful appeal, Hamilton on the UT System's faculty "productivity" data dump, Philpott on the prospect of lawsuits over education cuts, Ramsey on puppies and other distractions, Ramshaw on a tobacco fight, my interview with the presidents of UT-Austin and Texas A&M, M. Smith on a former State Board of Ed member who may have violated state ethics law, Stiles interactively displays the effects of House redistricting and Tan on the Senate budget end game: The best of our best content from May 2 to 6, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribweek05042011.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Attempt to Lift Class Size Ratio Stumbles Again
Lawmakers in the House took a second swing at state Rep. Rob Eissler's school mandate relief bill late Friday night. And once again, they whiffed. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Committee Advances Gambling, Without Casinos
Attention, gamblers. A Texas House committee surprised the casino lobby Friday night when it voted out legislation that would allow video lottery terminals — slot machines — at state racetracks and Indian reservations. The casinos were left behind. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Texas-Slot-Machine.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Update: Point of Order Derails Sanctuary Cities Bill — For Now
The controversial “sanctuary cities” bill hit a roadblock in the Texas House late Friday when a point of order derailed the legislation and knocked it off the calendar. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ca6e13710372a57b3a4737a72bcd0a8f/BD%20INC%20Huddle%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c5a9aedcb2d7cdc6c0ec07eee7ca367/BD%20INC%20Solomons%2004%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/03aeb75877701120c88042c02e6e1497/BD%20INC%20Solomons%20034%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/21ce20a34cb168342b42cadfbad9dda6/BD%20INC%20Ogden%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/80d6d5e2c22fefab4618cc4b4f4212a7/BD%20INC%20Fraser%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d269101c869729bbc298c3b05ecc655/BD%20INC%20Dewhurst%2024%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/737347e59c6e2ef045653947ad08675a/BD%20INC%20Demos%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c35a519f091070e9ce5cf14cc9bc2794/BD%20INC%20Chisum%20Warren%202010)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c9f171bcd97fd450645a7a5fdda75a80/BD%20INC%20Miles%20Eissler%20785%202011)