“A pivotal day”: Texas abortion law’s Supreme Court hearings spur hope for some, fear for others
Anti-abortion groups and reproductive rights activists faced off outside the U.S. Supreme Court as it heard Texas' abortion case. Full Story
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![People wearing Handmaid's costumes stand outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 1, 2021.]()
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With a congressional seat suddenly open, Democrats in the Rio Grande Valley race to recruit for a competitive district
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez announced last week he’ll seek reelection in a new seat, leaving his 15th Congressional District open for the 2022 election. Candidate filing begins Nov. 13. Full Story
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![Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen on Oct. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
How today’s near-total abortion ban in Texas was 20 years in the making
Since 2000, Texas lawmakers have reduced the number of abortions in the state by restricting access to the procedure. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on Oct. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Special election runoff on Tuesday for Texas House seat in San Antonio carries high stakes for both parties
The race pits Republican John Lujan against Democrat Frank Ramirez for the Democratic-leaning seat that former state Rep. Leo Pacheco, D-San Antonio, vacated earlier this year. Full Story
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![Democrat Frank Ramirez and Republican John Lujan are headed into a runoff election for House District 118.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmaker keeping mum on inquiry into what books students can access as school districts grapple with how to respond
Critics say state Rep. Matt Krause's inquiry targets books about women, people of color and LGBTQ people. The lawmaker says providing specifics about his inquiry "could compromise a potential investigation." Full Story
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![Teacher Melissa Perry reads to her fifth grade class at Jacob’s Well Elementary School in Wimberley on September 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Matt Krause’s campaign for attorney general comes with a reading list
State Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican candidate for attorney general, wants public schools to explain some of the books in their libraries. He's got questions about content, along with a way to get some attention from voters. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, reads proposed legislation while on the House floor on July 29, 2021.]()
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For Texans who want a child but have difficult pregnancies, the new abortion law just made that journey even harder
Genetic screenings can help determine if a fetus will have certain conditions — or even be viable. But those usually occur at the end of the first trimester, long after Texas' new abortion law bans people from terminating their pregnancies. Full Story
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![Kendra Joseph poses for a portrait outside her home in San Antonio on Oct. 22, 2021. After several complications trying to have a second child ñ including one pregnancy that was diagnosed with the life-threatening Edwards Syndrome ó Joseph speaks out about her ìgray areaî experience and how sheís an opponent of the SB 8 abortion law.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
How Texas Republicans moved beyond a bathroom bill to successfully restrict transgender athletes’ participation in school sports
In 2017, conservative lawmakers failed to pass legislation targeting transgender Texans. Things were different this year. Full Story
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![Protestors participate in a rally against Anti-Trans legislation at the southern steps of the state Capitol on April 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee to investigate school districts’ books on race and sexuality
State Rep. Matt Krause, a candidate for state attorney general, asked school superintendents to confirm whether any books on a list of 850 titles are in their libraries and classrooms. Full Story
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![Books at McCallum High School in Austin on Jul. 31, 2013.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs dog tethering bill after vetoing similar proposal over the summer
Abbott criticized an earlier proposal as “micro-managing.” But advocates say the differences between the original bill and the new law won’t affect its impact. Full Story
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![Bloodhounds are held in a pen in Refugio on Aug. 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Are lawmakers trying to make Texans more confident in elections, or less?
After conservative complaints about the national results in the 2020 election, Texas Republicans have tried to anticipate everything that might play against them in 2022, right down to who’ll be at the helm. Full Story
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![Voters still in line after the closing of the polls wait to enter the McCreless Library in San Antonio to cast their vote on Election Day.]()
Credit: Clint Datchuk for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ new political maps create safer districts for incumbents — and put an end to some challengers’ runs
The redistricting process in the GOP-dominated Legislature made many political districts less competitive, which some experts believe might hurt civic engagement. Full Story
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![Salman Bhojani, a former candidate for Texas Senate District 9, at his offices in Irving, on Oct. 17, 2021. Bhojani suspended his campaign after state legislature adopted new district maps which draw Bhojani's home out of District 9.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is the Texas Legislature finished for 2021?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, James and Patrick about the end of the Texas Legislature’s third special session and whether there will be a fourth. Full Story
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![Hose Speaker Dade Phelan talks with several House members after gaveling in on a late night session at the Capitol on Oct. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Gov. Greg Abbott should call lawmakers back for a fourth special session
In a tweet, Patrick said he supported Abbott calling lawmakers back to Austin to increase the penalty for illegal voting and approve a “forensic audit bill.” Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks from the podium in the Senate on the first day of the special session on July 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Republicans say Texas’ new political maps are “race blind.” To some voters of color, that translates as political invisibility.
With partisan fervor, Republicans drew new maps for Congress and the Legislature that dilute the power of voters of color. Now the lawsuits begin, as groups that feel marginalized battle for representation in the halls of power. Full Story
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![House members converge to discuss a point of order during a late-night session at the Capitol on Oct. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
White House calls Texas’ bill targeting transgender student athletes “hateful”
The comment further hints at a possible fight between the state and the Biden administration over transgender rights. Full Story
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![Transgender rights activists gather outside the entrance to the House floor in Austin on May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott didn’t get everything he wanted in the special session. Will he call lawmakers back for more?
The latest special session ended without lawmakers passing two of Abbott’s priorities — legislation to increase an illegal-voting penalty and to ban vaccine mandates by any entity in Texas. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Senate at the Capitol on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
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Texas legislators pass most — but not all — of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priority measures in final flurry of lawmaking
Lawmakers approved new political maps and decided how to spend COVID-19 relief money. But they didn’t pass bills about vaccine mandates or the criminal penalty for illegal voting. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to a colleague while presiding over the chamber on Oct. 18, 2021, shortly before the Texas Legislature ended its third special session of the year.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans send Gov. Greg Abbott a new congressional map that protects GOP power, reduces influence of voters of color
After a few last-minute alterations, the state's new congressional districts are drawn and await the scrutiny of federal courts. Already, one lawsuit has been filed claiming the new maps intentionally discriminate against Latino voters. Full Story
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![A map of Tarrant County shows Hispanics' voting age population on the House floor on Oct. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
First lawsuit filed challenging new Texas political maps as intentionally discriminatory
Before they’re even signed into law, the state’s new maps for congressional and statehouse districts have been challenged in federal court by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Full Story
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![Texas House of Representatives.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune