Fetal “heartbeat” bill, which could ban abortions at six weeks, nears passage in the Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has signaled that he is looking forward to signing the bill. Full Story
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![A visitor of the House gallery listens to legislators speak during a debate on an abortion bill being considered on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Major corporations come out against proposed voting restrictions in Texas
Dozens of big companies, local businesses and chambers of commerce issued a statement reflecting the biggest pushback yet by the business community against Texas Republican efforts to further tighten the state's restrictive voting rules. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ pandemic budget shortfall disappears, as latest forecast shows a surplus
The latest revenue estimate doesn’t take into account all of the federal relief that has been sent to Texas over the past year by Congress through pandemic relief packages. State lawmakers have wrestled with how and who has the authority to spend that money. Full Story
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![Lawmakers sit through hours of debate over police reform in the Texas House on April 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
“My name is Dan and I’m an alcoholic”: State Rep. Dan Huberty confronts addiction after DWI arrest
Huberty was arrested on April 23 in Montgomery County after he crashed his Corvette into a minivan and failed a sobriety test. He was driving home from the state Capitol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, during the committee hearing on Oct. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Authorities say they won't seek charges after investigating allegation that a lobbyist drugged a Texas Capitol staffer
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Travis County District Attorney’s Office said in a joint statement that they thoroughly investigated the allegation. "No crime occurred in this instance," the two agencies said. Full Story
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![A view of the rotunda at the state capitol. Jan. 8, 2018.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick "optimistic" about allowing permitless carry of handguns as bill appears poised to reach Senate floor
The lieutenant governor said Thursday he still does not have the votes to bring the proposal to the floor of the upper chamber, but he believes that will change by next week. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
In push for new Texas voting restrictions, House panel sets up GOP faceoff over which chamber's legislation will advance
The House elections committee gutted the Senate’s priority voting bill and replaced it with language from the House’s preferred legislation, signaling a divide over which new restrictions will make it to the governor’s desk. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
With time running out on the Texas legislative session, health experts urge lawmakers to prepare for the next pandemic
Lawmakers this session have filed a flurry of proposals related to the pandemic. Some, experts say, constitute meaningful reform. Others could leave the state worse off. Full Story
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![Austin residents begin to head out following the Thunderbirds flyover in Austin on May 13, 2020.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas' medical cannabis program could expand under bill OK'd by House
The program would be expanded for a number of conditions including chronic pain and PTSD — as well as allow for more potent levels of THC. Full Story
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![Compassionate Cultivation, a home-grown medical cannabis company serving patients throughout Texas]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers send Greg Abbott a bill that would allow Texans to purchase alcohol to go from restaurants
House Bill 1024 would allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders, securing a revenue stream made available to restaurants in the last year during the pandemic. Full Story
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![Beer sits in a cooler behind the bar at Hops and Grain Brewery in Austin on June 26, 2019.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll sign bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns, believes Senate is “making progress”
The governor broke his silence Tuesday on the legislation that has been building momentum at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![Handguns for sale at a gun store in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Mind the gap
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Elena Marks, the president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, about long-shot efforts to expand Medicaid in the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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Texas will gain two seats in Congress as residents of color drive population gains
Texas will have 38 congressional seats as a result of the latest U.S. census. It's one of six states to gain seats, and it's the only state that will get more than one. Full Story
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![A woman walks past the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.]()
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Allegation of sexual misconduct by lobbyist leads to another round of calls for reform in Texas Capitol
The speaker said Monday he was directing a House committee to establish an email hotline for staffers to submit reports or complaints of harassment in the workplace. Full Story
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![A view inside the state Capitol on the opening day of the Legislative Session. The Capitol was mostly empty on opening day because of COVID-19 restrictions. Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers, lobby firm react to allegations that a lobbyist gave date rape drug to Capitol aide
State lawmakers, staffers and other Capitol observers have denounced the alleged incident, with several House members declaring on social media that they were banning from their offices any lobbyist or lobby firm associated with the accusation. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol on April 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Dan Huberty arrested for DWI after accident Friday night
Huberty, authorities said, appeared flushed, dazed and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. He smelled strongly of alcohol, slurred his speech and failed his walking and balance tests, according to the police report. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, listens to testimonies on the Texas Education Agency's uses of House Bill 3 and House Bill 22 during a committee hearing on Oct. 28, 2019.]()
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As political pressure builds, Texas Senate looks for path forward on permitless carry for handguns
After the House passed a measure last week that would allow permitless carry of handguns, the Senate is feeling the heat to take up the cause. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
College athletes could be paid for their name and likeness under bill approved by Texas Senate
Some senators opposed compensation within college athletics, but ultimately supported the legislation to maintain Texas' competitiveness in recruiting efforts as dozens of states consider similar measures. Full Story
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![UTEP’s Josh Caldwell led the Miners onto the field to face UTSA at Sun Bowl Stadium in 2019.]()
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Medicaid expansion picks up bipartisan support in the Texas House, but hurdles remain
Expanding the Medicaid rolls to include more than a million Texans could get a floor vote during House budget hearings on Thursday. Full Story
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![Trish and her 12-year-old son look out into the sunset at Canyon Lake on April 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing
Senate Bill 7 would create new restrictions on early voting, how voters can receive applications to vote by mail and the distribution of polling places in diverse, urban counties. Here's our breakdown of the proposed changes. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line at a polling site at Bee Cave City Hall on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune