Senate speeds through the special session
The Texas Senate is just about done passing bills on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda, including the controversial "bathroom bill." Full Story
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Texans with disabilities say bathroom bill could further complicate their lives
When it comes to this summer's "bathroom bill," Texans with disabilities say they — like many transgender men and women — believe the Legislature is further complicating something that’s already difficult to navigate. Full Story
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![Octavio Armendariz, 8, smiles as he watches cartoons on his iPad in his living room at his home in El Paso, Texas. Octavio has moderate-to-severe autism and severe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
House approves tree removal bill, breaking from Abbott and Senate
The Texas House has given early approval to a bill that would allow property owners to plant new trees to offset municipal fees for tree removal on their land. Full Story
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![Trees lining Westlake Drive in Austin.]()
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Here’s where the Legislature is on Abbott's special session issues
Gov. Greg Abbott has given the Texas Legislature 20 issues to tackle over a 30-day session, everything from bathroom regulations to local tree ordinances. We're tracking how lawmakers are progressing on each of those issues. Full Story
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As lawmakers try to curb local Texas governments, big-city mayors left out of meetings with Abbott
The governor held the first of three scheduled meetings with Texas mayors on Wednesday — but there's no word yet on whether he'll meet with mayors from the state's five largest cities. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott announces he's running for governor in San Antonio on July 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes bill to allow people to vote on whether a city can annex them
The measure would allow citizens targeted by annexation to vote on city proposals. A similar bill died in the final moments of regular session debate. Full Story
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![Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, answers questions about Senate Bill 6 on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Senate backs bill to roll back cellphone safety laws in many Texas cities
The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to legislation that would roll back local mobile phone ordinances that go beyond the recent statewide ban on texting while driving. Full Story
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![A statewide ban on texting while driving goes into effect Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Bill restricting abortion insurance gets initial nod in Texas Senate
Texas women would have to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions under a bill passed by the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes bill targeting public employee union dues
The Texas Senate has passed legislation that would end the state's practice of collecting membership dues for certain public employees who are members of labor unions and associations. Full Story
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![State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, gives his views on mandatory pre-kindergarden education while wrapping up a Texas Tribune event at the Austin Club May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate votes again to advance "bathroom bill"
The Texas Senate backed a bill that would bar some transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in schools and buildings overseen by local governments. The bill would also nix parts of local nondiscrimination ordinances. Full Story
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![State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, talked with fellow Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, during the Senate discussion of Senate Bill 3 on July 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House committee debates addressing property tax bill increases from several angles
The House Ways and Means Committee spent hours discussing dozens of bills that collectively go far beyond the upper chamber’s major property tax bill poised to pass this week. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, meets with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the Senate chamber on May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Law enforcement comes out against Texas "bathroom bill"
In a news conference Tuesday, big-city police chiefs called on lawmakers to reject the “bathroom bill,” saying the measure is discriminatory and does not keep the public safe. Full Story
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![Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stand behind Austin Mayor Steve Adler on the steps of the state Capitol on July 25, 2017. Top Texas law enforcement officers gathered at the Capitol today to speak out against "bathroom bill" legislation.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Senate gives initial OK to property tax rate elections in cities, counties
The Texas Senate endorsed a bill allowing for property tax rate elections if revenues would exceed 4 percent of what what was taken in the year before. The House is slated to take up that matter and nearly three dozen other property tax and appraisal bills. Full Story
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![State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, holds 434 comments sent to him by constituents regarding large property tax increases during a Select Committee on Government Reform hearing on Saturday, July 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate tackles special session abortion bills
Texas senators tentatively approved bills that would require physicians and facilities to do more detailed reporting on abortions — and fine those who do not comply. Full Story
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![State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, pauses during debate with Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, while talking on Senate Bill 10 on July 24, 2017. The measure would modify reporting requirements for physicians performing abortions.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In special session, Texas Senate's the hare, House is the tortoise
This summer's special session is a little like this spring's regular session, only in miniature. The Senate has big plans and is in a hurry. The House? Not so much. Full Story
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![The three leaders of Texas appear jovial at a short meeting of the Cash Management Committee on July 18, 2017, as they face a potentially contentious 30-day special session of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Meet the owner of a gay bar who is challenging Texas Gov. Abbott
Texas has a history of being a predominately red state, but Jeffrey Payne wants to change that. That’s why the Dallas Democrat is running for governor against one of the most popular and well-funded incumbents in recent memory. Full Story
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![Jeffrey Payne, a Dallas-based businessman and Democrat, recently announced his campaign for governor of Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Despite losing bathroom bill fight, a transgender girl gets her two minutes
They were unlikely to sway a committee of Republicans considering bathroom restrictions for transgender Texans, but a transgender 7-year-old and her mother waited for their two minutes. Full Story
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![Libby Gonzales, a 7-year-old transgender girl, and her sister sit by their parents at a press conference in the Capitol rotunda concerning SB 3 and SB 91 on July 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Bill limiting city, county spending fuels war over local control
When state senators revive legislation on Saturday that could require voter approval of city and county property tax rates, lawmakers will also consider something new: limiting how much money local governments spend. Full Story
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![State Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, visits with a House member on the Senate floor May 17, 2017. House members have been visiting the upper chamber to negotiate bills in the final days of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate committee passes 'bathroom bill' after 10 hours of testimony
For the third time this year, state lawmakers on Friday held a marathon hearing on measures to restrict bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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![Citizens line up to testify during a July 21, 2017 Senate State Affairs Committee hearing where Senators will take up Senate Bill 3, the "bathroom bill."]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Source of Senate's speed in special session? "Pizza and soda pop" (video)
Donning an apron, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick offered senators dinner for coming back in the early morning hours Thursday to vote out two special session bills that would extend the life of five state agencies. Full Story
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