Paxton looks to get ahead of legal challenges to "sanctuary cities" ban
Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to get ahead of an anticipated barrage of legal challenges to Texas' ban on "sanctuary cities." Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Sorry, your bill is probably dying
The Texas Legislature is moving into the part of the calendar when certain dates are circled in red. More bills are killed by clocks and calendars — by those circled deadlines — than by votes. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, leads a discussion on House Bill 501, an ethics bill, on May 3, 2017. The bill passed, 147-0.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Proposed higher education funding overhaul could come with collateral damage
Initiatives to boost small businesses and help poor students get through college could lose their funding amid the Senate's attempt to fix how the state pays for higher education. Full Story
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![Freshman Samantha Salas (center) hangs out with friends before going to class on the first day of school on Aug. 25, 2014, at South Texas College's Pecan Campus in McAllen.]()
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Texas House approves ban on “pay for play” appointments
Big donors to Texas governors would be banned from appointments to state boards and commissions under legislation approved Saturday by the Texas House. Full Story
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![State Reps Todd Hunter, Lyle Larson and Chris Turner listen as representatives of the State Auditor's Office testify before the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics July 12, 2016. The committee is investigating the use by state agencies of emergency leave and settlement payments to departing employees.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bill to abolish “one-punch” voting approved in Texas House
House Bill 25, approved by the House on Saturday, could drastically change Texas politics considering straight-ticket ballots accounted for almost 64 percent of total votes cast in the state’s 10 largest counties in 2016. Full Story
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![An election judge in south Texas tests a voting machine for accuracy after the end of voting hours on Oct. 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
House defeats bill that would’ve allowed the expansion of toll road projects
The Texas House shot down House Bill 2861, a measure that would’ve allowed the Texas Department of Transportation to use tolls to fund the construction, renovation or widening of several highways. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Hot or not, bill would simplify sales tax on baked goods (video)
A measure advancing in the Texas Legislature would make baked goods, regardless of their temperature when served, exempt from sales tax. Full Story
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Analysis: Think Texas has a weak governor? Not in the month of May
A Texas governor's powers peak at the end of a legislative session, as deadline-haunted legislators begin to fear the threat of a veto from the state's chief executive. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas works to market health program without Planned Parenthood
The Healthy Texas Women Program is the state’s second attempt at reimagining how to provide health services for low-income women without organizations that provide abortions at some of their locations. Full Story
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![A billboard advertising the Healthy Texas Women program in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House OKs bill to discourage lawsuits over weather-related claims
The Texas House on Thursday tentatively approved a bill that would discourage home and business owners from seeking big payouts from insurance companies after hailstorms, floods and hurricanes — payouts their lawyers say are appropriate. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Texas House passes Dallas pension overhaul with little debate
The bill sailed through the lower chamber with three amendments from a Dallas lawmaker, all of which garnered support from author State Rep. Dan Flynn. Full Story
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Lawsuit over sanctuary cities bill is just a matter of time, opponents say
Texas' attorneys will be forced to defend Senate Bill 4, the controversial "sanctuary cities" bill in court, its opponents say. Full Story
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![A group of students against SB4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, sit in the rotunda of the Texas Capitol as the bill is being debated in the Texas House on April 26, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas House approves Abbott-backed call for convention of states
The Texas House Thursday adopted a resolution calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution — one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items this legislative session. Full Story
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![State Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, holds a copy of the U.S. Constitution while on the floor of the Texas House on May 4, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes bill to eliminate most vehicle safety inspections
The Texas Senate on Thursday gave its blessing to a bill that would eliminate the state’s vehicle safety inspection requirement for most vehicles. It would still apply for commercial vehicles. Full Story
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![Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, shows his copy of the U.S. Constitution during the Open Carry Texas rally Jan. 13, 2017 at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House panel debates state parks funding
A measure that would've guaranteed a set amount of funding to state parks was upturned in 2015. Lawmakers and advocates are hoping similar legislation will stick this session. Full Story
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![Boca Chica State Park in Brownsville, Texas.]()
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Texas lawmakers: State needs to act after black teen's death by police
In the aftermath of a police officer killing 15-year-old Jordan Edwards near Dallas, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus called on state leaders to work with legislators on police interactions and accountability. Full Story
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![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, speaks at a Texas Legislative Black Caucus news conference on May 4, 2017, imploring state leaders to act on the recent shooting of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards in Balch Springs outside Dallas.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Over opposition, latest tort reform bill advancing through Legislature
Trial lawyers and consumer groups say the proposed legislation would tip the balance of power heavily towards already powerful insurance companies. But tort reform advocates say it's needed to crack down on weather-related lawsuit "abuse." Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
What you need to know now about the one bill Texas lawmakers must pass (video)
In less than two minutes, learn the ins and outs of the only bill that Texas lawmakers have to pass — the one that will determine how the state government is funded for the next two years. Full Story
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After police shoot and kill unarmed teen, Texas lawmakers consider next steps
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting of an unarmed 15-year-old by police on Saturday night, Democrats in the state Capitol have pointed to relevant bills they say could prevent similar deaths. Full Story
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![15-year-old Mesquite High School freshman Jordan Edwards (left) was shot and killed by Balch Springs police officer Roy Oliver on April 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Mesquite High School yearbook/Facebook -
With Trump on their side, Republicans hopeful for “Buy American” iron and steel bill
On Wednesday, the Senate voted 22-8 for a proposal that would expand a Buy American provision already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board to all state agencies. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's Warehouse District on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune