AG KEN PAXTON IS IMPEACHED
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/39517cfa88b8fe5d9e7961898e08acfe/0527%20Paxton%20Impeach%20Lege%20BD%2028.jpg)
-
![The Texas House voted to impeach state Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton defenders compare him to Trump as House hears impeachment charges
The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23, with three members absent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8045c0774cc6283d8b8f9d928a45f6d/0527%20Paxton%20Impeach%20Lege%20BD%20TT%2015.jpg)
![General Investigating Committee head Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, lays out articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump Jr., conservative Republicans ride to Ken Paxton’s defense on eve of impeachment vote
Supporters of the attorney general portray Saturday’s impeachment vote as a political witch hunt meant to sideline President Joe Biden’s biggest headache. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5bbebc76707f7518e6e309dffb54d98b/Paxton%20Trump%20Rally%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton waves as he walks on stage at a Texas Trump rally at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fairgrounds on Oct. 22. 2022, in Robstown.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via REUTERS -
More Texans would qualify for food stamps under a bill heading to Gov. Greg Abbott
The value of a household’s vehicles disqualified nearly 55,000 people seeking federal food assistance in 2022. House Bill 1287 increases the threshold of car values that lead to SNAP applicants being denied aid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/82c29fb09fff896077fccf33af927bb2/SNAP%20CR%20TT.jpg)
![Volunteers from neighboring small towns divide, box-up, and load their trucks with food from the Amarillo-based High Plains Food Bank for monthly delivery to Quitaque on June 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature averts $100 million consequences of 2021 law requiring nonexistent election technology
Lawmakers voted unanimously to reverse the 2021 provision that would have decertified equipment that counties use to count votes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/96f441f806ba1e2ea757c01c68384c2c/Hays%20County%20Election%20Test%20EL%20TT%2025.jpg)
![A bipartisan testing crew uses voting machines and tabulators during a state-mandated logic and accuracy test at the Hays County Government building in San Marcos on Sept. 21, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Effort to impeach Ken Paxton, led by fellow Republicans, sets off political earthquake in Texas
Republicans have chosen to remain largely silent during years of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking by the attorney general. Now they will have to take a public stand. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e2cfa226b5cdf0a7a57d42a73f6926aa/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20BD%2031.jpg)
![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Attorney General Ken Paxton conferring with Gov. Greg Abbott outside the Senate chamber before his swearing in ceremony in Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Effort to fix payroll error for state National Guard troops falls short in Texas Senate
The mistake meant about 7,400 soldiers sent to the Texas-Mexico border under Operation Lone Star were hit with higher-than-expected federal income taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/766121f30f1f348f4757d0c986f0684b/George%20P.%20Bush%20Del%20Rio%20KGB%20TT%2028.jpg)
![Members of the Texas National Guard work 12 to 13 hour shifts guarding the “Texas border wall,” construction crews and materials near Del Rio on Dec. 8, 2021. Thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to Del Rio after an increase in migration at the southern border.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Attorney General Ken Paxton was impeached. Here’s how that process works in Texas.
Paxton is now suspended until the outcome of a trial in the Senate. Gov. Greg Abbott can now appoint someone to temporarily fill the vacancy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/35220913884a83f64e75069553e4c594/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20BD%2041.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to his supporters after being sworn into office on January 10, 2023. At left are state Sen. Angela Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate moves to create new immigration enforcement unit, allow state police to arrest for border crossings
The House has already passed the bill, but the two chambers will need to iron out the differences in their versions before it is sent to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0f8778ad0cff771f8d01eae70eb7072e/0508%20Title%2042%20Migrants%20IPA%2006.JPG)
![Migrants carry supplies before crossing the Rio Grande River and into the U.S. from Mexico on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Juárez, Chihuahua. Several hundred migrants have been waiting on the U.S. side of the river to be picked up and processed by CBP.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Senate priorities on bail, Ten Commandments in schools stall out in Texas House as key deadline passes
The two chambers have been at odds over property tax relief and school choice, but on Tuesday night, those divisions spilled over into priorities the bodies had previously agreed upon. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/29b1fbf094cd7ac79f00b38cfd99be0f/0411%20House%20Vote%20EL%20TT%2008.JPG)
![Members of the House vote on the House floor during session at the state Capitol on April 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers OK bill that aims to keep sexually explicit material out of school libraries
Approved by both chambers, the bill is now on its way to the governor. Unless he vetoes it, the bill will become law, which means book vendors will have to assign ratings to books based on depictions or references to sex. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e8ef5555fb0070ee59bc762a2e511924/Book%20File%20LW%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Vandegrift High School's library in Austin on March 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House votes to repeal sales tax on menstrual products and diapers
The bill, which Democrats have been pushing for years, has become a top priority after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The Senate has already passed the bill, which would provide tax relief on the purchase of menstrual products, diapers and other child care necessities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7b816ccf5c99490ee19e5a8b1471f191/Diapers%20MM%20TT%2001.jpg)
![A diaper drive at the Texas Rally for Life event at the Capitol in Austin, Texas on January 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for the Texas Tribune -
UT-Austin tried to hire a game theorist for its new free-enterprise think tank. He turned down the job because of fights over tenure.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to eliminate tenure, but his attempts have impacted the institute he helped create. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/efe5a9dd1f8a1fe8e3cd5d636d37b490/TxTrib_Campus_030.jpg)
![The University of Texas at Austin campus.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott, Patrick, Phelan race to negotiate priority issues as deadlines loom
Seeking to avoid a special session, the state leaders discuss school choice, property taxes and grid reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4721edbb3c4feb2126352f95ba3a2c0a/Phelan%20Abbott%20Patrick%20TT.jpg)
![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the governor's office on Monday, May 22, 2023.]()
Credit: Social media -
After abuse accusations at The Refuge, Texas will create new reporting and screening requirements for foster care workers
The legislation came after The Refuge, a Bastrop foster care facility, hired a caretaker without knowing she had a history of sexual misconduct with children at a state juvenile facility. Coworkers also concealed evidence of the abuse, which further put the foster girls at harm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/70589dd666d9800690bd86cd1228b08e/Bastrop%20Refuge%20JV%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The Refuge in Bastrop on Apr. 12, 2022]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes revamped school funding bill in last-minute bid to implement voucher program
Texas senators have latched education savings accounts to a school funding bill in a last-ditch effort to avoid a special session. But some House members are furious at the revamped version and have vowed not to let it become law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/67396c388ff7df8df104756ba755fa09/School_Segregation_Bonham_01_LS_TT.jpg)
![Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio is an in-district charter with a lottery system. Third graders jump rope on the playground on May 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas Republican senators march in lockstep, Robert Nichols is willing to break away
Whether it’s supporting a rape exception for abortion or opposing school choice, Nichols has gone his own way on certain GOP priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b897b30790472889eac28a092830d5c/040919%20Senate%20Floor%20JF%2015223.jpg)
![State Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate committee revamps school funding bill to revive voucher-like proposal
The Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didn’t pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a444dbe353018935a90b33fde26ecabe/0417%20Teacher%20Pay%20Snyder%20JR%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Chana Jones' classroom in Snyder Primary School in Snyder on Monday, April. 17, 2023.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
A ban on Texas public universities’ diversity offices inches closer to becoming law
Republicans are at odds on whether to advance, contest or even toss out the House’s amended version of the bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/707be83292cc25cdb8e97eae7c11155a/UT%20File%20JM%2001%20TT.jpg)
![Students on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
Texas may soon have a process to remove local prosecutors who won’t pursue abortion, election cases
The bill would allow for the removal of prosecutors who adopt any policy to not pursue certain crimes, including some low-level theft and drug charges. The Senate’s version will need to be reconciled with the House, which had carved out some exemptions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0ebe5b31bb8283e48f9bbc61d6377be0/0509%20Travis%20County%20Court%20File%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
![The Travis County Criminal Court, at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, in Austin as screens display case information on May 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune