State Rep. Dennis Bonnen gains momentum as four Texas House speaker candidates drop out
The Angleton Republican called a press conference for Monday afternoon to discuss the race. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, sits alone before discussion of the property tax bill on August 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Drew Darby becomes fifth Republican to file for Texas House speaker
The San Angelo representative joined the race to succeed retiring House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas House committee tries shock therapy on school finance
An eye-opening proposal to kill the local school property tax in order to force Texas lawmakers to build a new school finance system won unanimous approval Thursday from the House's tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. Full Story
![State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
On day 5 of redistricting trial, Texas rebuts claim that current political maps discriminate
As lawyers for Texas defended the state's political maps against charges of intentional discrimination, a lawmaker at the center of the case invoked "legislative privilege" Friday to avoid answering some questions. Full Story
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![Rep. Drew Darby discusses the upcoming 83rd Texas legislative session at The Texas Tribune Festival 2012.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge -
A conversation with Burrows and Darby (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 1/19 conversation with state Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, on the campus of Howard College in San Angelo. Full Story
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As Oil Prices Plunge, New Scrutiny of Gas Tax Credit
By reclassifying oil wells as gas wells, producers can often claim a generous state tax credit targeting “high cost” natural gas. Now, some lawmakers say the policy deserves a fresh look. Full Story
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![An oil pump.]()
Credit: Esteban Monclova for The Texas Tribune -
2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the Energy Track
The Energy track at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on the state’s drilling industry and the state of the electric grid. We also featured a one-on-one interview with Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht -
Lawmakers Ditch $200 Fee for Lawyers, Doctors, Brokers
Fourteen years after lawmakers first tacked on a $200 annual licensing fee for some occupations, the so-called professionals tax will be repealed Sept. 1. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Jeremy Lin -
Curbing Local Control, Abbott Signs "Denton Fracking Bill"
Saying Texas needs to avoid a “patchwork of local regulations” that threaten oil and gas production, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed legislation that would pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of drilling-related activities. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott discusses HB40 with the press prior to its ceremonial signing in the Governor's Reception Room on May 18, 2015. The bill gives the state exclusive control over regulation of oil and gas operations, and preempting local laws against fracking.]()
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The Brief: April 27, 2015
There was more fallout late last week from the Southern Methodist University-led research study that linked wastewater injection wells to a swarm of earthquakes near Reno and Azle in late 2013 and early 2014. Full Story
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![Texas Railroad Commission lead engineering technician for districts 1 and 2, Michael Polasek, inspects a salt water disposal injection well at a Heckman Water Resources commercial disposal facility on the LAMZA lease near Highway 80, January 22, 2012.]()
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Video: The Future of Energy
On 4/24, I talked about the future of energy policy in Texas with SMU's Bruce Bullock; state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza; and state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas. Full Story
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Texas House Approves "Denton Fracking Bill"
UPDATED: The Texas House on Friday approved House Bill 40, which would pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities. Full Story
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![State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, lays out HB 40 that would curb local control over oil and gas activities on April 17, 2015. With a 122-18 vote, the House sent the bill to the Senate.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: March 24, 2015
So what's next for Ted Cruz after his splashy announcement Monday that he's an official candidate for the White House in 2016? The answer is pretty straightforward: It's now nose-to-the-grindstone time. Full Story
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Credit: Matt McClain, The Washington Post -
Video: The Battle over the Budget in the 84th Session
Here's video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the budget debate. Panelists included state Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Kel Seliger and state Reps. Drew Darby and Donna Howard. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Nov. 22, 2013
Your evening reading: Texas postpones closure of high-risk health insurance pool; SBOE blocks entry of Arizona-based charter school into state; railroad commissioner candidate rails against proposed textbook Full Story
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![Kenneth Flippin, left, and Jane Denson, right, of Enroll America at the home of Shelby Childress.]()
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The Brief: Nov. 21, 2013
Houston Mayor Annise Parker will move to extend health and life insurance benefits to same-sex legal spouses of city employees, despite a 2001 city charter amendment that was put to the voters specifically to prohibit the practice. Full Story
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![Houston Mayor Annise Parker at the Texas Democratic Party's convention in Houston on June 8, 2012.]()
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Liveblog: Transportation at The Tribune Festival
We're liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's Transportation track, which features panel discussions on planning, high-speed rail, road funding and rural transportation. Full Story
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The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Darby and Duncan
At our Hot Seat conversation at Angelo State University, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session. Full Story
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With Little Help From Austin, Texas' Solar Use Grows — Slowly
Renewable energy companies are looking to this big, sunny state as the next frontier for solar power. But solar is expensive, and once again the Legislature did not pass a statewide solar incentive. Some companies and communities are forging ahead nonetheless. Full Story
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![A number of homes an Austin's Mueller development have added solar panels, thanks to hefty local and federal incentives.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
Institutions for Disabled Unlikely to See Major Cuts
Advocates for shuttering Texas’ institutions for the disabled thought they had the numbers on their side: a budget crisis so severe that lawmakers would have to close some state-supported living centers. With less than a month left in the session, their hopes are largely dashed. Full Story
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![Austin State-Supported Living Center employee Tamika Mays is shown with resident Rebecca Hadnot in 2011.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman