“I still lose sleep”: GOP Rep. Drew Darby reflects on voucher vote, THC ban and special session
The San Angelo Republican, at a Texas Tribune event, also weighed in on water and energy policy. Full Story
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Oil companies want protection as Texas considers allowing treated fracking water released into rivers
As the state grapples with a threatened water supply, industry and lawmakers have invested millions in research to clean the toxic backwash for use in for agriculture. Full Story
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![Tanks of produced water sit outside the Texas Pacific Water Resources research and development project site as they undergo oxidation using hydrogen peroxide Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, outside of Midland. The hydrogen peroxide helps separate out hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and oil in addition to managing bacteria found in the water.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott, House at impasse over school voucher bill as special session winds down
Vouchers are the governor’s top legislative priority. But he has signaled opposition to a proposed House compromise that would tie them to increased funding for public schools. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan listens to state Representatives on the House floor during Sine Die, the last day of the 88th Texas Legislative Session, at the Capitol in Austin on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
This new law will help health care workers save lives in ambulances that cover wide-open West Texas
The emerging technology, paid for by a grant established during the 2023 legislative session, will help emergency health care workers talk with doctors in emergency rooms to better care for critical patients. Full Story
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![An ambulance is parked at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas
at Austin in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
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.]()
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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.]()
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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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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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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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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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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.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kmays Cotera