Judge dismisses AG Paxton lawsuit over "sanctuary cities" law
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state's new immigration enforcement law. Full Story
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![Protesters turn out at the Capitol in Austin hours after Gov. Greg Abbott signs Senate Bill 4 — the "sanctuary cities" bill — into law. Abbott livestreamed the signing of the bill on Facebook.]()
Credit: Julián Aguilar -
Analysis: Even the losers get lucky sometimes
With a little more than a week left for this special session of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers are preparing closing arguments — and obituaries — for their pet issues. Full Story
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, speaks at a press conference held by members of the Senate Republican Caucus to discuss education and teachers' retirement, on August 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Straus and Patrick meet as special session dwindles
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus had their first one-on-one meeting in months Monday afternoon. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott looks on as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (left) and House Speaker Joe Straus shake hands at the Capitol on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Hopes of going 20 for 20 in special session circle the drain
In his first special session as governor of Texas, Greg Abbott is watching his hopes for 20 wins on 20 agenda items fall victim to the same legislative discord that marred the regular session earlier this year. Full Story
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![Supporters of the bathroom bill join pastors at a rally at the state Capitol on August 3, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick blames city governments for "all our problems in America"
On television Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick chided Democratic city governments for causing problems nationwide. Full Story
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![After two days of contentious debate and several bills passed, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick congratulates the Senate on what he says was a job well done on July 26, 2017. The Senate tackled bills on 18 issues, sending them over to the House for consideration in the special session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Texas effort targeting union dues mirrors initiatives in other states
As Texas Republicans try again to pass a law barring certain public employees from using payroll deductions to pay their union or association dues, it is following the lead of several other states that have seen mixed results. Full Story
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![The headquarters of Texas AFL-CIO in downtown Austin.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers take aim at Abbott on ethics reform, but he fires back
A bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Gov. Greg Abbott Wednesday to add ethics reform to the agenda of the special session. The governor’s office, in a rare rapid response, quickly attacked the effort as “showboating.” Full Story
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![State Rep. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place, speaks to media regarding her request to add ethics reform to the special session on Aug. 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Halfway through special session, Patrick wants "better communications" with House
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick marked the halfway point of the special session Tuesday by calling for "better communications" with the House, which has moved much slower on Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda than Patrick's Senate has. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus meet at the short Cash Management Committee meeting on July 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Report: Texas could lose billions if new immigration enforcement law stands
Representatives from Texas’ business, local government and higher education sectors argued Tuesday that the state’s new immigration-enforcement law could do billions of dollars in damage to the Texas economy. Full Story
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![A woman demonstrating against Senate Bill 4, the so-called sanctuary cities law, waves a flag during a march near the San Antonio Riverwalk on June 26, 2017. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia is hearing arguments from Texas cities and counties challenging the bill, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Here are 5 takeaways from the first half of the legislative special session
At the likely halfway point of a 30-day special session, the Texas House and Senate are taking very different approaches to the governor's sprawling agenda, and they could be headed for another standoff on a so-called "bathroom bill." Full Story
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Analysis: For three Texas leaders, even some losses could be victories
Measuring the progress of legislation is easy: This one passed, that one didn't. Political success in a legislative session is different: A mediocre legislative record can be a victory for all sides. 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 -
DPS agrees to reverse new policy of charging for crime lab testing
Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Department of Public Safety Friday to retract its plans to begin charging local agencies for forensic testing. Full Story
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![A technician at the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Austin.]()
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Immigrants arrested near Capitol during DACA protest
Protesters were arrested near the state Capitol on Wednesday in a demonstration designed to challenge the state's position on an Obama-era immigration program and test Travis County’s immigration policy. Full Story
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![Activists nearing the end of their 37-mile march from a federal detention facility to the Texas Governor’s Mansion on Nov. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: John Jordan -
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 -
Analysis: A legislative body in motion can do whatever it wants
A Texas governor can tell lawmakers what subjects to work on in a special session but can't tell them exactly what to do. The session that started this week is now in the hands of the Texas Legislature — not the governor. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confers with a group of senators during the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Follow the leader, if you can find him
The governor has identified the issues he wants lawmakers to work on during the special session. He says he'll keep score to track friends and foes. But he hasn't publicly made his positions clear — so how do they know how to vote? Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott (l.) and Kevin Roberts, executive vice president at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at a TPPF orientation session ahead of the special session, on July 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
As Abbott's special session begins, ill will lingers between Straus, Patrick
The coming weeks will reveal whether the ongoing hostility between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus has paralyzed state policymakers as they take up the 20 items on Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Joe Straus on the dais in the Texas House chamber for a ceremony memorializing the nation's veterans on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Trump administration awards $2.3 million to Texas for border security
The Texas Military Department has received a $2.3 million boost from the federal government to help with the state's border-security efforts. Full Story
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![Texas National Guardsmen from C Co, 3-124th CAV go through jump drills.]()
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Abbott: I'm keeping a list of lawmakers who oppose me during special session
Gov. Greg Abbott says he's going to keep a list of lawmakers who oppose his agenda during the special legislative session, and that property tax reform is his top priority. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott builds $41 million war chest with eye on re-election, special session
Gov. Greg Abbott has a nearly $41 million war chest heading into his re-election campaign — and a special session in which he's looking to keep political pressure on lawmakers to pass an ambitious 20-item agenda. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets Wendy Randall and husband Martin during a block walk the day after his re-election announcement on July 15, 2017. Abbott visited a half dozen homes in Bentsen Heights in north McAllen.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune