Abbott signs bill restricting insurance coverage of abortion
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Tuesday that will require Texas women to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Smithee_HB214_TT.jpg)
-
![State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, discusses House Bill 214, which would limit health benefit coverage for elective abortions, on Aug. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature sends another tree bill to Abbott
Days after approving an amended version of a House bill on tree regulations, the Senate voted to reverse itself late Monday night, rolling back two amendments that House Speaker Joe Straus had rejected. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/01/E_ATX_Home_TREES_SK_TT.jpg)
![A neighborhood in East Austin on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Special session coming down to school finance, property taxes
House and Senate negotiators will have the next two days remaining in the current special legislative session to hammer out their differences on legislation tackling property taxes, school finance and other items still in play. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/14/_95I9520_Gavel_CU_.jpg)
![After a one-hour evening recess, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Senate to consider the committee substitute to House BIll 21, the school finance bill on Aug. 14, 2017. Patrick and Sen. Larry Taylor had earlier met with Gov. Greg Abbott during the pause in proceedings.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Special session bills finally reach Abbott's desk, but big hurdles remain
Legislation finally began reaching Gov. Greg Abbott's desk on Friday — with five days left in the special session — but there's still much progress to be made on Abbott's 20-item agenda. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/09/Big_3.jpg)
![From left: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Patrick: Laura Buckman & Abbott/Straus: Bob Daemmrich -
With days left in special session, Senate committee makes major changes to House's school finance bill
The Senate Education Committee drastically altered the House's primary piece of school finance legislation Friday but suggested compromise with the House was possible with less than a week left in the special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Taylor_SEN_presser_2_BD_TT.jpg)
![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 -
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/07/SB4_protest_May_7_JA_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Taylor_SEN_presser_BD_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/27/Patrick_Straus_shake_Abbott_smiles_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/03/Pro_BR_Bill_rally_4_MKC.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/26/_BDP6531_Patrick_3.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/02/APrice-TexasAFLCIO-3.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/02/UP9A9900.JPG)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/18/__BDP4657_Trio1.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/06/26/SB4_Hearing_SA_RJ_2_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/31/Halfway_special.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by John Jordan -
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/18/__BDP4696_trio_3_.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/28/Texas_State_Crime_Lab_TT.jpg)
![A technician at the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Austin.]()
Credit: DPS video screenshot -
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/21/DACA_March_Manor_3_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/21/Jeffrey_Payne_2_LS_TT.jpg)
![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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/19/__95I4606_Patrick.jpg)
![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