Abbott Signs Bill Decriminalizing Truancy
Students who skip school will no longer be sent to criminal court, facing fines and possible jail time, under legislation signed by Gov. Greg Abbott late Thursday. Truancy will be a civil offense. Full Story
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Abbott Signs Grand Jury Reform Legislation
Gov. Greg Abbott is officially getting rid of the state's controversial "pick-a-pal" system, signing legislation reforming the selection of people who serve on grand juries in Texas. Full Story
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Abbott OKs Venue Change for Political Corruption Cases
Ignoring calls for a veto, Gov. Greg Abbott signed controversial legislation this week that will allow elected officials and bureaucrats to bypass local prosecutors when they are accused of public corruption. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott at the Texas State Prayer Breakfast in Austin on May 4, 2015.]()
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Abbott Vetoes Four Criminal Justice, Public Safety Bills
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed four criminal justice and public safety bills, bringing to eight the total number of vetoes he has issued in the aftermath of the 84th legislative session. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott in Pflugerville, Texas, for signing of open-carry bill on June 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson -
Abbott Signs Bill to Limit Pollution Lawsuits
Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation that could make it tougher for local governments to sue big-time polluters – an effort that largely targets Harris County prosecutors. Full Story
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![The San Jacinto River Waste Pits, an EPA Superfund site that is contaminated with dioxins, is located off Interstate 10 east of Houston.]()
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Texas, Petroleum Industry Broaden Their Lawsuits Against Denton
The Texas Oil and Gas Association and the state’s General Land Office have expanded the scope of their lawsuits against Denton. Both are taking aim at the city’s moratorium on new gas drilling in addition to the toothless fracking ban still on its books. Full Story
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![Vantage Energy on June 1, 2015 resumed hydraulic operations on a pad site on the western outskirts of Denton. It was the first company to frack within city limits after the Texas Legislature overturned the Denton’s ban on the process.]()
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Signing Tax Cut Bills, Abbott Predicts "New Era of Job Growth"
Declaring “a new era of job growth in the state of Texas,” Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed a $2.56 billion bill cutting the franchise tax rate paid by businesses by 25 percent. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott tries out an Oculus Rift virtual reality system at AMD's Austin office after signing a bill cutting the business franchise tax rate.]()
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At Shooting Range, Abbott Signs "Open Carry" Bill
In a bill-signing ceremony at a popular Central Texas gun store, Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday praised pro-gun groups and lawmakers for helping Texas ensure that the Second Amendment is alive and well in the Lone Star State. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs an open-carry bill passed by the state Legislature at Red’s Indoor Range, a gun store and shooting range in Pflugerville, Texas, on June 13, 2015.]()
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Press Secretary Leaving Abbott's Office
A top spokesperson for Gov. Greg Abbott is leaving for Washington, D.C. Amelia Chasse has served as Abbott's press secretary since he took office in January. Full Story
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![Governor candidate Greg Abbott holds a short press conference after voting in south Austin on Oct. 30, 2014.]()
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Abbott Signs "Pastor Protection Act" Into Law
Gov. Greg Abbott, who signed a bill Thursday that allows clergy members to refuse to conduct marriages that violate their beliefs, said that "pastors now have the freedom to exercise their First Amendment rights." Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs SB #2065 into law on June 11, 2015 joined by Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and authors of the bill Sen. Craig Estes R-Wichita Falls and Rep. Scott Sanford R-McKinney]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Deconstructing the Session: What Happened Under the Dome?
During the 84th legislative session, state lawmakers had 140 days to pass a budget and other bills they thought were priorities for Texas. In this special collaboration with Texas Standard, we look at the big takeaways from the session. Full Story
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Abbott Tries Wooing General Electric to Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott is making good on his promise to pick up where his predecessor left off, using Texas' new tax-relief package to pitch the state's business climate to Connecticut-based General Electric. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs several higher education related bills into law on June 4, 2015. He also praised state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, left, for her work in the most recent legislative session on education issues.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Deconstructing the Session: A Look at the Leaders
As the Legislature took up the budget and other important issues, the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus were put to the test multiple times. Listen to our discussion of the three leaders in a special episode of Texas Standard. Full Story
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Abbott Signs Bill Mandating Use of E-Verify
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday that requires state agencies and institutions of higher education to use the federal electronic employment verification system known as E-Verify. Full Story
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Water Conservation, Contract Bidding Bills Fall Victim to Abbott's Veto
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed two more pieces of legislation in the wake of the 84th legislative session. 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: June 10, 2015
A federal appeals court upheld a key segment of the 2013 Texas law adding requirements on abortion facilities in the state. Full Story
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Abbott Signs Sweeping Border Security Bill
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday signed House Bill 11, capping off the final piece of a massive effort by lawmakers to bolster the ranks of state police, increase technology and establish intelligence operations units on the Texas-Mexico border. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott marked the signing of a sweeping border security bill on June 9, 2015, at a Texas Department of Public Safety facility in Harris County.]()
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The Brief: June 9, 2015
A pair of protests was held in McKinney on Monday in response to police action dispersing a crowd at a pool party over the weekend as details emerged about the party itself. Full Story
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![Eric Casebolt resigned from the McKinney Police Department after actions at a pool party on June 5, 2015.]()
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Abbott: No Special Session on Same-Sex Marriage
Gov. Greg Abbott told a San Antonio radio station on Monday that he won't call a special session on same-sex marriage restrictions, even though conservative leaders pleaded via letter for him to do so. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to reporters at Texas Public Policy Foundation's grand opening of new building on April 21st, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Inside Texas Politics: Grading the 84th Legislature
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey look back on the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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![(L-R) Host Jason Whitely, Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy on WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics on June 7, 2015.]()
Credit: WFAA