Republican blitz on LGBTQ issues exposes fractures among Texas Democrats
The defections have sparked feelings of betrayal and promises of retribution, particularly as Republicans in the Legislature have presented a unified front. Full Story
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![People cheer and wave rainbow flags while gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Uncounted mail-in ballots discovered in Harris County add uncertainty to two Democratic races
The 6,000 Democratic primary votes could be enough to impact the results in the races for attorney general and one state House seat. Full Story
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![Ballot bags are lined up over their corresponding voting machine at the Elections Technology Center in Harris County, Houston on election night on March 1, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Progressive group wants to oust two House Democrats in March 1 primary
The Texans for Better Democrats Coalition is throwing its support behind Candis Houston, who is running against state Rep. Harold Dutton of Houston, and Rep. Claudia Ordaz Perez, who faces fellow El Pasoan Rep. Art Fierro. Full Story
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![Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, and Rep. Art Fierro, D-El Paso, on the House floor.]()
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Watch Texas lawmakers Larry Taylor and Harold Dutton discuss education and the Legislature at The Texas Tribune Festival
Taylor, a Friendswood Republican, chairs the Senate Education Committee. Dutton, a Houston Democrat, chairs the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and state Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston.]()
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GOP's so-called critical race theory bill advances as bill to restrict transgender student athletes stalls in House committee
The committee action came less than 24 hours after Dutton had taunted Patrick, threatening to hold his prized legislation back amid rumors that the Senate was stalling a bill to restore funding to the Legislature. Full Story
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Vengeance or politics? Democrat Harold Dutton explains why he advanced bill targeting transgender athletes, other GOP priorities
As a powerful committee chairman, Dutton could have bottled up legislation that Democrats opposed. Instead, critics say, he’s pushed through Republican bills that Democrats find objectionable. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Democrat revives Texas bill restricting transgender students' sports participation in apparent act of retaliation against his party
The bill previously lacked the votes to advance out of House committee. After House Democrats spiked one of his bills, Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, revived it. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr., D-Houston, on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
GOP lawmakers want to ban "woke philosophies" like critical race theory in Texas schools
Gov. Greg Abbott has called for expanding the state's civic education curriculum, but the House and Senate are quickly advancing bills that would restrict the discussion of current events and public policy in the classroom and prohibit critical race theory in public schools. Full Story
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![High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo on March 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Gender-affirming medical treatment for transgender kids would be considered child abuse under Texas Senate bill
The upper chamber Wednesday passed Senate Bill 1646, which is among several other bills that advocacy groups say erode the rights of transgender Texans. But it’s unclear what the legislation’s chances are in the House. Full Story
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![People hold up a transgender flag at an event held by Equality Texas at the Capitol on April 14, 2021 in Austin.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Congressional Democrats condemn Abbott for not releasing billions in federal stimulus dollars intended for Texas public schools
As Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders continue to delay the arrival of billions in education stimulus funding for Texas schools, Texas Democrats in Congress asked the Department of Education to pressure the state to send federal funds to schools as quickly as possible. Full Story
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![Students draw their self-portraits, including their masks, in Mrs. Hogan's kindergarten class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: State Rep. Harold Dutton, chair of public education committee, discusses how Legislature should respond to pandemic, winter storm
Dutton joined The Texas Tribune on Thursday for a conversation moderated by Aliyya Swaby, the Tribune's public education reporter. Full Story
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Three indicted in Harris County on allegations of trying to illegally influence state House races
The indictments announced Friday were tied to races in Texas House Districts 132 and 142. Full Story
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![Jolie McCullough, reporter for The Texas Tribune, moderated the “Criminal Justice Reform We Can All Agree On” panel featuring Mark Gonzalez, Marc Levin, Joe Moody, Kim Ogg and Vikrant Reddy at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Kelly West for The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas House incumbents — Dan Flynn, Anna Eastman and J.D. Sheffield — lose in primary runoffs
Two other incumbents — Democrats Lorraine Birabil and Harold Dutton — were also on the ballot Tuesday. Full Story
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![A view of the house floor during the second day of the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
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Greg Abbott has condemned the death of George Floyd, but he’s been silent on Texas’ recent history of police killings
Abbott also has praised Texas’ “legacy of success” on criminal justice reforms. In recent years, many police reform efforts have repeatedly failed at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![State troopers stand guard at the state Capitol grounds to prevent protesters from entering during a protest over the death of George Floyd.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Houston-area lawmakers urge DA to investigate possible "non-existent" March primary candidate
“We are concerned that more than 2500 Harris County voters may have been duped," the Democratic lawmakers wrote. Full Story
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![The floor of the house on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Harold Dutton: "It sounds like something criminal went on" in Texas House primary race
Facing a runoff, the Houston Democrat said he may ask the Harris County district attorney’s office to investigate the candidacy of an opponent who was seemingly absent on the campaign trail but received 20% of the vote. Full Story
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![State Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., D-Houston, testifies during a House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee hearing on March 13, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Should the Texas Legislature pass a school choice program? (video)
Texas Tribune reporter Aliyya Swaby interviews advocates and opponents of school vouchers at The Texas Tribune's March public education symposium. Full Story
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State Rep. Dutton renews uphill fight to abolish the death penalty in Texas
Every legislative session since 2003, Harold Dutton of Houston has filed at least one bill to end capital punishment in Texas. It’s often been a lonely quest. Full Story
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Expecting spike in special ed students, advocates push for better services
Texas is expected to increase the number of public school students receiving special education services, and disability rights advocates are aiming to improve the overall quality of those services. Full Story
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![Jean Gearhart gives a tearful statement with her husband Troy Gearhart to the panel about her special needs child. U.S. Department of Education officials held a meeting in Edinburg on their tour of Texas to hear community members' experiences with special education.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribune -
2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the Justice Track
The Justice track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on criminal justice reform, the Legislature, open carry, and gay rights and states' rights. There was also a conversation with several Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht
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