The latest Jeff Leach news from The Texas Tribune.
Despite substantive doubts surrounding the cause of her child’s death and a suspect “confession” obtained after hours of interrogation, Lucio is set to be executed next month for killing her 2-year-old daughter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/13ac755975759920c12977bf77cbd79f/Melissa%20Lucio%20Presser%20SF%20TT%2006.jpg)
Leach, a Plano Republican, and Moody, an El Paso Democrat, co-chair the House Criminal Justice Caucus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fffd762461846d4e0bf660d81261fe78/TTF21%20Leach%20and%20Moody%20TT.jpg)
The bills now head to the full House for debate. Versions already passed by the Senate are also pending. Each measure will need to be approved by both chambers before becoming law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bba6c3b4e6996d78e0dc3e671f2c0d48/Planned%20Parenthood%20EG%20TT%2016.jpg)
A Republican stronghold as recently as a few years ago, the county north of Dallas is now home to two of the most hotly contested state House races and a congressional contest about which Democrats are increasingly bullish. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b5a85b04c8beb1b875084ded7986b461/Republican%20Party%20Paraphernalia%20EG%20TT%2007.jpg)
The new Criminal Justice Reform Caucus in the Texas House will set its sights on changes in 2021. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/52c4ca08aab75e41053c5dcf6b72e776/10%20Juvenile%20Justice%20Committee%20EW%20TT.jpg)
The House initially exempted churches and nonprofits from the extended statute of limitations, but the chamber agreed to include them Friday after sex assault victims pushed back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dee81d0bae605e75b74b48894311ffd7/0646%20HB%203809%20Nassar%20JF%20May%2013%20TT.jpg)
Even in a legislative session that began with estimates of a generous increase in state revenue, lawmakers spent a lot of time talking about big, big tax bills — all the way to the end. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2ecb09a0f7ec0c13e845f652d170ba92/01_Abbott_Bonnen_Patrick_Property_Tax_Presser_MG.jpg)
Watch our conversation about how the Texas House did during the 86th legislative session with State Reps. Mary Gonzalez, Jeff Leach and Drew Springer, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/84b59e2f413bd73b2343abd2c227148d/TTE-GonzalezLeachSpringer-tt-02.png)
The House tentatively signed off on a bill Tuesday that would grant legal protections to babies born after failed abortion attempts, though such instances are extremely rare. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fcb5732c2168e17ad306d79e99d9307c/01_Texas_Born_Alive_Presser_MG.jpg)
State Rep. Jeff Leach said a bill that criminalizes abortion will not advance beyond the committee he chairs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cad1fe1d95fee7b4c0ebe98556c9ce0a/Jeff_Leach_April_11_JF_TT.jpg)
Patrick Murphy was one of the escaped convicts sentenced to death for the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins during a robbery. The high court stopped his execution because Texas officials wouldn’t let a Buddhist chaplain into the death chamber with him. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3ccd10ef75924f8c25ed05cca3c922fe/Patrick_Murphy_Death_Row_TT.jpg)
The chairs of two House committees signed on as joint authors of a bill that would set the method of determining if a capital murder defendant is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/83ab40d4b03ab90c4e6a7f70a3740b08/US_Supreme_Court_Sunset)
Between the general election results and the changing management of the Texas House — where Joe Straus is retiring and Dennis Bonnen is poised to be the next speaker — the state government is getting a reboot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/777bbe827806afee8c43d2a82477f33d/Dennis_Bonnen_Joe_Straus_BD_TT.jpg)
The Texas House on Friday approved two measures aimed at combating sexual assault on college campuses across the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/19/Jeff_Leach_May_17_MKC_TT.jpg)
At our 5/21 conversation with state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about big issues that are unresolved with a week to go in the session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Nevarez1.jpg)
At our 5/21 conversation, state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about the prospect of a deal on tax cuts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Davis2.jpg)
At our 5/21 conversation, state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about the coming budget deal between the House and the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Group2.jpg)
Full video of my 5/21 conversation with state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Group1.jpg)