Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Executive Director Toby Baker told a special panel of state senators on Thursday that first responders are still actively managing an incident at a Houston-area petrochemical facility that began last month.
Texas Legislature 2019
The 86th Legislature runs from Jan. 8 to May 27. From the state budget to health care to education policy — and the politics behind it all — we focus on what Texans need to know about the biennial legislative session.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Point of Order: The news about the news
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Mike Wilson, editor of The Dallas Morning News, and Debbie Hiott, general manager of Austin public radio station KUT, about the romantic ideal and precarious reality of the Capitol press corps.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate passes bill allowing school marshals to carry, not lock up, their guns
Eliminating the lockbox requirement for school marshals was one of many suggestions Gov. Greg Abbott outlined for the Legislature in a 43-page plan released weeks after last year’s deadly shooting at Santa Fe High School.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate panel advances budget bill that mirrors House plan on education, property tax reform spending
The two-year plan, which must still pass the full Senate, includes a $9 billion infusion for public schools and property tax relief and up to $900 million in cuts to Medicaid.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Many Texas teachers have second jobs or live paycheck to paycheck. They’re anxiously watching the teacher pay debate.
“I never anticipated that I would take a summer job at Wendy’s just so that I could replace a broken dishwasher,” said one high school English teacher who makes $45,000 per year.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: A standard test for Texas lawmakers — fixing school finance
Texas lawmakers want to fix school finance, but they can’t avoid looking for voter-pleasing side dishes, like property taxes and teacher pay raises, that could undermine the public education fixes.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate approves occupational licensing bill LGBTQ advocates call a “license to discriminate”
The bill passed on a 19–12 vote, with one Republican voting against it and one Democrat voting for it. It requires one more approval in the Senate before it heads to the Texas House.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
“Republicans have been turned French”: Hardline Texas conservatives worry their allies have gone soft
Activist conservative groups have long been aligned with the lawmakers they helped elect, like Texas House Freedom Caucus members and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Are they still on the same page?
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Meet the advocates lobbying Texas lawmakers for more money and support this session
During the Texas legislative session, the Capitol sees a rush of advocates. Our latest “Under the Dome” episode features two people lobbying on issues they are all too familiar with.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Texas lawmakers haven’t sworn off culture wars after all
The Texas Legislature is trying to focus on school finance and property taxes. But flashier, more divisive political fights beckon.