Issues like city-mandated paid sick leave and “red flag” gun laws are popular among Texas voters, polls suggest. Will opposing them have consequences in 2020?
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.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers eye a record-breaking rainy day fund withdrawal
Proposals in the Texas House would spend $6.6 billion from the state’s savings account; the Senate would spend $4.4 billion.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate approves $1.8 billion package to assist with Harvey recovery, guard against future storms
The upper chamber cast three, 31-0 votes on Wednesday to approve disaster recovery and preparedness legislation that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick named a top priority.
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is "is “strongly opposed to weakening any laws against marijuana [and] remains wary of the various medicinal use proposals that could become a vehicle for expanding access to this drug,” according to a spokesperson.](https://i0.wp.com/www.texastribune.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/10_Lit._Gov._Dan_Patrick_Senate_Floor_MG_TT-2-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&quality=89&ssl=1)
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Texas Legislature 2019
Medical cannabis expansion has high support in the Texas Legislature. But Dan Patrick might stand in the way.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s wariness of proposals to expand the state’s narrow medical cannabis program may block any such bills from reaching the governor’s desk this session.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House committee backs budget plan with extra $9 billion for school finance, property tax reform
After passing through the House Appropriations Committee, House Bill 1 now goes to the full Texas House.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Gov. Greg Abbott’s influence has shifted Texas bail reform efforts toward a bill that would give him more control
There are now two sets of bail reform bills named after a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper who was murdered while the suspect was out of jail on a $15,500 bond after allegedly assaulting a sheriff’s deputy.
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Texas Legislature 2019
What the “wave of women” elected in 2018 looks like in the 2019 Texas Legislature
This freshman class of female legislators is young, diverse and — thanks to the women who came before them — treated as equals in the traditionally male-dominated chambers.
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Texas Legislature 2019
With major policy differences emerging, state leaders continue to project unity
Halfway through the legislative session, lawmakers say they’re getting along. But they have a long way to go to achieve their goals this year.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Asking Texas voters to swap higher sales taxes for property tax cuts
Texas voters told candidates they want property tax relief, and it’s remarkably expensive. That’s why state lawmakers are talking about higher sales taxes.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Point of Order: Rural Texas at a crossroads
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Four Price about the public policy challenges and opportunities in communities that may be losing population but remain critical to our history and heritage.