A federal program known as the 1115 waiver helps pay for the costs of providing health care to the uninsured. Advocates want the Texas Legislature to order a renegotiation of the waiver, which partially expires in 2021.
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.
Watch our event on the future of Texas public education
We’re livestreaming our two-day event in Austin diving into the most pressing issues facing students and educators across Texas.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Democrats hold on to Texas House seat in San Antonio special election runoff
Democrat Ray Lopez won the special election runoff Tuesday night for the seat formerly held by state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio.
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Texas Legislature 2019
A fight over paid sick leave is turning into a fight over LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances
A now-erased provision in Senate Bill 15 explicitly said a potential new state law would not supersede local nondiscrimination ordinances. Without that language, many LGBTQ advocates fear Texans could be exposed to some discriminatory employment practices.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: The Texas Legislature wasn’t built for harmony. It was built for debate.
As the Texas Legislature digs into the busiest half of the session, early harmony is giving way to difference and debate. The House and Senate are easing into their traditional roles — as rivals.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate unveils its first version of a school finance reform bill
The bill is part of a series of proposals designed to slow property tax growth and fix how the state pays for its schools.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Post-Harvey, Texas State Aquarium seeks funds for new wildlife rescue center
Before Hurricane Harvey, state aquarium staff evacuated turtles, stingrays, dolphins and other recovering animals from an aging rescue center they feared would blow away. Now, they’re asking the state for help to build a new facility.
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Texas Legislature 2019
TribCast: Is the “Kumbaya” phase of the legislative session over?
On this week’s TribCast, Aman talks to Evan, Aliyya and Alexa about the teacher pay and school finance proposals circulating in the Texas Lege, the latest finger-pointing over the voter citizenship review and the pushback Beto O’Rourke might face in a Democratic presidential field.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Point of Order: High hopes for higher ed
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Renu Khator, the chancellor of the University of Houston System, about access, affordability, excellence, graduation rates and the importance of educating a diverse student population.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmaker whose bill allowed medical cannabis oil wants to expand its use in 2019
State Rep. Stephanie Klick’s bill would give Texans with multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and spasticity access to medical cannabis oil.