It’s unclear how much it would cost to implement all of Sen. Larry Taylor’s proposals. Senate Bill 11 appears to take an unspecified amount from the rainy day fund to help cover the costs.
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
Gov. Greg Abbott raves about Dallas’ teacher incentive pay program. But it’s hard to replicate.
Dallas ISD spearheaded a program that floods its low-performing schools with the best resources, including highly rated educators who get paid large stipends. Lawmakers want to see it expanded.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Will Texas decriminalize marijuana this year? There is growing support.
The repercussions Texans face for possessing small amounts of pot — something several states no longer consider criminal — can all depend on where in the state they live. Some lawmakers want an across-the-board relaxation of criminal charges. But stigma fuels lingering opposition.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: How the Texas Senate handles David Whitley could reverberate for years
David Whitley’s tortured path to Senate confirmation as the Texas Secretary of State — whether or not he is confirmed at all — could play out in the state’s next round of redistricting in 2021.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Sweeping legislation takes aim at shock emergency room bills in Texas
Committee chairs from both chambers unveiled the proposal on Thursday.
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Texas Legislature 2019
In the Texas House, property tax legislation is being handled with a different speed — and tone
State Rep. Dustin Burrows, author of the House bill, said the House Ways and Means Committee is “not just trying to get something across the finish line as quick as we can.”
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Texas Legislature 2019
The top places Texas lawmakers go to wine, dine and deal during legislative session
Not everyone in the Texas Legislature gets deals done under the dome. Some lawmakers are drawn to bars, clubs and restaurants around the state Capitol for the quiet or the queso.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers have tried to end daylight saving time for years. Can they do it this session?
State lawmakers are again trying to abolish daylight saving time in Texas, arguing it’s antiquated. But supporters of the practice argue it gives Texans a crucial extra hour of light in the evenings during the summer months.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Educators have been skeptical of Dan Patrick. Will they support his teacher pay raise plan?
The Texas lieutenant governor is proposing across-the-board $5,000 raises for teachers. It’s a seismic shift for a lawmaker who spent the last legislative session backing proposals educators revile.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Where control of the next Texas Legislature will be decided
One-fifth of the incumbents in the Texas House serve in districts where less than 10 percentage points separated average Democrats from average Republicans in statewide races. That’s more than enough contested turf to put control within reach of either party.