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.”
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
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.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Teachers, tell us your thoughts about the Texas Legislature’s proposed $5,000 pay raises
Texas lawmakers are considering a proposal that would increase teacher pay by $5,000. We want to talk to teachers about their salaries.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Greg Abbott sets March 12 as date of special election runoff for San Antonio state House seat
The race pits Republican Fred Rangel against Democrat Ray Lopez for the seat formerly held by state Rep. Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio.
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Graphics and data reporting
In Texas, property tax levies can be as individual as homeowners themselves
State lawmakers are trying to reform a complicated taxing system where everything from suburban growth to gentrification and a homeowner’s age influence how much Texans pay their local governments.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Political climate changes in Texas congressional districts
Sorted by congressional district, the 2018 general election results illustrate which members of the Texas delegation will be on Democratic and Republican target lists leading into the 2020 election cycle.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Democrats lay out their priorities for Texas school finance as lawmakers await leadership-endorsed bill
The Texas House Democratic Caucus is calling for a $14.5 billion package that includes all-day pre-K, teacher raises and property tax relief.