What started as a sweeping religious refusals bill has been significantly watered down as it moves through the Texas Legislature. But LGBTQ advocates still fiercely oppose it, saying it perpetuates hateful rhetoric.
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
Analysis: Welcome to Hell Week for the Texas Legislature
School finance, property taxes and the other priorities of the state’s top officials are still in play, but some issues are in peril as the Texas Legislature enters the final week of its 86th regular session.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House advances bill banning cities from partnering with Planned Parenthood on any services
Senate Bill 22 bars Texas governments from contracting with abortion providers or their affiliates — even for services like sexual health education and pregnancy prevention initiatives.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers send bill to governor that would eventually outlaw red-light cameras
The legislation includes a provision to allow local governments to continue operating cameras until they finish out any contracts in effect as of May 7.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Senate votes to allow people to carry guns without a license during disaster evacuations
After final Senate approval, the bill will head back to the House, where members will decide whether to accept the changes made in the Senate.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas House committee signs off on controversial election bill
The legislation, Senate Bill 9, has several provisions, including one that would make it a felony for Texans who vote when they’re ineligible — even if they do so unknowingly.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas medical marijuana expansion gains steam in Senate, even after previous stonewalling
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed wariness to expanding the Compassionate Use Program, but the bill’s Senate sponsor said Patrick helped craft the version that cleared a key hurdle Friday.
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Texas Legislature 2019
How Santa Fe rebuilt itself in the year after a school shooting
As lawmakers in Austin work to pass a sweeping school safety bill, many Santa Fe survivors and their loved ones say they’re focused less on what’s happening at the Capitol and more on what can be done to rebuild and uplift their community.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: When Texas lawmakers talk about “election security,” trust but verify
Texas lawmakers are wrangling over changes to election law that — depending on your allegiance — would make elections more secure or suppress voting among groups that favor Democrats, the political minority in Texas. The fight’s not about you — it’s about them.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Texas lawmakers close to sending “born alive” abortion bill to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Republicans in the Texas Senate passed the bill Thursday with the support of two Democrats. If the Texas House concurs with minor changes the Senate made to the measure, it will go to the governor.