The governor broke his silence Tuesday on the legislation that has been building momentum at the Texas Capitol.
Texas Legislature 2021
The 87th Texas Legislature approved hundreds of new laws during its regular session that ended in May 2021, including a near-total ban on abortions. Lawmakers then returned to Austin for three special sessions aimed at passing additional conservative priorities. Although House Democrats fled the state for weeks, lawmakers eventually passed new voting restrictions. They also approved new political maps and a proposed constitutional amendment that could lower property tax bills.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Internet is “not a privilege; it’s a right”: Rural Texas students struggle without broadband access
As the Texas Legislature tries to address a lack of broadband internet access for millions of people, students in rural areas are struggling to keep up academically during remote school.
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Point of Order
Point of Order: Mind the gap
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Elena Marks, the president and CEO of the Episcopal Health Foundation, about long-shot efforts to expand Medicaid in the 2021 legislative session.
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Texas Legislature 2021
As Austin voters weigh camping ban proposition, Texas lawmakers consider bills to prohibit homeless encampments statewide
If the legislation is approved and signed by the governor, cities could lose state grant money for failing to enforce a new statewide encampment ban.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Allegation of sexual misconduct by lobbyist leads to another round of calls for reform in Texas Capitol
The speaker said Monday he was directing a House committee to establish an email hotline for staffers to submit reports or complaints of harassment in the workplace.
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Texas Legislature 2021
State Rep. Dan Huberty arrested for DWI after accident Friday night
Huberty, authorities said, appeared flushed, dazed and his eyes were glassy and bloodshot. He smelled strongly of alcohol, slurred his speech and failed his walking and balance tests, according to the police report.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas lawmakers, lobby firm react to allegations that a lobbyist gave date rape drug to Capitol aide
State lawmakers, staffers and other Capitol observers have denounced the alleged incident, with several House members declaring on social media that they were banning from their offices any lobbyist or lobby firm associated with the accusation.
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Texas Legislature 2021
As political pressure builds, Texas Senate looks for path forward on permitless carry for handguns
After the House passed a measure last week that would allow permitless carry of handguns, the Senate is feeling the heat to take up the cause.
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Police brutality in Texas
Relatives of Texans killed by police hope Derek Chauvin’s conviction will advance the state’s George Floyd Act
“If this doesn’t push it, we don’t know what will,” says Debbie Bush. She has been fighting for greater accountability for police violence since her nephew was shot in the back by a San Antonio officer seven years ago.
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Texas Legislature 2021
House votes to ban school vouchers, cap attorney general spending as part of its proposed $246 billion state budget
House members filed nearly 240 proposed tweaks to the massive spending plan and spent hours taking votes on controversial issues ranging from Medicaid expansion to school vouchers.