Delays in the delivery of court-approved political maps have disrupted past elections in Texas. And this year’s pandemic-related delays in the U.S. census have raised the possibility of jumbled election plans in 2022.
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
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick starts 2021 legislative session with an unusually low profile
The lieutenant governor is not starting the biennial legislative session in his characteristically outspoken style, particularly when it comes to making clear his policy priorities.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Half of Texas’ nurses experience workplace violence. A Texas lawmaker says it’s time to protect them.
Now praised as heroes of the pandemic, nurses and other front-line medical workers have been routinely scratched, bitten or verbally abused by patients. Well over half of Texas’ nurses reported being subject to workplace violence in their career, according to a 2016 state study.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott has set his legislative agenda. These lawmakers could influence how much is accomplished.
There are a total of 181 legislators in the Capitol, but the influence is not evenly distributed. Due to the lawmakers’ positions, ideology and tenure, some will have a much bigger say on the biggest issues this session.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: Texas tries to make the connections on broadband internet
Texans stuck at home need high-speed internet for schooling, for work, for shopping, for medicine, for entertainment — the live, in-person activities we all took for granted a year ago. Sounds simple enough, but there’s a lot to untangle.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: 2021’s low-key Texas government
The slow start to the legislative session reflects the public declarations of goals from House Speaker Dade Phelan and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: There aren’t any. Gov. Greg Abbott put his priorities in a State of the State address this week, but legislative leaders have been relatively quiet.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Republican who helped Trump campaign challenge Joe Biden’s win will lead election work in Texas House
State Rep. Briscoe Cain was named chair of the House Elections Committee months after traveling to Pennsylvania to help the Trump campaign challenge the results of the 2020 election.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Speaker Dade Phelan shakes up Texas House leadership with new chairs on key committees
With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs.
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Texas Legislature 2021
After El Paso massacre, Gov. Greg Abbott signaled openness to gun control. Now, some worry he’s moved on.
The absence of any mention of the mass shootings rankled gun control advocates and state lawmakers from El Paso, who see this legislative session as their best chance to advance the very measures Abbott expressed support for in 2019.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Four years in, the Freedom Caucus finds a less contentious role in the Texas House
The group of hardline conservatives made waves in 2017 by sparring with House leadership and fellow Republicans. Now members say relationships with the broader chamber have improved.