If judges ultimately agree that Texas’ current political boundaries discriminate against minority voters, we could see new maps ahead of the 2018 elections. Judges could also impose a more consequential penalty.
Texplainer
Welcome to The Texas Tribune’s “Texplainer” series, where we answer questions from readers like you.
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Hey, Texplainer: What will the special session cost taxpayers?
The special session starting Tuesday is expected to be the costliest to date. But as government spending goes, a special session is actually pretty cheap.
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Hey, Texplainer: Does the Texas lottery fully fund public education?
Under state law, lottery revenue — including ticket sales and money from unclaimed prizes — must contribute to Texas causes and programs. However, only 27 percent of that money goes toward Texas education.
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Hey, Texplainer: Is Texas handing over my voting data to the federal government?
Texas plans to comply with the a Trump-assembled panel’s wide-ranging request for voting information, but it’s only handing over records the state considers public. So what does that entail?
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Hey, Texplainer: Why can’t all Texans vote by mail?
Allowing all mail-in votes for elections is legal in 22 states, but not in Texas, where only certain voters can mail in their ballots. The Legislature’s special session will address mail-in ballot fraud but won’t expand mail-in voting.
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Hey, Texplainer: What did the Texas Legislature do to improve Child Protective Services?
During the five-month session, lawmakers expressed determination to change how abused and neglected children are cared for.
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Hey, Texplainer: Do I still have to get my car inspected every year?
A bill to end annual vehicle inspections died during the regular legislative session — but might come back during next month’s special session.
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Hey, Texplainer: Why don’t local police departments pay for rape kit testing?
There’s no rule on who foots the bill for rape kit testing across the country — it depends on the state and city you live in.
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott just called a special session. What should you expect?
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday announced he was calling the Legislature back for a special session to address must-pass “sunset” legislation and 19 other measures. Here’s what Texans can expect ahead of July 18.
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Hey, Texplainer: How do I know if my bill died?
Have a bill you want to check up on? Here’s how to check the Texas Legislature Online website to see if a bill you were following this session survived.