The Texas Legislature is returning to Austin, but the leaders of the Senate and the House appear to be starting the new session on the same sour notes with which they ended the regular session seven weeks ago.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
Critics say Abbott catering to donors with special session priorities
As state lawmakers and city officials gear up to battle over land-use legislation, a liberal watchdog group says $34 million in campaign donations from real estate and construction industries “paved the way” for this month’s special session agenda.
Posted in
Public Education
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes millions for teacher bonuses and retirement
Days before the special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick rolled out a specific plan to give retired and long-term teachers up to $1,000 in additional bonuses, using money from the Texas Lottery over the long-term.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmakers failed to end troubled Driver Responsibility Program
Mandy Mann thought she had paid her dues for a 2009 traffic stop. But six years later, the Waco mom was stopped and arrested — for failing to comply with the state’s troubled Driver Responsibility Program.
Posted in
Demographics
Dreamers grateful efforts to repeal in-state tuition benefit never materialized
Efforts to strip undocumented students in Texas of their in-state college tuition benefit failed to pass during the latest legislative session.
Posted in
Blocked Out
With no relief from Legislature, West Dallas mom scrambles for a place to live
Noemi Pina is among hundreds of West Dallas residents who have been ensnared in a battle between their landlord and Dallas City Hall.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers file dozens of bills as Abbott officially calls special session
Within hours of Gov. Greg Abbott issuing his proclamation announcing next week’s special session, lawmakers had filed dozens of bills including two so-called bathroom bills from state Rep. Ron Simmons, a Carrollton Republican.
Posted in
Health care
This Texan’s daughter needed medical marijuana, so he moved to Colorado
Emmanuel Garza moved from Texas to Colorado so his baby daughter could get the medical marijuana treatment she needed. Legislation to legalize the same treatment in Texas failed to pass during the regular legislative session.
Posted in
Guides
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.
Posted in
State Government
Trump administration says Texas’ new voter ID law checks all the boxes (video)
The U.S. Department of Justice argued in a legal filing Thursday that courts should drop any further action over the old version of Texas’ voter ID law. That story tops the Texas Political Roundup.
