Texas Democrats and abortion rights advocates are strategizing amid mounting worries over what the GOP-led Legislature and federal lawmakers may do in the coming months to further restrict access to the procedure.
85th Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
Rep. John Zerwas to head Texas House Appropriations Committee
State Rep. John Zerwas is the Texas House’s new Appropriations Committee chairman, and Rep. Dan Huberty is the new chairman of the House Public Education Committee.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Playing chicken with the “bathroom bill” in the Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is having a hard time with the “bathroom bill.” The Senate is trying to pull together the votes, and the House is trying to find some motivation. Both are waiting to see what the governor thinks.
Posted in
Higher Education
Senate approves new UT System regents 29-0
The Texas Senate approved three new University of Texas System regents, even though some Democrats complained about the board’s lack of diversity.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Senate approves anti-“sanctuary” legislation, sending bill to House
The Republican-controlled Texas Senate gave its final stamp of approval on Wednesday to a controversial bill that would gut funding from local and state entities that don’t enforce immigration laws.
Posted in
Health care
Texas legislators urged to “get it right” on child welfare at rally
Standing in front of the Capitol in 80-degree heat, attendees gathered at a rally sponsored by Child Protection Roundtable of Texas and the Texas Home Visiting Coalition urging legislators to make long awaited changes to how the state handles abused and neglected children.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Senate passes ethics reform
The Texas Senate passed a bill that would take pensions away from officials convicted of felonies and require lobbyists to disclose more of their wining and dining of lawmakers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Hours before Senate vote, Texas Attorney General calls controversial immigration bill legal
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to ease concerns over whether a measure that would punish “sanctuary cities” and campuses could be successfully challenged in court.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Senate debates “sanctuary city” bill and ethics reform (live video)
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions.
Posted in
Politics
At the Texas Capitol, the union dues bill is back
Legislation to stop automatic payroll deductions for most public employee unions is back after failing two years ago. Supporters say the state shouldn’t be involved in collecting union dues; opponents say the GOP is trying to cripple certain unions.
