A Republican stronghold as recently as a few years ago, the county north of Dallas is now home to two of the most hotly contested state House races and a congressional contest about which Democrats are increasingly bullish.
Jeff Leach
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After defeats in 2019, a group of Texas lawmakers is teaming up to push criminal justice reform
The new Criminal Justice Reform Caucus in the Texas House will set its sights on changes in 2021.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Bill lengthening amount of time child sex abuse victims can sue heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
The House initially exempted churches and nonprofits from the extended statute of limitations, but the chamber agreed to include them Friday after sex assault victims pushed back.
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Texas Legislature 2019
Analysis: Texas lawmakers struggling to find a lovable tax
Even in a legislative session that began with estimates of a generous increase in state revenue, lawmakers spent a lot of time talking about big, big tax bills — all the way to the end.
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Health care
Texas House approves “born alive” abortion bill
The House tentatively signed off on a bill Tuesday that would grant legal protections to babies born after failed abortion attempts, though such instances are extremely rare.
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Texas Legislature 2019
This Republican Texas lawmaker halted a bill to outlaw abortion. He now faces security concerns, sheriff says.
State Rep. Jeff Leach said a bill that criminalizes abortion will not advance beyond the committee he chairs.
Posted inState Government
In last-minute ruling, U.S. Supreme Court stops execution of “Texas Seven” prisoner
Patrick Murphy was one of the escaped convicts sentenced to death for the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins during a robbery. The high court stopped his execution because Texas officials wouldn’t let a Buddhist chaplain into the death chamber with him.
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Texas Legislature 2019
After Texas’ second Supreme Court loss in a death penalty case, reform bill lands key GOP support
The chairs of two House committees signed on as joint authors of a bill that would set the method of determining if a capital murder defendant is intellectually disabled and therefore ineligible for execution.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: It’s still a Republican Texas government, but it’s a new one
Between the general election results and the changing management of the Texas House — where Joe Straus is retiring and Dennis Bonnen is poised to be the next speaker — the state government is getting a reboot.
Posted in
Higher Education
House OKs bills targeting sexual assault on college campuses
The Texas House on Friday approved two measures aimed at combating sexual assault on college campuses across the state.
