Texas senators tentatively approved bills that would require physicians and facilities to do more detailed reporting on abortions — and fine those who do not comply.
special sessions
Posted in
Health care
Texas Senate OKs maternal mortality task force
Under Senate Bill 17, the state’s Task Force on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity would have more time to study why an alarming number of Texas mothers are dying less than a year after childbirth.
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TribCast
School choice, property taxes and abortion (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Patrick and Morgan about the special session issues the Senate is plowing through — and what the House’s coping mechanism is.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: In special session, Texas Senate’s the hare, House is the tortoise
This summer’s special session is a little like this spring’s regular session, only in miniature. The Senate has big plans and is in a hurry. The House? Not so much.
Posted in
State Government
Texas Senate committee OKs bill to outlaw city cellphone restrictions
Senate Bill 15 would pre-empt local ordinances on mobile phone usage, effectively rolling back provisions in more than 40 Texas cities that currently post hands-free ordinances stricter than the statewide texting ban.
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State Government
Despite losing bathroom bill fight, a transgender girl gets her two minutes
They were unlikely to sway a committee of Republicans considering bathroom restrictions for transgender Texans, but a transgender 7-year-old and her mother waited for their two minutes.
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State Government
Analysis: A legislative body in motion can do whatever it wants
A Texas governor can tell lawmakers what subjects to work on in a special session but can’t tell them exactly what to do. The session that started this week is now in the hands of the Texas Legislature — not the governor.
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State Government
Source of Senate’s speed in special session? “Pizza and soda pop” (video)
Donning an apron, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick offered senators dinner for coming back in the early morning hours Thursday to vote out two special session bills that would extend the life of five state agencies.
Posted in
TribCast
The first week of the special legislative session (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about the kickoff of the special legislative session, what’s at stake for the state’s top leaders and what’s in store for the bathroom bill.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Follow the leader — if you can find him
The governor has identified the issues he wants lawmakers to work on during the special session. He says he’ll keep score to track friends and foes. But he hasn’t publicly made his positions clear — so how do they know how to vote?
