The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be written too broadly under the First Amendment to be effective.
Texas Senate
“No fist fights. No gun threats.” Lawmakers give 86th Texas Legislature high marks
Members of the Texas House and Senate wasted little time touting the never-ending “kumbaya” feeling that enabled them to reform school finance and property taxes. For those who covered the Capitol, a substantive, successful session meant a “boring” one.
After blocking David Whitley’s confirmation, Senate Democrats see bills die on Abbottโs desk
A monthslong push from the governorโs office to confirm his longtime aide as secretary of state heated up in the sessionโs final days. Some Democrats feared retribution for defying the governor.
Through the lens: The 86th Texas Legislature in photos
Take a look back at the 2019 regular legislative session as seen through the lenses of Texas Tribune photographers.
Texas Secretary of State David Whitley departs as legislative session ends
Whitley leaves his job after presiding over a botched review of the voter rolls that questioned the citizenship of thousands of eligible voters.
Texas lawmakers are done. Here are this session’s winners and losers.
The 86th legislative session is in the history books. Who’s up and who’s down after the 140-day marathon in Austin?
To pass school finance and property tax bills, Texasโ legislative leaders had to choose cooperation over combativeness
In the past, personalities got in the way of policy at the Texas Capitol. This year, state leaders refused to let that happen.
Texas legislators strip last-minute $100 million request for border surge
The money had been included in a previous version of the state’s supplemental budget, and legislators had intended for President Donald Trump’s administration to repay the funds.
With Secretary of State David Whitley close to losing his job, anxious Democrats take attendance
The Texas Senate needs two-thirds approval to confirm Whitley, but Democrats have stood in the way after his office’s botched voter roll review.
โIโm still doing penanceโ: How Kel Seliger gets by in the Texas Senate dog house
After opposing leadership โย and mouthing off โย the second-most senior Republican in the Texas Senate is the only senator who was not recognized to bring up a bill for a vote on the floor.

