House backs property tax changes, but leaves out election requirements
The lower chamber responded to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's threats of a special session by moving key legislation — but omitting provisions that he wanted included. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks on his property tax legislation as he attempts to get it added to another bill as an amendment on May 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House advances bill that would outlaw bestiality
The state of Texas on Saturday moved one step closer to joining the large majority of states that consider sexual conduct between humans and animals or fowl a crime. Full Story
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School lunch bill revived as an amendment; no longer mandatory
After being denied by the House Freedom Caucus multiple times, a measure to let schools give meals to students without money in their accounts was revived as an amendment to another bill. Full Story
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![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Desoto, holds up a sample of a piece of cheese given to students who lack money to pay for school lunches in Dallas area schools during a personal privilege speech on the House floor May 9, 2017, where she chastised House Freedom Caucus members for killing her bill on school lunches for poor kids.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Major ethics reform remains viable in final days of session
With crucial deadlines looming, ethics proposals that include taking pensions from politicians-turned-felons, requiring more disclosure of lawmakers' business dealings and forcing lobbyists to reveal who they're wining and dining remain viable. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth; Gov. Greg Abbott; and state Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Third time not the charm for House rep's school lunch legislation
Rep. Helen Giddings failed a third time to pass a bill that would prevent school districts from identifying students without money in their school lunch accounts — again when a member of the Freedom Caucus killed it. Full Story
![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Desoto, holds up a sample of a piece of cheese given to students who lack money to pay for school lunches in Dallas area schools during a personal privilege speech on the House floor May 9, 2017, where she chastised House Freedom Caucus members for killing her bill on school lunches for poor kids.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, is shown voting on the House floor on May 17, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
House passes bill requiring students, police learn how to interact with each other
Senate Bill 30 would require the groups to learn about the duties of law enforcement officers, civilians' rights and proper behavior during interactions. Full Story
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![State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, gives a personal privilege speech May 4, 2017 on the House floor regarding her bill on human trafficking.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House sends Sandra Bland Act to governor
The bill would mandate that county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment, make it easier for defendants with a mental illness or intellectual disability to receive a personal bond and require that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths. Full Story
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![Sandra Bland, who was found dead at the Waller County Jail in 2015.]()
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Texas House approves new abortion restrictions
GOP House lawmakers took a sweeping approach to anti-abortion legislation on Friday, passing a measure that would ban the most common form of second-trimester procedure and change how health care providers dispose of fetal remains. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale votes on an amendment in the Texas House on May 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
House delays vote on bill Patrick calls crucial to preventing special session
A controversial property tax bill may not get a House vote for a few more days, as the legislative clock winds down and the lieutenant governor's threats of a special session linger. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus confers with State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, during the House session on May 15, 2017. Bonnen is Speaker Pro Tempore and acts as the presiding officer of the House when Straus is absent.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Plan to overhaul Texas Rainy Day Fund and boost returns losing steam
A proposal to dramatically reshape the state’s savings account to set aside more funds for tough economic times has effectively died in the final days of the legislative session. Full Story
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Author of effort to peel back Top 10 Percent Rule says his bill is dead
State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, says he doesn't have enough votes to repeal or peel back the Top 10 Percent Rule for college admissions. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, discussed higher education issues during a Texas Tribune event on April 4, 2017. Seliger is chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers facing talk of a potential special session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says state lawmakers might be staying in Austin past May 29 if some key measures, including the “bathroom bill,” don’t pass the House. Full Story
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Analysis: Property tax relief doesn’t equal extra money in your pocket
There's a simple test to tell you whether the promise of a tax cut is really a tax cut: Is there money in your hand? Full Story
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![At a May 17, 2017, news conference, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick told reporters that the House had to pass two items — property tax reform and the "bathroom bill" — or he'd look to force a special session.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Rick Perry throws support behind bills to reform criminal justice in Texas
In a Houston Chronicle op-ed, Perry endorsed two measures moving through the Texas Legislature: one that would seal certain offenders' records and another that seeks to make the grand jury process more fair. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry addresses media at a press conference following the unveiling of his official portrait at the Texas Capitol on May 6, 2016]()
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Educators take issue with Senate plan for school assessment
Educators and advocates found it hard to concur on the Senate's version of House Bill 22, either finding it too restrictive and tied to standardized tests or not quite strict enough. Full Story
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![State Sens. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood (center), and Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville (right), during a Senate Education Committee meeting March 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House backs proposal requiring seat belts on school buses
The Texas House on Thursday tentatively backed legislation that would require three-point seat belts be installed on new school buses across the state. Full Story
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![Eanes ISD school bus mechanic Chase Roberts washes the dirt off the advertising on buses in West Lake Hills, Texas, on Feb. 14, 2012.]()
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Texas House passes child welfare reforms
The Texas House on Thursday passed a package of sweeping measures aimed at addressing a crisis in the state's child welfare system. Full Story
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Senate budget writers approve bill to plug two-year-old funding holes
The Texas Senate Finance Committee has voted to spend about $800 million in state funds to cover a Medicaid shortfall in the current two-year budget. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, visits in the House chamber with state Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, on April 25, 2017. Nelson is co-chair of the conference committee working out the details of Senate Bill 1, the state budget.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
After waiting 3 days to see dead son, grieving mom hopes to change Texas law
Currently, parents need permission from a justice of the peace or medical examiner to see their deceased child if his or her death occurs outside a hospital or health care institution. Full Story
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![Wyatt McDaniel died in an accident while playing in a sand pile with his little brother on Jan. 25, 2013. His mother, Lara McDaniel, was not able to view his body until after his autopsy and is advocating for Texas lawmakers to adopt "Wyatt's Law."]()
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