The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas House backed a State Bar of Texas sunset bill with an amendment that critics say could allow for discrimination against LGBT Texans seeking legal assistance. Full Story
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A bill that would require parental consent for minors to join a labor union could be headed to the full Texas House. Full Story
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In a March 3 meeting with a constituent, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller suggested that his agency could change the label on a hog poison to eliminate important warnings and a requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned animals, which he said simply wasn't "doable." Full Story
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The House left an important bill in a dangerous spot, lost it, and might have created an advantage for their institutional rivals on the other end of the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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One night last week at the Texas Capitol, a group of Republican lawmakers announced a plan to kill a lot of bills. Observers on social media called it the "Mother's Day Massacre." Here is the long day in pictures. Full Story
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The legislation now mostly focuses on mental health issues and county jail operations. Full Story
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In a rare twist, Republicans and Democrats are jointly pushing an effort to crack down on voter fraud. The measure targets ballots cast at nursing homes, and it could make it easier for older Texans to vote. Full Story
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Long-simmering tensions among House Republicans boiled over Thursday night when the Freedom Caucus announced a plan to kill more than 100 bills. Full Story
Senators believe they have found a way to save $80 million on health care for state employees. But medical schools say the savings would come at their expense. Full Story
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A bill meant to regulate ride-hailing companies has now made its way to the Senate — and senators have revived controversial language that would define "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
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State Rep. Dennis Bonnen said there weren't the votes on the House Ways and Means Committee to pass Senate Bill 2 if it had new election requirements for tax rates local governments set. Full Story
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State Rep. Eric Johnson's bill aimed at providing relief for the epicenter of Dallas' affordable housing crisis is among legislation expected to be blocked from a House vote on Friday. That would likely kill his bill. Full Story
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In an ironic twist for Gov. Greg Abbott, who has made ethics reform an urgent political priority, the Texas House is taking aim at what critics call a "pay to play" culture among his appointees. Full Story
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What the Legislature is doing to fix Texas’ controversial photo ID law — and what that means for the 2018 primaries. Full Story
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A spokesman for Gov. Greg Abbott said they opted to sign Senate Bill 4 into law on Facebook to maximize the audience. Abbott’s move kicked off a drama-filled week in the Texas House where lawmakers debated vaccine requirements for foster kids. Full Story
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In a legislative process where so many issues die quietly in committees and parliamentary actions, making politicians attach their names to their positions can be a powerful thing. The "sanctuary cities" bill tested that theory. Full Story
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The deep fractures in the Texas House GOP were on full display Thursday evening as lawmakers faced down a midnight deadline to pass bills out of the chamber. Full Story
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With looming deadlines threatening to kill a slew of bills aiming to bolster access to public records in Texas, Sen. Kirk Watson muscled them closer to the governor's desk — all at once. Full Story
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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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Senate Bill 1289 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would increase “Buy America” provisions already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board to all state agencies. Full Story
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