The measure likely faces an uphill climb in the Senate, where two years ago Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick opposed similar legislation.
Courts
Stay up to date on Texas courts with in-depth coverage of major rulings, judicial elections, criminal justice, and the judges shaping state law from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Demographics
Lubbock voters will decide Saturday if the West Texas city will become the largest “sanctuary city for the unborn”
While proponents of the proposed ordinance view abortion as an “inconceivably wicked action,” detractors say it would be immediately challenged in court and that battles over abortion access are best fought at the state and federal levels.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas lawmakers hope to exclude places of worship from emergency closures after COVID-19 pandemic shuttered doors
Even some religious groups are opposed to Texas legislation that would bar government officials from closing places of worship in any situation — even during a pandemic.
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State Government
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller alleges aid to farmers of color discriminates against white farmers in suit against Biden administration
The conservative Republican and rancher states in the lawsuit filed Monday in Fort Worth federal court that he is suing in his capacity as a private citizen — not on behalf of the state.
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Politics
U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Ken Paxton’s challenge to California law banning state-funded travel to Texas
California banned state-funded travel to Texas because of a 2017 religious-refusal law for adoptions in the state, which critics called discriminatory against LGBTQ families.
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Immigration
U.S. Supreme Court rejects Texas-led lawsuit seeking to protect a Trump immigration policy
The court declined to hear a Texas-led case that seeks to uphold a Trump-era “public charge” policy that could limit how many immigrants qualify for green cards.
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Criminal Justice
Before Austin shooting, suspect’s family pleaded for more protection: “I’m afraid he might hurt me”
Advocates say the episode is a horrific example of a long-standing problem that hardly ever makes headlines: America’s criminal justice system too often fails to protect victims of domestic and family violence from their abusers.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
The Texas Senate has approved a new statewide appeals court. Critics contend it’s another attempt to limit Democrats’ power.
The proposed court would handle some of the state’s most high-profile appeals, which are typically handled by the mostly Democrat 3rd Court of Appeals based in Austin.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas’ highest criminal court tosses death sentence of Raymond Riles, state’s longest-serving death row inmate
Riles has been deemed mentally incompetent for execution repeatedly in his decades on death row.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
ERCOT to argue it is immune from winter storm lawsuits
Nearly two dozen lawsuits allege that failures by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the operator of the state’s main power grid, led to the wrongful death of a family member.
