In Texas' biggest congressional races, Democrats face choices new and old
All but one of Texas' six U.S. House contests that national Democrats are targeting will feature candidates who ran last time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c00b055d9072e685e0c5eed4cdeeaf53/Democratic%20Candidates%20TT.jpg)
-
![Clockwise from top left: Jan McDowell, Mike Siegel, Gina Ortiz Jones and Sri Preston Kulkarni.]()
Credit: Images via Social Media -
After blocking David Whitley's confirmation, Senate Democrats see bills die on Abbott’s desk
A monthslong push from the governor’s office to confirm his longtime aide as secretary of state heated up in the session’s final days. Some Democrats feared retribution for defying the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7e9661f15f3cdad69414aa50b8d92e22/12_David_Whitley_Confirmation_MG_TT.jpg)
![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/20d3b8a3aa72922390e445682192520b/14_SOS_Whitley_Confirmation_MG.jpg)
![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley attended a hearing with the Senate Committee on Nominations on Thursday. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Whitley, but he must clear the committee and win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate to keep his job.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate approve budget deal with agreements on school finance, property taxes, Hurricane Harvey recovery
Completing negotiations that have taken place over the last few months, Texas House and Senate lawmakers accepted a compromise on a state spending plan for 2020-21. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfc57dec78a2d828c68f9c11a8944ad3/03%20Zerwas%20Nelson%20Budget%20Conference%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
The property tax reform package is heading to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk
The bill aims to slow rising property tax revenues and make it easier for Texans to understand how their tax bills are determined. The House and Senate both approved it Saturday, and it is expected to soon be sent to Abbott for his signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9dc2017e90fb5f6e0bcf086d2837a963/16%20Sine%20Die%20Weekend%20Saturday%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
An amendment about waste facility fees was added to a widely supported domestic violence bill. Will it stick?
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst's office said Saturday that she "is still evaluating all options available to save SB 1804." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/795b819b17ab68839a8ea182a6577fad/07_SOS_Whitley_Confirmation_KOLKHORST_MG_TT.jpg)
![Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing for Texas Secretary of State David Whitley on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas legislators had a successful session, but not a historic one
Lawmakers delivered on their promises of school finance and property tax reforms, agreeing to spend $11.6 billion on a combination of education changes and tax cuts. It's big, but is it really "transformative"? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/555b0354faead3238f5758a57ee79acf/03%20Big%20Three%20Presser%20HB3%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen are joined by state legislators at a press conference at the Governorâs Mansion on May 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Bill lengthening amount of time child sex abuse victims can sue heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
The House initially exempted churches and nonprofits from the extended statute of limitations, but the chamber agreed to include them Friday after sex assault victims pushed back. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dee81d0bae605e75b74b48894311ffd7/0646%20HB%203809%20Nassar%20JF%20May%2013%20TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, speaks at a presser following the testimony of Tasha Schwikert, Alyssa Baumann and Jordan Schwikert, three gymnasts who say they were abused by USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar. The three women testified on House Bill 3809 during a Senate State Affairs Committee hearing on May 13, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Here's what we know about the Legislature's final property tax reform bill
The final version of the bill is expected to require cities, counties and emergency service districts to hold an election before raising 3.5% more property tax revenue than the previous year. Community colleges and hospital districts would need to do so at 8%. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/235e41af3a9379c9f92ba7c5e1a14b5d/03_Capitol_Building_AP_TT.jpg)
![State Capitol in the late afternoon on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price for The Texas Tribune -
“I’m still doing penance”: How Kel Seliger handles life in the Texas Senate dog house
After opposing leadership — and mouthing off — 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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1aa0073db9bc074e54897345aa48d68/03_Kel_Seliger_April_11_JF_TT.jpg)
![State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, in the Senate chamber on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Lawmaker grills Department of Public Safety over disclosure of Sandra Bland cellphone video
State Rep. Garnet Coleman suggested that the newly released video showing some of Bland's confrontation with a state trooper before her death may have been buried in a “data dump” of information given to lawyers and lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9604fa3fa862d7349921980849f7f355/01_Sandra_Bland_Memorial_MKC_TT.jpg)
![Memorial for Sandra Bland in Prairie View, the town where she was arrested. Bland was later found dead in her jail cell. The street has been re-named in her honor.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy single-handedly delays $19.1 billion disaster aid package
Most Texans in Congress had hoped the bill would easily pass Friday because of a provision designed to expedite the release of billions of dollars in disaster aid to the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/40f927e93685b168c4a2de73d7f32ad4/02%20Chip%20Roy%20RJ%20TT.jpg)
![Texas Congressional District 21 Republican Candidate Chip Roy speaks during a candidate forum sponsored by the Hill Country Tea Party Patriots in New Braunfels.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Republican Party platform supports some marijuana expansions. So why doesn’t Dan Patrick?
Earlier this month, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a bill that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana was "dead on arrival" in the Senate. But his party's platform supports marijuana decriminalization. So what gives? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d205c85e8e16d8aa1a068c0c612cb2b/Texas%20Republican%20Convention%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![The Texas Republican Convention at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio. Bob Parks salutes the flag from the front row on June 14, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas picklers get a victory from the Legislature
A proposal on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott would make it easier for pickled beets, carrots and other produce to be sold at farmers markets alongside pickled cucumbers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0d29f10e2085ce15942c9fd72e0240da/Pickle_4_LS_TT.jpg)
![Anita McHaney displays a photo of her beets and carrots. She and her husband stopped farming after learning that they could not sell pickled beets.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas' legislative leaders say they have a deal on school finance and property tax reform
Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced they have finalized the details of the three bills that will accomplish their top policy goals. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/45dd239d2e254982bc01e5b1104b84e1/01%20Big%20Three%20Presser%20HB3%20MG%20TT.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen are joined by state legislators
at a press conference at the Governorâs Mansion on May 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Kum-bye-a
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Ina Minjarez and Matt Krause about the issues that have divided an otherwise unified House in the last weeks of the session, including abortion and religious liberty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Paid sick-leave ordinances likely survived the Texas Legislature. But businesses still want to kill them.
Angry that the Legislature failed to overrule local ordinances requiring private employers to offer paid sick leave, many business groups are hoping the courts will finish the job for them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b37189f04140895f1ffe8e71a1a5009e/Supreme%20Court_EW_09.jpg)
![The Justices of the Texas Supreme Court hear the Texas Department of Criminal Justice v. Maurie Levin, et al. case on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver for The Texas Tribune -
The Driver Responsibility Program may soon be dead. But reform is unlikely for a similar program.
A bill to kill one program that critics say traps low-income drivers in a cycle of debt, is nearing the governor's desk, but bills to reform the similar Omni program look all but dead as the legislative session winds down. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b9505107bdaad8f1e8f42d86abc9837f/Police%20Arrest%20GP%20TT.jpg)
![Law enforcement officials, at a traffic stop, filmed during a Peaceful Streets Project cop watch on West 6th Street in Austin, TX on Apr. 24, 2015.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Stickland's bomb-throwing, O'Rourke's reboot
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the Texas House's resident bomb-thrower, the most controversial bills still moving in the Legislature and Beto O'Rourke's attempted presidential reboot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b06b213bd791e0391e38713c7e548728/TribCast%205_22_19%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas expansion of medical cannabis nears finish line after Senate approval
If the House approves changes made by the upper chamber, the bill will head to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c44f6d3d8c494ae82b835c6a051dfcaa/Medical%20Cannabis%20Marijuana%20IS%20TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Getty Images/Patrick Morrissey