Analysis: The Texas electric grid and the improvements that didn’t come
Texas lawmakers passed major bills in response to the winter storm power outages that killed hundreds of Texans in February. But there’s still a lot to do. Full Story
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Despite GOP majority, a number of conservative “bumper sticker” issues fell short
The Tribune’s Ross Ramsey breaks down the big takeaways from the 2021 Legislature. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast. Full Story
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![Democratic lawmakers met in the Speaker's Committee Room during a break in the session on May 30, 2021.]()
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In fight against Texas GOP’s voting bill, options are limited for Democrats in Congress and the White House
The filibuster stands in the way of Democrats passing bills aimed at expanding access to the vote. Meanwhile, the executive branch has lost one of its most powerful tools for intervening. Full Story
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![The U.S. Capitol at sunrise, in Washington, D.C., on May 4, 2021.]()
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Allen West resigns as chair of Texas Republican Party, says he's mulling statewide run
West declined to say whether he was eyeing any particular statewide office, though he told a radio host earlier Friday morning that the host was "safe" to assume West was mulling a gubernatorial run. Full Story
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![Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West speaks to a crowd gathered at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 to protest business closures and mask mandates which they call "King Abbott’s Royal Decrees."]()
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Texas Republican leaders promised action on gun safety after the El Paso shooting. Instead, they passed permitless carry.
The Legislature passed a bill allowing Texans to carry handguns without a license or training — an expansion of gun rights so divisive Republican leaders in previous years refused to touch it. Full Story
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![A M&P Shield handgun, small enough to be ideal for conceal carry, in Austin on April 23, 2021.]()
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott could be upsetting balance of powers with threat to veto Texas Legislature’s pay
A governor targeting the Legislature’s budget would be unprecedented in Texas history. Full Story
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Texas’ GOP leadership already at odds over plans for special legislative session
Since House Democrats staged a walkout that killed Republicans’ priority elections bill for the regular session, the governor and the leaders of the state House and Senate have diverged notably in interviews about how they are approaching the overtime round. Full Story
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![The sun sets on the state Capitol in Austin, on May 27, 2021.]()
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Everyday Texans overlooked in state lawmakers' response to power outages during winter storm
While lawmakers took significant steps toward preventing another blackout, hardly any of the proposals passed during this legislative session will aid consumers in recovering from the February storm — but they’ll see higher utility bills. Full Story
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![The Decker Creek Power Station, a natural gas power plant northeast of Austin on February 28, 2021.]()
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Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announces run for attorney general against Ken Paxton
Bush made his challenge official Wednesday evening during an event at a downtown Austin bar. Former President Donald Trump said last week that he would issue an endorsement in the race "in the not-so-distant future." Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush announces his candidacy for Attorney General at an event in Austin on June 2, 2021.]()
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Ken Paxton asks appeals court to toss whistleblower case brought by former top aides
In an 85-page brief filed Tuesday, the attorney general’s lawyers argue that under state law, a whistleblower must believe someone has broken the law, but the aides only reported that “they expected laws might be violated.” Full Story
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![Then-state Sen. Ken Paxton, who is now attorney general, during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2013.]()
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Lawsuit to block Lubbock's abortion ban is dismissed in court as the ordinance takes effect
Planned Parenthood sued to block the "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinance, passed by voters in May, but a federal judge said he didn't have jurisdiction to hear the case. The ordinance went into effect Tuesday. Full Story
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Analysis: Regulating dangerous practices in the Texas Legislature
Lawmakers consider some things so safe that regulations can be loosened, while other matters get a tighter regulatory scheme. Consider guns and voting. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with lawmakers on the house floor during the legislative session on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
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Donald Trump endorses Gov. Greg Abbott for reelection
The endorsement comes as Abbott faces a primary challenge from former state Sen. Don Huffines of Dallas and as other fellow Republicans eye the race. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott greeted then-President Donald Trump upon arrival at the Orange County Airport Landing Zone to visit areas damaged by Hurricane Laura in Orange on Aug. 29, 2020.]()
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Republicans say they’ll tweak part of Texas elections bill criticized for impact on Black churchgoers
The provision deals with the window for early voting on Sundays, and the current version of the bill raised concerns that it would hinder get-out-the-vote efforts by Black churches. Full Story
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![State Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, on the House floor on May 7, 2021.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott signs slate of legislation to increase criminal penalties for protesters, punish cities that reduce police budgets
The bills are in response to widespread protests and calls to “defund the police” last year. Full Story
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![The Austin Police Department building with the Austin skyline in the background on March 22, 2021.]()
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House Speaker Dade Phelan says Gov. Greg Abbott could hurt staffers and legislative agencies if he tries to block lawmaker salaries
Abbott’s vow came after a Democratic walkout in the House late Sunday night blocked passage of Senate Bill 7, his priority elections bill that would overhaul voting rights in Texas. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with legislators on the House floor on May 30, 2021.]()
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The 2021 Texas Legislature: 140 days in photos
Every other year, Texas legislators gather in Austin to enact new laws, but 2021 was like no other session. Here’s what it looked like through the lenses of Texas Tribune photographers. Full Story
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![A visitor of the House gallery listens to legislators speak during a debate on an abortion bill being considered on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
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With feelings raw over voting bill's demise, Texas Legislature wraps up — for now
Members celebrated the end of the session, but also acknowledged that they’ll be back sometime soon for at least one special session. Full Story
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![House members praised House Speaker Dade Phelan on Sine Die. May 31, 2021.]()
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vows to defund state Legislature after voting restrictions bill fails, threatening salaries
“No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities,” Abbott tweeted Monday. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with lawmakers on the House floor during the legislative session on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
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Analysis: An end to a weird legislative session, and the beginning of an uncertain political cycle
A session transformed by COVID-19 protocols is giving way to a political cycle already disrupted by the pandemic’s effects on state government. Full Story
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![State Rep. Keith Bell, R-Forney, on the house floor on March 2, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
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