Texas budget negotiations turn to higher education as a deal inches nearer
Members of both chambers of the Texas Legislature say they are getting closer to agreeing on a budget. One of the last sticking points? Higher education. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.]()
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Texas Senate approves ban on straight-ticket voting
The Texas Senate gave initial approval Wednesday to legislation that would eliminate straight-ticket voting in all elections. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Richland Hills, debates Sen. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, on the merits of House Bill 25, which would eliminate straight-party voting in Texas. Garcia argued that the measure would result in discrimination and in even lower voter turnout.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Patrick takes hostages — and control of legislative session
Amid rumors of a special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put out a short list of bills he wants the House to pass if he's going to let the Senate advance must-pass legislation. And he appears to have the upper hand in the last days of the session. Full Story
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![At a May 17, 2017 press conference at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warns he'll seek a special session if the House doesn't pass certain legislation.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Patrick threatens to force special session over tax, bathroom bills
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened to push for a special legislative session to pass bills to regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans and set new thresholds for when cities and counties must get voter approval for tax rates. Full Story
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![At a May 17, 2017 press conference at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warns he'll seek a special session if the House doesn't pass certain legislation.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The only two reasons the Legislature needs extra time
Rumors of a special session are a normal feature in the last days of a regular session. There's no emergency that would force a special session, but don't discount the Texas Legislature's ability to force one by failing to finish its work. Full Story
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![State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, meets with fellow members on the Senate floor on May 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
West Texas churches pray to Legislature for electricity rate relief
Facing sky-high electricity rates, several West Texas churches hope lawmakers will answer their calls for relief in the final days of the Legislative session, but the odds look slim. Full Story
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![Champion Baptist Church in Roscoe, west of Abilene, is among several West Texas churches grappling with high power line prices.]()
Credit: Pastor Bruce Parsons -
Even in Texas, sometimes the billionaires lose
After billionaire Warren Buffett met with Gov. Greg Abbott and other top leaders, a bill to grant him a loophole from protectionist Texas auto laws seemed to be fast-tracked, until Tea Party activists found out about it. Full Story
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![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
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Canadian officials upset with Republican “Buy American” iron and steel bill
A recent call from Texas lawmakers to “Buy American” iron and steel has upset some northern neighbors worried about the implications such a measure will have on Texas-Canada trade relations. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's warehouse district on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes court security bill
The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek. Her assailant shot at her several times outside her home, and she suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel. Full Story
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![District Judge Julie Kocurek, who was severely injured in a 2015 shooting, greets state Rep. Tomas Uresti after she was mentioned in Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's State of the Judiciary speech on Feb. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers resume efforts to provide Texans with toll road relief
Amid debate on a routine measure designed to keep the state's transportation agency in business, House lawmakers on Tuesday renewed their efforts to curb the growing number of toll lanes in the state. Full Story
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![State Reps Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, and Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, negotiate with House members with amendments to SB 312, the Texas Dept. of Transportation sunset bill on May 16, 2017. Pickett is a member of the House transportation committee and Gonzales is overseeing sunset legislation.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas wants to renew federal women's health funding it lost over Planned Parenthood
With a Republican president in the White House, Texas health officials are seeking to restore federal family planning funding they gave up under the Obama administration to take a stand against Planned Parenthood. Full Story
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![The Women's Health Advisory Committee took testimony from the public regarding the Healthy Women Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver application. Blanca Murillo, a former UT student, gives testimony on her experience with Planned Parenthood at the Health and Human Services Commission Brown-Heatly building in Austin on May 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti indicted on fraud, bribery charges
A federal grand jury handed state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, two indictments Tuesday: one for his involvement in a now-bankrupt company accused of misleading investors and another for alleged bribery surrounding a government contract. Full Story
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![State Senator Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, at a Texas Tribune legislative preview on Dec. 2, 2016. Uresti's San Antonio office was raided by the FBI on Feb. 16, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
List of local governments planning to fight Texas over "sanctuary" bill growing
Leaders from El Paso County and the cities of Dallas and Austin plan to move forward with resolutions or litigation against Senate Bill 4, the state's controversial immigration law, as soon as this week, according to local officials. Full Story
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![Protesters against Senate Bill 4, known as the "sanctuary cities" bill, hold a noon rally at the Texas Capitol on May 16, 2017. Organizers say they're planning a "summer of resistance" against the measure.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Straus to Patrick: Pass two bills, avoid a special session of the Texas Legislature
Texas lawmakers can avoid a special session if the House and Senate can pass two bills, House Speaker Joe Straus said in an unusual letter sent late Monday to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at a Texas Legislative Budget Board meeting on December 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for the Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes bill to outfit officers with bulletproof vests
Senate Bill 12, by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, would create and fund a bulletproof vest grant program to outfit approximately 50,000 officers with vests that can withstand rounds from high-caliber firearms. Full Story
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Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Appeals court puts Paxton case on hold as lawyers push for new judge
A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bill criminalizing celebratory gunfire on life support in House
House Bill 2583 would charge anyone who shoots a gun without an intended target with a Class A misdemeanor — or a first-degree felony if a serious bodily injury or death occurs as a result. Full Story
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Advocates call for more "sanctuary congregations" ahead of new Texas law
Before Senate Bill 4, a far-reaching immigration law, goes into effect on Sept. 1, opponents are mobilizing across Texas, including those hoping to see more Texas churches offer "sanctuary" to the undocumented. Full Story
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![Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in El Paso.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
House spars over whether new State Bar rules would open door to discrimination
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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![The Texas Freedom Caucus in a hastily called press conference telling the press their intent to kill bills on the Local and Consent calendar in retaliation for what they say is unfair treatment during the House session on May 11, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House panel approves bill requiring parental consent for minors to join unions
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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![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
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