The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
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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Ahead of Mother's Day weekend, the Texas House’s self-labeled Freedom Caucus killed two bills aimed at helping the state curb its alarming rise in mothers dying less than a year after childbirth, along with more than 100 other measures. 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 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
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 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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