Texas House passes measure to reduce handgun license fee
The Texas House backed a proposal that would reduce the first-time fee for a license to carry a handgun from $140 to $40. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Texas Legislature flushing sanctuaries, from cities to bathrooms
Texas legislators — along with everyone watching them — expected to lock horns over transgender Texans and the bathroom bill. But the raw debate over sanctuary cities legislation could be the hallmark of this 85th Legislature. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, at the beginning of floor debate on Senate Bill 4 — the "sanctuary cities" bill — on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Federal court sets July trial date in Texas redistricting case
A federal panel has ordered a five-day trial starting on July 10 over Texas House and congressional political maps. This follows a pair of rulings that found Texas lawmakers intentionally discriminated against minority voters with maps drawn in 2011. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Tree protection ordinances targeted by Republicans, defended by city officials
City officials on Monday testified against a bill that would limit the ability of Texas cities to ban residents from cutting down trees on their properties. Republican lawmakers have filed several such bills this year. Full Story
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![A neighborhood in East Austin on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes bill overhauling Houston's troubled pension systems
On a 25-5 vote, the Texas Senate passed a bill aimed at overhauling Houston's troubled pension funds. The bill's author also added a provision that could shift future employees to new retirement system if shortfalls worsen or persist. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TABC commissioner nominee appears before Texas Senate panel
Kevin Lilly is one step closer to becoming a commissioner at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission — an embattled state agency that’s been in the Legislature’s crosshairs over controversial spending practices in recent months. Full Story
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![Kevin Lilly of Houston, a nominee for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), appears before the Senate Nominations Committee on May 1.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Protesters on Texas Capitol grounds charged with trespassing
At least two dozen protesters on the grounds of the Texas Capitol on Monday evening were charged with misdemeanor trespassing, the culmination of a day-long sit-in to protest the "sanctuary" jurisdictions bill moving through the Legislature. Full Story
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![Opponents of Senate Bill 4 — which would outlaw “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas — stage a protest at the State Insurance Building in Austin on May 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: How current Texas lawmakers can boss future lawmakers around
Texas legislators cannot bind future legislators by preventing them or forcing them to do something. But they can certainly make their future decisions uncomfortable. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives continues the budget debate into the late afternoon Thursday on April 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick supports "House companion" to "bathroom bill"
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed support Friday for "a House companion" to the so-called "bathroom bill" that has been one of his biggest priorities this session. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Harris County Republican Party's annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner in Houston on April 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Spike Johnson for The Texas Tribune -
Legislative attempts to overhaul Hazlewood veterans tuition program are losing steam
A change of heart by a powerful lawmaker and vocal opposition by veterans groups have imperiled hopes for a major overhaul of Texas' free tuition program for veterans and their kids. Full Story
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![Texas A&M Kingsville Army ROTC cadets (l-r) Andrew Wilson, Nathaniel Estes, Octavio Calleja-Ponce, Daniel Obrego and Cristian Barriosalas raise the flag in front of Texas A&M Kingsville's College Hall on October 26, 2016.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for the Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A high-stakes budget duel — if Texas lawmakers want one
The Senate doesn't like the House's hit on the Rainy Day Fund. The House doesn't like the Senate's delay of a deposit into the state's highway fund. Neither wants to raise taxes. But all is not yet lost — unless they want to fight about it. 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 House votes to cut business tax that funds public schools
The Texas House on Thursday approved a proposal that would phase out an unpopular business tax that provides funding for public schools. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on the House floor on May 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
"Sanctuary" bill heads back to Senate after marathon House debate
A bill that would outlaw “sanctuary” jurisdictions in Texas cleared its last procedural hurdle in the Texas House Thursday afternoon, just hours after the end of a marathon debate on the measure that stretched into Thursday morning. Full Story
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![Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, votes on an amendment to Senate Bill 4 on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Ahead of 2018, trial likely looms in Texas political map battle
“I think the trial is certain,” said Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, a lead plaintiff in the years-long challenge of the state’s political boundaries. Full Story
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![Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.]()
Credit: Jim Malewitz -
House panel considers bill requiring parental consent for minors to join unions
A House committee Thursday considered a proposal that would require parental consent for minors to join a labor union. Full Story
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![United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000 in Grapevine.]()
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After emotional debate, Texas House tentatively passes "sanctuary" legislation
The 93-54 vote fell along party lines and came after one of the slowest moving but most emotional legislative days at the state Capitol. Full Story
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![Texas House members on April 26, 2017, voted on an amendment to Senate Bill 4, legislation that would outlaw "sanctuary" jurisdictions in Texas.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bills would undo cities' efforts to rein in payday lenders, advocates warn
Dozens of Texas cities have passed ordinances regulating payday and auto title lenders that are stricter than current state and federal rules. Some state lawmakers are hoping to eliminate them. Full Story
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![The storefront of a payday lender in Austin on April 25, 2017. Antipoverty advocates are warning that a pair of proposals in the Legislature could perpetuate a cycle of debt for millions of Texans.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House to debate franchise tax cut that would hit public schools
Businesses dislike the franchise tax because they say it’s overly complicated and can punish them in less-prosperous years. But critics warn the tax cut would harm public schools and other government programs. Full Story
![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on the House floor on May 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Dallas police officers, firefighters rail against mayor's handling of pension crisis
Mike Rawlings says he's trying to protect taxpayers as he opposes bill aimed at fixing shortfall. But first responders say he could exacerbate a shortage of police officers and firefighters. Full Story
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![Dallas police officers and firefighters protest their failing pension fund outside City Hall in Dallas on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Senate approves bill to require seat belts on school buses
Senate Bill 693 cleared the chamber in a 25-6 vote following strong pushback from one Republican who argued seat belts make buses less safe. Full Story
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![Eanes ISD school bus mechanic Chase Roberts washes the dirt off the advertising on buses in West Lake Hills, Texas, on Feb. 14, 2012.]()
Credit: Eric Schlegel