Like the Texas Legislature at large, committee chairs are mostly white men
Most of the members of the Texas Legislature are white men — and so are the committee chairs. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus have assigned committee chairs for the 2017 Legislature.]()
Credit: Illustration by Tim Park / Todd Wiseman -
Texas Senate passes ethics reform and "sanctuary" cities bills (video)
Two of Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency items are already moving swiftly through the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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Nurse practitioners again push for independence
Multiple bills filed in the Texas Legislature are seeking to give certain Texas nurses independence from costly contracts with supervising physicians. Full Story
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![State Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-North Richland Hills, with State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, announcing the Coalition for Health Care Access that will work toward expanding access to health care in Texas this legislative session. Klick is introducing HB 1415 and SB 681 to remove outdated and costly regulatory barriers for APRN nurses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers mull their strategies as another abortion battle looms
Texas Democrats and abortion rights advocates are strategizing amid mounting worries over what the GOP-led Legislature and federal lawmakers may do in the coming months to further restrict access to the procedure. Full Story
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![State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, stands with House colleagues to announce the "Trust. Respect. Access." campaign for reproductive rights on Feb. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. John Zerwas to head House Appropriations Committee
State Rep. John Zerwas is the Texas House's new Appropriations Committee chairman, and Rep. Dan Huberty is the new chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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![With less than a week before lawmakers convene, preparations are underway to welcome members of the state House of Representatives for the 85th session of the Texas Legislature.]()
Credit: John Jordan -
Analysis: Playing chicken with the “bathroom bill” in the Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is having a hard time with the "bathroom bill." The Senate is trying to pull together the votes, and the House is trying to find some motivation. Both are waiting to see what the governor thinks. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate approves new UT System regents 29-0
The Texas Senate approved three new University of Texas System regents, even though some Democrats complained about the board's lack of diversity. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas legislators urged to "get it right" on child welfare at rally
Standing in front of the Capitol in 80-degree heat, attendees gathered at a rally sponsored by Child Protection Roundtable of Texas and the Texas Home Visiting Coalition urging legislators to make long awaited changes to how the state handles abused and neglected children. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, speaks at a rally in support of overhauling Texas' child welfare system in front of the state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 7, 2016.]()
Credit: Marissa Evans/Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes ethics reform
The Texas Senate passed a bill that would take pensions away from officials convicted of felonies and require lobbyists to disclose more of their wining and dining of lawmakers. Full Story
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![State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, lays out SB 14, the Ethics Reform and Anti-Corruption Act, in the Texas Senate on Feb. 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate debates "sanctuary city" bill and ethics reform (live video)
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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![Parliamentarian Karina Davis watches as new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Texas Senate on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Facing business opposition, Dan Patrick seeks to boost "bathroom bill"
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday decried as "bogus" a report indicating the potential economic impact that could result from the proposed "bathroom bill." Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham give the media an update on SB6 The Texas Privacy Act also known as the "bathroom bill" on Feb. 6, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
With Trump on their side, Abbott and Cruz bullish on term limits
With his calls to “drain the swamp,” President Trump has cast his election victory as a rebuke against career politicians. Now two Texas Republican leaders suggest that the timing is right to impose term limits on members of Congress. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) speak at a press conference in the Capitol about Sen. Cruz’s Terrorist Refugee Infiltration Prevention Act of 2015 (S. 2302), in Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 2015.]()
Credit: Chris Maddaloni/ The Texas Tribune -
After governor's cuts, Texas rep. leads fundraising drive for Travis County
State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, announced plans Friday to raise public funds for Travis County after Gov. Greg Abbott canceled criminal justice grants over the county's new "sanctuary" policy. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera/Martin do Nascimento -
Gov. Greg Abbott lays out emergency items (video)
The Texas governor delivered his State of the State address to legislators this week, and he also made good on his pledge to cut funding to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Full Story
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Texas House committee report lays foundation for 'Sandra Bland Act'
The Sandra Bland Act would address race, poverty, mental health and accountability in law enforcement and corrections, its author says. Full Story
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![Sandra Bland, who was found dead at the Waller County Jail in 2015.]()
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In border visit, Abbott urges balance between security, trade
Gov. Greg Abbott told Donald Trump's new Homeland Security secretary Wednesday that border security should be balanced with Texas' economic interests. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly in Weslaco on Feb. 1, 2017.]()
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State Board of Education votes to keep contentious evolution standards
A day after hearing from scientists begging them to remove controversial language from science standards that some say opens the door to creationism, State Board of Education members took a preliminary vote Wednesday to do the opposite. Full Story
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![State Board of Education member Barbara Cargill attends a meeting of the board on Feb. 1, 2017, in Austin.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Legislature should prioritize judicial security, Texas Supreme Court chief justice says
In his State of the Judiciary address Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discussed bail reform, the cost of legal expenses, mental health issues and a host of other topics. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivered his State of the Judiciary Address in the state House chamber on Feb. 1, 2017.]()
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Analysis: Texas, a legislative sideshow to the main act in D.C.
The Texas Legislature is primed to go, but this is going to be a session outside the limelight. The Texans are busy, but the spotlight is on the new administration in Washington, D.C. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
At Texas Muslim Capitol Day, supporters form human shield around demonstrators
Participants in Tuesday's Texas Muslim Capitol Day were protected by a massive human circle made up of at least 1,000 supporters. Full Story
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![Supporters create a human shield for participants attending Texas Muslim Capitol Day on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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