Analysis: Legislature Losing Some Key Players
It will be more than a year before we know everyone who is and is not coming back to the Texas Legislature, but the trickle has started, and some big players are leaving the field. Full Story
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![Texas House Appropriations Chairman John Otto, R-Dayton, looks at his computer while state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, stands nearby on June 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Just One Bill Among Three Freshman Senators
State Sen. Konni Burton sent one bill to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk this past session, and that's one more than fellow conservative Republicans Don Huffines and Bob Hall. But that's just one legislative yardstick among many, supporters say. Full Story
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![The three senators who sent the fewest bills to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk this session: Bob Hall, R-Edgwood (left), Konni Burton, R-Colleyville (middle) and Don Huffines, R-Dallas (right).]()
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Here's a Look at What Happened With Straus' and Patrick's Priority Bills
Over the course of this year's legislative session, House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made their priorities known by what bills got the lowest bill numbers. Take a look at how those proposals fared. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (left) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Otto, House's Lead Budget Writer, Announces He Won't Seek Re-election
After a decade in the Texas House and fresh off his first session as chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, announced Tuesday that he is not planning to seek re-election. Full Story
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![Group congratulates Rep. John Otto R-Dayton after HB1 passes on May 29, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Democrats Ask Abbott for Task Force on Confederate Monuments
Five Democratic lawmakers have asked Gov. Greg Abbott to form a task force to consider the appropriateness of Confederate monuments located on the Capitol grounds in Austin. Full Story
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![Confederate Soldiers Monument at the Texas Capitol]()
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Cecil Bell Urges Resistance to Gay Marriage Ruling
State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. didn't announce a speaker bid on Monday, instead focusing his much-hyped "major announcement" on a call for citizens and states to resist the U.S. Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia, in his seat on the House floor on May 14, 2015.]()
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Gay Couple Suing Hood County Gets Marriage License
A Granbury gay couple on Monday obtained a marriage license from the Hood County Clerk's office after filing a lawsuit against the clerk in federal court. Full Story
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Conservative Lawyers Prepare to Defend Same-Sex Marriage Opponents
With Republican leaders vowing to protect the religious freedom of government officials who refuse to recognize same-sex marriages, here's a look at the legal arguments conservative attorneys plan to use to defend those officials in court. Full Story
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![Dr. Sid Hall, senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church, wears a rainbow pin on his lapel during a press conference at the Texas Capitol on June 29, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Hopes to Attract More Mental Health Care Workers
A program created this year will help pay mental health professionals’ student loans if they practice in a medically needy area. The program seeks to alleviate the state’s shortage of mental health professionals, which watchdogs are calling a "public health emergency." Full Story
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![Demonstrators participate in a mental health rally at the Texas Capitol, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, on Feb. 28, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Patrick Dissolves His Advisory Board
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is dissolving the grassroots advisory board he established in January, saying several of its members, including Tea Party organizer JoAnn Fleming, "expressed a desire for greater independence." Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signs bills on last day of 84th Legislative session June 1, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
State: Abortion Docs Still Need Admitting Privileges
Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling allowing some Texas abortion clinics to remain open, the Texas Department of State Health Services said on Thursday that doctors performing abortions must still obtain admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Full Story
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Cecil Bell Could Announce Speaker Bid on Monday
State Rep. Cecil Bell Jr., R-Magnolia, has a “major announcement” to make on Monday — and while he’s mum on the details, the Southeast Texas lawmaker didn’t deny that it would include a bid for speaker of the Texas House. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cecil Bell, R-Magnolia on the House floor, May 13, 2015.]()
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Texas Concedes Legal Challenge to Same-Sex Marriage Ban
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Friday, the Texas attorney general's office conceded a separate legal challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage. A federal appeals court then affirmed a lower court's ruling that overturned the state's ban. Full Story
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![The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals building in New Orleans.]()
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Video: Houston and the 84th Legislature
Full video of my 6/29 conversation about Houston and the 84th legislative session with state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston. Full Story
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Spouses of Gay Public Employees Get Benefits
As of Wednesday, public employers including Texas agencies and universities will allow current and retired gay and lesbian employees to enroll their same-sex spouses in the same benefit programs and services available to opposite-sex couples. Full Story
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![A couple arranges a marriage license at the Travis County Clerk's office on June 26, 2015.]()
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With Marriage Decided, Adoption Rights Next
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has legalized same-sex marriage, family law attorneys in Texas are gearing up to make sure same-sex couples who adopt children get full parental rights. Full Story
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![Cleo DeLeon (left) and Nicole Dimetman, the Texas marriage plantiffs, during press conference on June 29, 2015 at Texas Capitol days after the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
State Won't Track Gay Marriage Numbers
On the first day of legal same-sex marriage, more than 465 same-sex couples were issued marriage licenses in 10 of the state's largest counties. But keeping track of how many licenses are issued over time may prove difficult. Full Story
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![Laura LeBoeuf and Angie Balmer at a ceremony at Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Austin after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage on June 26, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Huffman Discloses Husband's Financial Holdings
Houston state Sen. Joan Huffman, who tried to shield the spouses of elected officials from ethics disclosure rules, has now revealed on her personal financial statement a slew of business interests held by her husband. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, speaks during a Texas Tribune event on Jan. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Supreme Court Puts Texas Abortion Law on Hold
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday sided with Texas abortion providers and temporarily put on hold a ruling that would have closed about half of the state’s abortion facilities. Full Story
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Gay Rights Activists: Fight is Only Just Getting Started
Now that same-sex marriage is legal, gay rights activists are setting their sights on pushing for more protections for LGBT people. In front of the Texas Capitol, activists on Monday vowed to target discrimination in areas including employment and housing. Full Story
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![Gay rights activists held a demonstration on Monday, June 29, 2015, in front of the Texas Capitol. The event came a few days after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. Speakers at the event included (from left) Cleo DeLeon, Chad Griffin, Jim Obergefell, Mark Phariss, Vic Holmes, Rebecca Robertson and Kathy Miller.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera