The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Senate wants to ban tenure. The House gave initial approval Monday to a bill that would instead enshrine tenure policies in state law. After final passage, the two chambers have a week left to come to a compromise. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c89377a8dcbc721ea0059f96716cd030/UNT%20File%20BT%20TT%2010.jpg)
For the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4b0dc5a34dad27ca4087c6e4233a7677/0127%20School%20Choice%20Lifkin%20CO%2002%20TT.jpg)
State lawmakers passed legislation that would ensure the UT flagship can continue to cap the number of students it automatically admits because of their academic achievement at 75%, giving the university room to accept other students using different criteria. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9482c5517632a196e3873cb493201c4b/UT_campus_03_LS_TT.jpg)
Senate Bill 7 would limit how much electricity customers could end up paying if the state opts to use performance credits, which would give the money to power generators in hopes they’ll add more power to the state grid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af7b4a7bc626d0063eb7f660f4630eac/San%20Antonio%20Power%20Plant%20SP%20TT%2006.jpg)
Seeking to avoid a special session, the state leaders discuss school choice, property taxes and grid reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4721edbb3c4feb2126352f95ba3a2c0a/Phelan%20Abbott%20Patrick%20TT.jpg)
The film, “After Uvalde: Guns, Grief and Texas Politics,” was broadcast nationally on PBS and is also available for streaming on The Texas Tribune and Frontline’s websites. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/632d207ab31945787f1f271a7a56d4ba/uvalde-doc-promo.png)
Whether it’s supporting a rape exception for abortion or opposing school choice, Nichols has gone his own way on certain GOP priorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b897b30790472889eac28a092830d5c/040919%20Senate%20Floor%20JF%2015223.jpg)
Evadulia Orta’s son, Rojélio Torres, died in the school shooting in Uvalde last year. Her other children still collect Pokémon cards to add to his collection, and his cousins play with his football. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c965ec8afbb7626907dc47bdb952fb73/Uvalde%20Doc%20Screengrab%20TT%20FF%2001.jpg)
The adolescent clinic treated eating disorders and menstrual complications. It also offered gender-affirming care — which is still legal for now but triggered an investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f3d33ca816e89cd2665aad962a707ee/0327%20Trans%20Rights%20Rally%20EL%20TT%2018.jpg)
New moms will be able to keep their health insurance for a full year under a proposal the Senate passed Sunday. A last-minute anti-abortion amendment means the bill will go back to the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c4f1802601b919cafb6976e1b042af0/Community%20Clinic%20CR%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didn’t pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a444dbe353018935a90b33fde26ecabe/0417%20Teacher%20Pay%20Snyder%20JR%20TT%2012.jpg)
Both chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05489248d267d144ff1ed1d77ed000a8/School%20Police%20TK%20TT.jpg)
Lawmakers are trying hard to come up with an agreement on how to replace an embattled 20-year tax abatement program for big companies that expired in December. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9159181317d93a00d049c792cfddf813/Turbine%20and%20Pumpjack%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
Priority bills that died include a 10-year minimum sentencing for gun-related crimes, a ban on “critical race theory” at public universities and LGBTQ-related legislation. While the bills may be dead, lawmakers have a limited time to attach their ideas to legislation that is still alive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fbbce63096ea64d81f63ded0de1aefb0/0110%20Lege%20Opening%20EL%20TT%2001.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott has already signaled he would call a special session if lawmakers failed to pass a voucher-like program open to all students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d34f5e797b5e76a5c7bdc0f8586ecb40/Abbott%20Corpus%20School%20Choice%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
Supporters of the measure said it will help the colleges better prepare students for the workforce. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/30f3c6ae0454bf0253b013520a40916c/07_ACC_Riverside_Community_College_MG.jpg)
The legislation was named for Bishop Evans, who drowned last year trying to rescue migrants in the Rio Grande. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ba95aaa0dc3fefb2fa02a580ca102595/Migrants%20El%20Paso%20Dec%2020%20IPA%20TT%2014.JPG)
The two chambers have 10 days to cut a deal before the end of the legislative session, and they are miles apart on some of the very foundations of a corporate tax-abatement bill considered to be a priority for Republican state leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/104ee70902cbeb4e9d240e8b9ae90256/Permian%20Basin%20Oil%20Boom%20EH%20TT%2012.jpg)
The bill no longer targets drag performers, but LGBTQ advocates say the legislation’s vague language could still be used to criminalize such shows. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/853050a77289d359c3267da943a9c5b9/Dallas%20Pride%20Block%20Party%20ST%2005.jpg)
The Legislature recently passed a bill that would bar minors from receiving this medical care, but it has not yet been signed or gone into effect. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4f9ce321c2afc3057142efa7cd1812e8/0512%20SB%2014%20House%20Friday%20EL%20TT%2002.JPG)