More than 50 percent of registered voters in Texas don’t believe President Donald Trump is honest and trustworthy, while 35 percent think otherwise, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.
State Government
Stay informed on Texas state government with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth coverage of the governor, Legislature, state agencies, and policies shaping the future of Texas.
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State Government
San Antonio voted to annex his home. Now he’s hoping the special session will give him a say.
Annexation reform died in the final moments of the regular session. Mike Stewart, whose home is under threat of annexation, will anxiously watch July’s special session debate.
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Criminal Justice
Abbott proposal would nullify city rules on distracted driving
Texas recently became the 47th state to pass a statewide texting-while-driving ban. The governor’s proposal to pre-empt local ordinances on drivers’ mobile phone use could weaken stricter city ordinances that have been in place for years.
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TribCast
The state budget (with vetoes!), special session notes and Paxton’s new judge (podcast)
On this week’s TribCast, Ross talks to Ayan, Patrick and Edgar about the governor’s line-item vetoes and the state budget, the ins and outs of the coming special session call, efforts to get state leaders on the same page, and a new judge for Attorney General Ken Paxton.
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State Government
North Texas mayors reject protectionist “Buy American” iron and steel bill
The mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth are siding with Canadian officials over the potentially negative impact a “Buy American” iron and steel measure could have on Texas-Canada trade relations.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Can divided leadership come together ahead of special session?
If lawmakers are planning to get through all of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ambitious special session agenda, the House and Senate will need to overcome some sharp divisions.
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Energy
Will Texas lawmakers ax tree ordinances in more than 50 cities?
Dozens of cities and towns in Texas have ordinances aimed at protecting trees. During the special legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott wants to change that.
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State Government
State removes license for eyebrow threaders (video)
The Texas Legislature passed a bill deregulating eyebrow threading, which has for years required practitioners in Texas to pay licensing fees and undergo hundreds of hours of unrelated cosmetology training.
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State Government
Analysis: Texas leaders couldn’t agree during the regular session. What’s changed?
Texas lawmakers will return to Austin in a month to take another swing at more than a dozen issues they couldn’t resolve during the regular legislative session. So what has changed?
Posted inState Government
Off-channel reservoirs come with problems
Off-channel reservoirs, constructed away from a river’s main channel, may be more environmentally friendly in some ways than on-channel reservoirs, but they come with their own problems.