The 85th legislative session came to a close Monday amid uncertainty over whether Gov. Greg Abbott would call lawmakers back for overtime. Tensions ran high up until the session’s end.
State Government
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Demographics
Republican lawmaker: I called immigration authorities on Capitol protesters
On the last day of the regular session of the Texas Legislature, hundreds protested at the Capitol — and Republican state Rep. Matt Rinaldi called ICE on them. He also nearly came to blows with Democratic colleagues.
Posted inState Government
Video: Lawmakers fight in the Texas House amid immigration protests
Hispanic legislators became enraged after Republican Rep. Matt Rinaldi threatened to call immigration authorities on protesters.
Posted inState Government
Video: Texas Democrats respond to GOP lawmaker calling ICE on protesters
Democrats say a Republican lawmaker told them he called immigration officials on people protesting “sanctuary cities” legislation at the state Capitol on the last day of the regular legislative session.
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State Government
Uber, Lyft return to Austin as Texas Gov. Abbott signs ride-hailing measure into law
Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a measure to regulate ride-hailing companies, establishing a statewide framework to regulate businesses such as Uber and Lyft.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: It’s the last day of the 85th Texas legislative session. Ready for a special session?
The threat of legislative overtime looms over lawmakers’ heads, as the two chambers struggled to reach consensus on key bills.
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State Government
Sen. Menéndez’s filibuster effectively kills city annexation bill
Urban Democrats said they opposed the bill because it didn’t allow planning regulations for land around military bases. They feared that could lead to development that interferes with the installations’ operations.
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State Government
House, Senate accuse each other of inaction on critical legislation
House members accused the Senate of playing games with Texans’ health and safety by holding out on legislation that would keep state agencies, including the Texas Medical Board, in existence.
Posted in
Politics
Lawmakers teeter on the brink of special session
As of Sunday night, lawmakers still had little to show for two assignments Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had given them in the home stretch: property tax reform and a “bathroom bill” that would regulate which restrooms transgender Texans can use.
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Politics
Legislature approves bill requiring disclosure of government contracts
Politicians who make money off government contracts will have to disclose the work under a bill that got final approval in the Legislature Sunday.