Category Archives: State News
GOP House Leader Says He’ll Use “Every Available Resource” To Secure Quorum After Democrats Leave State
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7f9649c1ba7c2bec3d208104ce68094a/Dems%20Leave%20Texas%20MG%20TT%2004.JPG "GOP House Leader Says He’ll Use “Every Available Resource” To Secure Quorum After Democrats Leave State")
Here’s the latest updates on the Texas Democrats leaving Texas to block the special legislative session and a GOP voting restrictions bill.
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Texas House Democrats Flee The State In Move That Could Block Voting Restrictions Bill, Bring Legislature To A Halt
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/06808309ba138dde35e2469d647b86e6/Special%20Session%20Opening%20Day%20TT%20SP%20278.jpg "Texas House Democrats Flee The State In Move That Could Block Voting Restrictions Bill, Bring Legislature To A Halt")
A majority of Democrats in the Texas House left for Washington, D.C., Monday afternoon in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions with 26 days left in a special legislative session called largely for that purpose.
Read moreLive Updates: Kamala Harris Says Texas Democrats Showing “Extraordinary Courage” In Effort To Leave The State
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5b186fa5f2539b8bf04e2819744fda8d/Texas%20Right%20to%20Vote%20SP%20TT%2086.jpg "Live Updates: Kamala Harris Says Texas Democrats Showing “Extraordinary Courage” In Effort To Leave The State")
Here’s the latest updates on the Texas Democrats’ attempts to leave Texas to block the special legislative session and a GOP voting restrictions bill.
Read moreEva Guzman Raises $1 Million In First 10 Days Of Attorney General Campaign, With Some Major Donor Support
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc686b081332e8b7efccad02ef0aca63/Eva%20Guzman%20Texas%20Supreme%20Court%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg "Eva Guzman Raises Million In First 10 Days Of Attorney General Campaign, With Some Major Donor Support")
The former state Supreme Court justice is one of two Republican primary challengers to Attorney General Ken Paxton, the other being Land Commissioner George P. Bush.
Read moreTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees To Stop Blocking People On Twitter, Ending Lawsuit Over First Amendment
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6fd635de5e84d2018b870e123af8dce3/AG%20Ken%20Paxton%20BD%20TT%2003.jpg "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Agrees To Stop Blocking People On Twitter, Ending Lawsuit Over First Amendment")
Attorneys in the lawsuit, which was filed in April, argued that being blocked from viewing Paxton’s tweets limited the rights of people to participate access statements made by the public official, therefore violating the First Amendment.
Read moreTexas House Democrats Preparing To Flee The State In Move That Could Block Voting Restrictions Bill, Bring Legislature To A Halt
A majority of Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives plan to leave the state and fly to Washington, D.C., Monday afternoon in a bid to again deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass new voting restrictions with 27 days left in a special legislative session called largely for that purpose.
Read moreAnalysis: There’s Plenty Still To Play Out Ahead Of 2022, But Greg Abbott Is Starting To Run Up The Score
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e4eb695fc37d9a06d38d59060cacd45/Senate%20Floor%20Abbott%20Patrick%20JJ%20TT%2001.jpg "Analysis: There’s Plenty Still To Play Out Ahead Of 2022, But Greg Abbott Is Starting To Run Up The Score")
With a big endorsement and a record-setting fundraising period behind him, Texas’ governor is in a political sweet spot.
Read moreFormer State Rep. Matt Rinaldi Wins Texas GOP Chair Election
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6f78f19fe472af3703edfd84b35875a/Matt%20Rinaldi%20JV%20TT%2004.jpg "Former State Rep. Matt Rinaldi Wins Texas GOP Chair Election")
The State Republican Executive Committee met Sunday to pick a successor for Allen West, the chairman who resigned last month after a drama-filled tenure and is now running for governor.
Read moreTexans Testifying On GOP Voting Bill Faced A 17 Hour-Wait To Be Heard By Lawmakers In The Dead Of Night
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/80378e76706ee895c59965368ae071f9/Committee%20Hearings%20July%2010%20JV%20TT%2014.jpg "Texans Testifying On GOP Voting Bill Faced A 17 Hour-Wait To Be Heard By Lawmakers In The Dead Of Night")
Members of the public arrived at the Texas Capitol as early as 6 a.m. to sign up to speak before lawmakers considering the legislation. In the House, public testimony wouldn’t begin until early the next morning.
Read moreGOP Voting Bill Advances To Texas House Floor After Overnight Committee Hearing
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/617092cfc8ae9a5f7ae503b40f97315f/Committee%20Hearings%20July%2010%20JV%20TT%2016.jpg "GOP Voting Bill Advances To Texas House Floor After Overnight Committee Hearing")
Authors of voting legislation in the House and Senate are moving to ban drive-thru and 24-hour voting options, enhance access for partisan poll watchers and prohibit local election officials from proactively distributing applications to request mail-in ballots. Both bills also include language to further restrict the state’s voting-by-mail rules, including new ID requirements for absentee voters.
Read moreTexas Lawmakers Take First Steps To Restore Legislature’s Funding After Abbott’s Veto
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/62d46b84b96a5d548e6c9fb80e730914/House%20Floor%20May%2023%20JV%20TT%2010.jpg "Texas Lawmakers Take First Steps To Restore Legislature’s Funding After Abbott’s Veto")
The House Appropriations Committee voted on Friday 21-0 to move forward a bill that would reinstate the funding after Abbott vetoed it to punish House Democrats who broke quorum in the final days of the session to kill two of his priority bills.
Read moreBaylor University Stirs Anger And Confusion As It Opens The Door For First LGBTQ Student Group
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5fc16e16ef942ea50e43d502a93d5411/Waco%20Veronica%20Penales%20MM%20TT%2004.jpg "Baylor University Stirs Anger And Confusion As It Opens The Door For First LGBTQ Student Group")
The decision to openly consider recognizing an LGBTQ group while simultaneously affirming the university’s belief that marriage is between a man and a woman raised concerns among supporters and opponents who say Baylor is trying to “have its cake and eat it, too.”
Read moreTexas House Attempting To Reset On Contentious Elections Bill With New Author, New Committee In Special Session
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23537e8890474e6e478ce70b8e89007e/ATX%20Early%20Voting%20Day%20Two%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg "Texas House Attempting To Reset On Contentious Elections Bill With New Author, New Committee In Special Session")
The lower chamber, led by House Speaker Dade Phelan, is trying to start off on a new foot with a controversial election bill that blew up during the regular session.
Read moreWhat’s In The New Voting Restriction Legislation Introduced In The Texas House And Senate
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c9f0102e3f3b0c44078ccfe316ff029a/Texas%20Right%20to%20Vote%20SP%20TT%2019.jpg "What’s In The New Voting Restriction Legislation Introduced In The Texas House And Senate")
Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3 will be the starting points for the Legislature’s efforts to tighten Texas voting laws. Here’s what the bills would do.
Read moreTexas Gov. Greg Abbott Has Colossal $55 million War Chest For 2022 Reelection Bid
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7c0979ef47826cf6d9d3e298bd40ce13/Power%20Grid%20Bill%20Signing%20SP%20TT%2005.jpg "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Has Colossal million War Chest For 2022 Reelection Bid")
Abbott’s campaign coffers hit the balance after he raised over $18.7 million during the last 10 days of June, his campaign announced Thursday. The campaign said the cash-on-hand total was larger “than any other statewide candidate in Texas history.”
Read moreAlmost 150 Guards Are Staffing An Empty Texas Prison As State Officials Work On Gov. Greg Abbott’s Plan To Use It For Immigrants
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f96db8e1dcef6f364c2e6477e224f73/Dolph%20Briscoe%20Unit%20CS%20TT%2003.jpg "Almost 150 Guards Are Staffing An Empty Texas Prison As State Officials Work On Gov. Greg Abbott’s Plan To Use It For Immigrants")
While many Texas prisons are understaffed, some dangerously so, the emptied-out Briscoe Unit in Dilley is in “maintenance mode” as officials scramble to implement the governor’s plan to increase the state’s role in border enforcement.
Read moreTexas Lawmakers Are Back For A Special Session. Here’s What You Should Know.
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/611417900621430785eadf0ff51d7d20/Capitol%20File%20Feb%201%20EL%20TT%2004.jpg "Texas Lawmakers Are Back For A Special Session. Here’s What You Should Know.")
We asked our readers for their questions about the special legislative session that starts Thursday in Texas. These are the answers.
Read moreRODEO AWARDS $1.4 MILLION TO TEXAS FFA MEMBERS
Seventy Texas FFA members were presented with $1.4 million in scholarships from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo during the 93rd Annual Texas FFA State Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, on Wednesday, July 7.
Read moreTEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved financial assistance totaling $41,566,157 for water, wastewater, and flood projects.
Read moreAllen West’s Final Days As State GOP Chair Filled With Intraparty Drama
:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15965043cf6f76d3df15d3d9804284ba/GOP%20Lege%20Agenda%20Rally%20JV%20TT%2003.jpg "Allen West’s Final Days As State GOP Chair Filled With Intraparty Drama")
With only days before he steps down from the helm of the state GOP, West is embroiled in a fight with his vice chair and under attack by county GOP chairs.
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