Abortion limits bill makes progress in second special session
Texas lawmakers came a step closer July 10 to passing controversial new safety standards for abortion clinics when the House gave its preliminary approval to the measure.
View ArticleFilibuster ends first special session; Perry calls another for July
The eyes of the world were on the Texas Senate on June 25 when Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, staged a dramatic protest of a bill that would have created some of the strongest abortion limits in the...
View ArticleArea legislators focus on bills, including those dealing with ethics, public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what Houston-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers...
View ArticleLawmakers move quickly in second special session
Lawmakers are working quickly on legislation that deals with transportation funding, abortion restrictions and juvenile justice during the Texas Legislature’s second special session, which convened...
View ArticleDallas area legislators focus on bills including those dealing with public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what DFW-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers during...
View ArticleLawmakers pass abortion, juvenile justice bills as second special session...
Lawmakers have made significant progress on all of Gov. Rick Perry’s agenda items during the second special session. They are poised to pass most of the agenda before the session must end on July 30.
View ArticlePerry signs new abortion restrictions into law
Gov. Rick Perry signed into law July 18 a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and strengthening the regulations placed on abortion clinics. Opponents vowed to challenge it in court.
View ArticleTransportation funding last roadblock to session end
With the time running out on the second special session set to end July 30, attention turns to transportation funding, and Gov. Rick Perry tells lawmakers he would love to see them go home "as soon as...
View ArticleArea legislators focus on bills including those dealing with ethics, public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what Houston-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers...
View ArticleBills move ahead as second special session nears end
Texas lawmakers sent some of the strongest abortion restrictions in the nation to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk July 15, ending weeks of emotional protest and national debate over the issue.
View ArticleLawmakers revisit transportation funding in third special session
Lawmakers ended their second special session of the summer July 30, only to be called right back that evening for a third session after the House and Senate could not agree on a way to fund the...
View ArticleLawmakers fail to reach deal, revisit transportation in third special session
State lawmakers ended their second special session of the summer July 30, only to be called back that evening for a third session after the House and Senate could not agree on a way to fund the...
View ArticleAbortion bill progresses in second special session
Texas lawmakers came a step closer to passing new safety standards for abortion clinics July 10 when the House gave final approval to the measure, sending it to the Senate on a vote of 96-49.
View ArticleArea legislators focus on bills including those dealing with ethics, public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what Houston-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers...
View ArticleHouston-area legislators focus on bills including those dealing with ethics,...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what Houston-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers...
View ArticleSession to usher in new leadership, large projects
When lawmakers convene Jan. 13 for the 84th Texas Legislature, they do so with a host of new state leaders and what may be the most conservative group of lawmakers the state has seen in decades.
View ArticleSession to usher in new leadership, large projects
Call it a session of big projects—with the potential for some big fights. When lawmakers convene Jan. 13 for the 84th Texas Legislature, they do so with a host of new state leaders and what may be the...
View ArticleSession to usher in new leadership, large projects
AUSTIN Call it a session of big projects—with the potential for some big fights.
View ArticleSession to usher in new leadership, large projects
Call it a session of big projects—with the potential for some big fights.
View ArticleSession to usher in new leadership, large projects
Call it a session of big projects—with the potential for some big fights.
View ArticleLawmakers seek to boost small businesses in Texas
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy. Defined as those with 500 or fewer employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs.
View ArticleGun rights legislation advances in the Texas Legislature
The Texas House passed a dozen pro-gun bills, including campus-carry legislation, that face an uphill battle in the Senate.
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance state’s climate for small-business owners
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy. Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs, accounting for more than...
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance state’s climate for small-business owners
Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs and accounted for more than 98 percent of the state’s employers.
View ArticleDispatches from the Dome: Deadline shenanigans
Deadline shenanigans; legislative love songs; V for Victory—almost; and the bag ban ban? Banned.
View ArticleCottage food industry legislation moves through the Legislature
Bills by Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, seek to support the burgeoning cottage food industry and have made progress with bipartisan support.
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance states climate for small-business owners
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy.
View ArticleFuture of casino gambling in Texas faces hard odds this session
Hindered by ethical and religious objections to gambling and a healthy state bank account that gives little impetus to look for additional revenue streams, Senate Joint Resolution 64, would open Texas...
View ArticleDispatches from the Dome: Some call her an overachiever
Some call her an overachiever; governor signs bill banning gas chambers at shelters; retaliation is the name of the game; budget deal reached, special session (maybe) averted
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance state’s climate for small-business owners
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy. Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs and accounted for more...
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance state’s climate for small-business owners
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy. Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs and accounted for more...
View ArticleLawmakers seek to enhance state’s climate for small-business owners
Small businesses are at the core of the Texas economy. Defined as those with fewer than 500 employees, small businesses provided 45 percent of the state’s private-sector jobs and accounted for more...
View ArticleDispatches from the Dome: cruel summer
Cruel summer; dashed expectations, high hopes; one step closer to equal pay; Budget breakdown
View ArticleSweeping changes to teacher retirement system stabilizes fund
Texas lawmakers unanimously voted May 26 to overhaul the $116 billion teacher pension system, sending to the governor legislation that includes the first cost-of-living increase in 12 years.
View ArticleLawmakers approve $196.9 billion state budget for 2014–15
The budget prioritizes education and mental health funding, and includes a measure for voters to decide in November on whether to use rainy day funds for water projects.
View ArticleGov. Perry calls for a special session on redistricting
Within an hour after the 83rd Texas Legislature adjourned, Gov. Rick Perry called a special session beginning at 6 p.m. May 27 so lawmakers can ratify interim legislative maps.
View Article83rd Legislature adjourns as lawmakers wind up 140-day regular session
With the potential for a special session on redistricting looming large, lawmakers closed out the 83rd Texas Legislature with some successes under their belts.
View ArticleDispatches from the Dome: the waning days
The waning days; Sine Die!; A one-drink interim
View Article83rd Legislature: winners and losers
A commonly stated goal of lawmakers is to do what is best for Texas, and it is true that somebody always wins when a bill passes. But when legislators write some 5,000 new laws—there are also bound to...
View ArticleLawmakers take on accountability, testing, curriculum in public schools
The education of 4.3 million public school students is one of Texas' top priorities, with battles in the Capitol raging over private school vouchers, curriculum, graduation rates, school...
View ArticleDispatches from the Dome: Adding to the agenda
Gov. Rick Perry has not said whether he will add anything besides redistricting to the agenda, known as the “call,” for the special session—which was convened May 28 and which can only last 30 days.
View ArticlePerry expands special session to include roads, juvenile justice, abortion
In the two weeks remaining for the special session of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers have a wide range of issues they can consider after Gov. Rick Perry this week expanded the agenda beyond...
View ArticlePerry vetoes bills on ethics, fair pay, donor disclosure
After lawmakers sent more than 1,400 new laws to Gov. Rick Perry at the end of what many have called a productive and bipartisan session, some two dozen measures fell victim to his veto pen June 14.
View ArticleLawmakers take on accountability, testing, curriculum in public schools
This session, lawmakers turned their attention to the quality of education and passed sweeping changes for the state.
View ArticleLawmakers take on accountability, testing, curriculum in public schools
The education of 4.3 million public school students is one of the state’s top priorities, with some of the biggest battles in the Capitol raging over private school vouchers, curriculum, graduation...
View ArticleDramatic filibuster kills abortion-limits bill, ends first special session
The eyes of the world were on the Texas Senate on June 25 when Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, staged a dramatic protest to a bill that would have created some of the strongest abortion limits in the...
View ArticleLawmakers take on accountability, testing, curriculum in public schools
The education of 4.3 million public school students is one of the state’s top priorities, with some of the biggest battles in the Capitol raging over private school vouchers, curriculum, graduation...
View ArticleAustin legislators focus on bills including those dealing with public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, Austin-area lawmakers focused on both local and statewide issues. Legislators passed more than 1,400 new laws during the 140-day regular session.
View ArticleArea legislators focus on bills including those dealing with ethics, public...
During the 83rd Legislative Session, lawmakers worked to pass more than 1,400 new laws. Below is a roundup of some of what Houston-area lawmakers pushed for, passed or had rejected by their peers...
View ArticleLawmakers move quickly in second special session
Lawmakers convened July 1 for a second special session, at a cost of an estimated $30,000 per day.
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