https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/james-barragan/The latest news by James Barragán.enMon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/10/texas-rep-don-mclaughlin-uvalde/Don McLaughlin isn’t shy about speaking his mind and has disagreed with victims’ families and fellow Republicans. Now he brings his direct style to the Capitol.By James BarragánMon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/10/texas-rep-don-mclaughlin-uvalde/Former Uvalde Mayor and current state Rep. Don McLaughlin Jr., R-Uvalde, in February in his office at DKM Enterprises in Uvalde.Former Uvalde mayor and current Texas representative Don McLaughlin, Jr. (R-Uvalde) in his office at DKM headquarters in Uvalde, TX on February 14, 2025. McLaughlin’s hunting trophies sit mounted behind him.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/uvalde-law-enforcement-response-legislation-don-mclaughlin/The bill would require school districts and law enforcement to meet once a year to plan their response to an active shooter situation. It would also mandate annual multi-agency exercise drills on how to respond to an active shooter.By James BarragánTue, 04 Mar 2025 11:24:13 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/uvalde-law-enforcement-response-legislation-don-mclaughlin/Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on July 11, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/The proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.By Jaden Edison, James Barragán and Jasper SchererThu, 20 Feb 2025 09:08:56 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/The Texas House filed its priority bill on private school vouchers on Thursday.Corina Pannabecker teaches first grade at Ogden Elementary in San Antonio on April 30, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-vouchers-trump-elon-musk-greg-abbott/Supporters of voucher-like education savings accounts are trying to press their advantage early and build a sense of inevitability.By Jasper Scherer and James BarragánThu, 20 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-vouchers-trump-elon-musk-greg-abbott/Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows have focused attention at the start of the legislative session on supporting the plan to let families use state money to help pay the cost of private school.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, during ‘Parent Empowerment Night’ at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio, Texas, on February, 17, 2025. The governor has made the polarizing school voucher bill, Senate Bill 2, a top priority for this year’s legislative session.Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/14/texas-house-committee-assignments-chairs-winners-losers/There were only so many chair positions to go around, with 30 committees for 88 Republicans, making it inevitable that some would miss out on plum appointments.By James Barragán and Jasper SchererFri, 14 Feb 2025 19:38:55 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/14/texas-house-committee-assignments-chairs-winners-losers/House committee assignments were an early test for state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, in his initial weeks as speaker.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gives an acceptance speech as he is elected Speaker of the House in a runoff vote of the members on Jan. 14, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-house-committee-assignments-dustin-burrows/Republicans chair all committees, as promised, while Democrats will lead half of the newly created subcommittees.By James Barragán and Jasper SchererThu, 13 Feb 2025 13:18:02 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-house-committee-assignments-dustin-burrows/House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, named many experienced Republican leaders to head committees for the new session.House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, presides over a session on Feb. 11, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/12/abbott-patrick-burrows-big-3-dynamic/The aggressive Republican agenda’s success depends on how well the three leaders harmonize their tactics and goals for the legislative session.By James BarragánWed, 12 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/12/abbott-patrick-burrows-big-3-dynamic/Three top Republicans in Texas don't always agree, but legislative success for their top priorities will depend on careful collaborations among House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.From left: Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/tribcast-trump-immigration-crackdown/The gang discusses the major role that Texas plays in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in his second termBy James BarragánTue, 11 Feb 2025 16:29:41 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/tribcast-trump-immigration-crackdown/A Texas Department of Public Safety official makes an arrest near the U.S. and Mexico border in Del Rio as a group of migrants watch on July 23, 2021.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/abbott-power-texas-governor/The governor’s list of priority items includes issues important to social conservatives and to business advocates.By James BarragánTue, 04 Feb 2025 12:47:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/abbott-power-texas-governor/The praise for Gov. Greg Abbott from often feuding factions of Texas Republicans gives new energy to his plan for school vouchers and other items on his priority list.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about school choice in Texas during a visit to Kingdom Life Academy, a private school in Tyler, on Nov. 6, 2024.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/02/greg-abbott-state-of-state-speech-agenda/The governor’s speech sets a broad agenda for the Legislature, including a nuclear renaissance and a Texas Cyber Command.By James BarragánSun, 02 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/02/greg-abbott-state-of-state-speech-agenda/Gov. Greg Abbott is shown in December 2024 speaking at a press conference in Eagle Pass.Gov. Abbott speaks at a press conference in Eagle Pass where he unveiled state-sponsored billboards being placed in Central and South America to deter migrants from coming to the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 19, 2024.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/31/greg-abbott-state-of-the-state-speech/After successful campaigns for House allies, the governor is in a position to set an ambitious course for the legislative session.By James BarragánFri, 31 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/31/greg-abbott-state-of-the-state-speech/Gov. Greg Abbott welcomed state Senators during the opening of the Texas legislative session on Jan. 14, 2025. For his state of the state speech, Abbott will address cameras from an Austin-area business.Gov. Greg Abbott delivers an address while welcoming state Senators during the opening of the Texas legislative session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-house-republican-committee-chairs/Conservative activists in the GOP caucus called any power sharing with the minority party a betrayal of Republican voters.By James BarragánThu, 23 Jan 2025 15:43:33 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-house-republican-committee-chairs/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House Speaker on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session, in Austin.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, addresses the House after being sworn in as House Speaker, on the first day of the 89th Texas Legislative Session at the capitol in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/tribcast-texas-donald-trump/Matthew Choi, our Washington correspondent, joins the gang to discuss what lies ahead with Trump back in the White House.By James BarragánTue, 21 Jan 2025 13:44:10 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/tribcast-texas-donald-trump/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-house-speaker-democrats-dustin-burrows/The Democrats’ short list of possible benefits: A leader who learned to keep promises, a chance at chairing committees, and what they see as more chances for a fairer playing field.By James Barragán and Jasper SchererFri, 17 Jan 2025 12:38:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-house-speaker-democrats-dustin-burrows/State Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, hugs fellow Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and David Cook, R-Mansfield, after Burrows won the vote for speaker.State Rep. Toni Rose, D-Dallas, hugs fellow Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and David Cook, R-Mansfield, after Burrows won the vote for the next Speaker of the Texas House Of Representatives on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-house-speaker-dustin-burrows-david-cook/The new speaker will have a dramatic impact on the direction of this year’s lawmaking — and potentially the future of the Legislature.By James BarragánTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-house-speaker-dustin-burrows-david-cook/The House Chamber on June 21, 2021.The House Chamber on June 21, 2021.Sophie Park/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/The Texas House kicked off the 2025 session by electing an establishment Republican to lead the chamber, drawing criticism from within the GOP.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey, Jasper Scherer, Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George, right, speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/shawn-thierry-greg-abbott-juvenile-justice-board/Thierry became a Republican cause celebré for breaking with Democrats over her views on transgender rights.By James BarragánMon, 13 Jan 2025 15:29:16 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/13/shawn-thierry-greg-abbott-juvenile-justice-board/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/ken-paxton-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Paxton’s latest tour is the continuation of his efforts in the past year to get political revenge on House Republicans who supported his impeachment.By James BarragánMon, 06 Jan 2025 16:22:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/06/ken-paxton-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/Burrows claims the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats, while Cook has the endorsement of the GOP caucus.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey and Jasper SchererSat, 07 Dec 2024 17:14:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/