DPS agrees to reverse new policy of charging for crime lab testing
Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Department of Public Safety Friday to retract its plans to begin charging local agencies for forensic testing. Full Story
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![A technician at the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab in Austin.]()
Credit: DPS video screenshot -
As lawmakers try to curb local Texas governments, big-city mayors left out of meetings with Abbott
The governor held the first of three scheduled meetings with Texas mayors on Wednesday — but there's no word yet on whether he'll meet with mayors from the state's five largest cities. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott announces he's running for governor in San Antonio on July 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
House committee debates addressing property tax bill increases from several angles
The House Ways and Means Committee spent hours discussing dozens of bills that collectively go far beyond the upper chamber’s major property tax bill poised to pass this week. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, meets with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the Senate chamber on May 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A legislative body in motion can do whatever it wants
A Texas governor can tell lawmakers what subjects to work on in a special session but can't tell them exactly what to do. The session that started this week is now in the hands of the Texas Legislature — not the governor. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick confers with a group of senators during the special session on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
As Abbott's special session begins, ill will lingers between Straus, Patrick
The coming weeks will reveal whether the ongoing hostility between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus has paralyzed state policymakers as they take up the 20 items on Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Joe Straus on the dais in the Texas House chamber for a ceremony memorializing the nation's veterans on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott builds $41 million war chest with eye on re-election, special session
Gov. Greg Abbott has a nearly $41 million war chest heading into his re-election campaign — and a special session in which he's looking to keep political pressure on lawmakers to pass an ambitious 20-item agenda. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets Wendy Randall and husband Martin during a block walk the day after his re-election announcement on July 15, 2017. Abbott visited a half dozen homes in Bentsen Heights in north McAllen.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
With no opposition in sight, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott formally launches 2018 re-election bid
Before sign-waving supporters, Gov. Greg Abbott formally launched his re-election campaign Friday in San Antonio, days before he brings the Texas Legislature back for a special session. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott announces he's running for reelection, on July 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
Critics say Abbott catering to donors with special session priorities
As state lawmakers and city officials gear up to battle over land-use legislation, a liberal watchdog group says $34 million in campaign donations from real estate and construction industries "paved the way" for this month's special session agenda. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers file dozens of bills as Abbott officially calls special session
Within hours of Gov. Greg Abbott issuing his proclamation announcing next week's special session, lawmakers had filed dozens of bills including two so-called bathroom bills from state Rep. Ron Simmons, a Carrollton Republican. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Emails show Abbott’s vetoes ruffled feathers at the Capitol
The emails reveal how the governor's vetoes caught some state lawmakers by surprise, while his staff has let evangelical Christian leaders know about vetoes of bills they opposed. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A governor (belatedly) setting the Legislature’s agenda
The regular legislative session belonged to legislative leaders — primarily Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who aggressively set an agenda for the Senate. Now, with a special session looming, Gov. Greg Abbott is asserting himself. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session, at the Capitol on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Hey, Texplainer: Do I still have to get my car inspected every year?
A bill to end annual vehicle inspections died during the regular legislative session — but might come back during next month’s special session. Full Story
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![Traffic on Lamar Boulevard in downtown Austin on June 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: You can fight City Hall — if you’re governor of Texas
Local government attorneys in Texas are about to take a page from Greg Abbott, who spent 12 years as the top attorney for the state of Texas — suing a faraway government that has its nose in their business. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg. Abbott plots aggressive approach to Texas special session
Gov. Greg Abbott is plotting an aggressive approach to the upcoming special session of the Legislature, diverting from his above-the-fray style to try to see through an ambitious 20-item agenda. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017. The session will start on July 18.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
How well do you know Gov. Greg Abbott's vetoes? Take our quiz to find out.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott revealed which bills he had decided to veto from this year's regular legislative session. How close were you paying attention? Take our veto quiz to find out. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott's bill-signing pens. This set was used to sign several bills reforming the Dept. of Child and Family Services and Child Protective Services in a ceremony with state legislators on May 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Beermakers' efforts to get Abbott's veto go flat
House Bill 3287, which Gov. Greg Abbott didn't veto, will force larger breweries to pay a distributor to deliver their beer — even if they're delivering it to on-site taprooms just yards away from where it's produced. Full Story
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![Colorado-based Oskar Blues, which has a tap room in Austin, is opposed to a bill that would require it to pay what critics call an "extortion fee" to beer distributors.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott OKs religious refusal of adoptions in Texas
Child welfare providers can use their "sincerely held religious beliefs" to decide what homes and services foster and adoptive children should receive. Full Story
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Abbott vetoes 50 bills passed by Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed 50 bills that were passed during the regular legislative session, his office announced Thursday. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![A woman checks her phone while driving in Austin. A statewide texting-while-driving ban goes into effect Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
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? Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune