Analysis: Judge legislators by what gets their attention — and their neglect
As the Texas Legislature rolls into its final two weeks, it's fair to credit members with what they've done. But pay attention to what they ignored. Full Story
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Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: A Texas legislative session dominated by conservative issues
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Alexa, Cassi and Patrick about proposals in the Legislature to add new restrictions on voting and to allow the permitless carry of handguns. Full Story
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![State Rep, Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, speaks in support on Senate Bill 7 on the House floor on May 7, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Push to bring casinos to Texas appears headed for defeat this session despite high-profile campaign
A key deadline passed Monday without action in the Texas House on casino legislation backed by the gaming empire Las Vegas Sands. A measure to allow sports gambling looks similarly doomed. Full Story
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![Gamblers play slot machines during the reopening of The D hotel-casino, closed by the state since March 18, 2020, as part of steps to slow the spread of COVID-19, in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020.]()
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Texas governor’s emergency powers during pandemics would be curbed under bill advanced in House
The wide-ranging legislation would affirm the governor’s ability to suspend state laws during a pandemic and allow for overriding local orders issued by county judges or mayors if they’re inconsistent with state orders. Full Story
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![Customers formed a long line for groceries outside of Fiesta on Stassney Lane in Southeast Austin. Feb 16, 2021.]()
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Donald Trump endorses Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for reelection
Patrick, who twice chaired Trump's campaign in Texas, is up for a third term in 2022. Full Story
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![Former President Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Analysis: Republican Texas legislators, like the governor, take a right turn
The Legislature still has plenty of big issues to address in its last month: electric outages, the budget and policing. At the same time, the Republican majority has its eye on issues that are dear to the conservative base: abortion, guns and elections. Full Story
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![State Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, flanked by Republican colleagues, answers questions regarding SB 7, a voting rights bill, on May 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
“You need that help”: Mom wishes she had better care after giving birth on Medicaid
In the weekend edition of The Brief podcast, Juanita Raji says she could have used more time on Medicaid postpartum and supports lawmakers' efforts to extend coverage for new moms. Full Story
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![Nurse practitioner Anika Barber with a patient at the Legacy Community Health Center in Houston on Aug. 2, 2013.]()
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State Rep. John Raney tests positive for coronavirus after being inside Capitol this week
Raney, who has been fully vaccinated since February, "went home immediately and, as of this evening, is doing well," his office said in a statement. The CDC says a "small percentage" of people who have been vaccinated can still contract COVID-19. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Raney, R-College Station, at a House Higher Education Committee hearing on March 22, 2017.]()
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Permitless carry of a handgun in Texas nearly law, after Senate OKs bill
House Bill 1927 would nix the requirement for Texas residents to obtain a license to carry handguns if they’re not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing a gun. Full Story
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![Gun rights activists gathered at the Capitol on April 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Fetal “heartbeat” bill, which could ban abortions at six weeks, nears passage in the Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has signaled that he is looking forward to signing the bill. Full Story
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![A visitor of the House gallery listens to legislators speak during a debate on an abortion bill being considered on the House floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Major corporations come out against proposed voting restrictions in Texas
Dozens of big companies, local businesses and chambers of commerce issued a statement reflecting the biggest pushback yet by the business community against Texas Republican efforts to further tighten the state's restrictive voting rules. Full Story
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![A voter casts their ballot at a polling site at the Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ pandemic budget shortfall disappears, as latest forecast shows a surplus
The latest revenue estimate doesn’t take into account all of the federal relief that has been sent to Texas over the past year by Congress through pandemic relief packages. State lawmakers have wrestled with how and who has the authority to spend that money. Full Story
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![Lawmakers sit through hours of debate over police reform in the Texas House on April 29, 2021.]()
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“My name is Dan and I’m an alcoholic”: State Rep. Dan Huberty confronts addiction after DWI arrest
Huberty was arrested on April 23 in Montgomery County after he crashed his Corvette into a minivan and failed a sobriety test. He was driving home from the state Capitol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, during the committee hearing on Oct. 28, 2019.]()
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Authorities say they won't seek charges after investigating allegation that a lobbyist drugged a Texas Capitol staffer
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Travis County District Attorney’s Office said in a joint statement that they thoroughly investigated the allegation. "No crime occurred in this instance," the two agencies said. Full Story
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![A view of the rotunda at the state capitol. Jan. 8, 2018.]()
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick "optimistic" about allowing permitless carry of handguns as bill appears poised to reach Senate floor
The lieutenant governor said Thursday he still does not have the votes to bring the proposal to the floor of the upper chamber, but he believes that will change by next week. Full Story
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![Hundreds of handguns and rifles for sale at McBride’s Gun’s in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
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In push for new Texas voting restrictions, House panel sets up GOP faceoff over which chamber's legislation will advance
The House elections committee gutted the Senate’s priority voting bill and replaced it with language from the House’s preferred legislation, signaling a divide over which new restrictions will make it to the governor’s desk. Full Story
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![Voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos.]()
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With time running out on the Texas legislative session, health experts urge lawmakers to prepare for the next pandemic
Lawmakers this session have filed a flurry of proposals related to the pandemic. Some, experts say, constitute meaningful reform. Others could leave the state worse off. Full Story
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![Austin residents begin to head out following the Thunderbirds flyover in Austin on May 13, 2020.]()
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Texas' medical cannabis program could expand under bill OK'd by House
The program would be expanded for a number of conditions including chronic pain and PTSD — as well as allow for more potent levels of THC. Full Story
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![Compassionate Cultivation, a home-grown medical cannabis company serving patients throughout Texas]()
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Texas lawmakers send Greg Abbott a bill that would allow Texans to purchase alcohol to go from restaurants
House Bill 1024 would allow beer, wine and mixed drinks to be included in pickup and delivery food orders, securing a revenue stream made available to restaurants in the last year during the pandemic. Full Story
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![Beer sits in a cooler behind the bar at Hops and Grain Brewery in Austin on June 26, 2019.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll sign bill allowing permitless carrying of handguns, believes Senate is “making progress”
The governor broke his silence Tuesday on the legislation that has been building momentum at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![Handguns for sale at a gun store in Central Austin on April 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune