Texas legislative session begins with heavy security presence following U.S. Capitol riot
Lawmakers gathered for the start of the 140-day session Tuesday as the coronavirus continues to rage in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9daa6dcdbdf3f06a17d839e8cb96bf66/2021%20Lege%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%20014.jpg)
-
![Security at the state Capitol increased after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., earlier in January of 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House elects Dade Phelan speaker as 2021 legislative session gets underway
Phelan’s election to the gavel was one of the House’s first order of business Tuesday, when the Legislature kicked off the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/abd9934fdbde517767ef4ee47ed057b3/Dade%20Phelan%20MG%20TT%2002.jpg)
![State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, held a press conference at the capitol to declare that he had enough votes to become Speaker of the House. Nov 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Live video of the Texas House and Texas Senate
During the 2021 legislative session, The Texas Tribune is streaming the Texas House and Senate chambers, which you can watch here. The session runs from Jan. 12 to May 31. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/edfc9b8b54d6eb5381e4a4bf7af4cf16/texastribune-placeholder.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: The Texas Legislature isn’t like Congress, right?
The Texas Legislature is more bipartisan than Congress, historically speaking. But a unique set of issues to address and an atmosphere of division emanating from Washington, D.C., could test that in the session that starts Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15a808fb111afeac0bc8c71fb61a7068/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2018.jpg)
![Signs adorn every seat in the House Gallery to ensure social distancing in the house chamber. Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House Democrats ask Gov. Greg Abbott to overhaul COVID-19 vaccine distribution process
“The dearth of reliable public information leads to skepticism over the government’s ability to look out for the public health,” state Rep. Vikki Goodwin wrote in the letter, which 37 other House Democrats signed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/02fb925d0e4b186f478682615cf9689d/RGV%20Vaccine%20Distro%20JG%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Eager valley residents look amongst the rows of cars lined up at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show Grounds in Mercedes. Area residents lined up overnight to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Jan 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
4 Republicans, 1 Democrat file to succeed Drew Springer in Jan. 23 Texas House special election
Springer, a Muenster Republican, is on his way to the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d40f2dace33e2f6ebcca53c6b581352/Capitol%20Health%20Rally%20SS%20TT%20504.jpg)
![The south end of the Texas State Capitol on June 28, 2012.]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Drew Springer trumps Shelley Luther in Texas Senate runoff
The Muenster Republican prevailed over the Dallas salon owner who made headlines for refusing to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ada9dd53d7eeb9e86efe1a5438331a32/Drew%20Springer%202019%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott campaigns hard for Drew Springer in Texas Senate runoff with Shelley Luther
Ahead of the 2021 legislative session — and the 2022 primary season — Abbott is determined to make an example out of Luther, who has become an avatar of his intraparty detractors. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/77913878a25dcee66f04bb5f80dc257f/Abbott%20April%2017%20Presser%20MG%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott announced a strike force in charge of laying steps to re-open the Texas economy at a press conference in the capitol on April 17, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: When mapmaking Texas politicians are smiling and quiet, pay attention
Remaking the state’s political maps — redistricting — is important. One way to tell is that the lawmakers making the maps do their dead-level best to avoid saying anything that might signal their intent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/311cb7d5c4ced880216604fb0c07ac4e/01_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
![The House floor during the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Masks required, COVID-19 tests encouraged for opening day in the Texas House next month
The House will limit attendance for what is typically a crowded day at the Capitol when family and friends attend the opening ceremonies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/43b9ca602b19e86ff2e2ac82b2fc6193/State%20Capitol%20JF%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Texas State Capitol on May 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick wants to change Senate rules so GOP keeps a key advantage, despite losing its supermajority
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he wants the Senate to decrease the threshold required to bring legislation to the floor to 18 members, which would allow the GOP to continue sidelining Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58c887b31c92b257ed35af51de3ef760/Patrick%20Confederate%20Monuments%20MG%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reminds senators to keep their testimonies short during a discussion on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1663 relating to the removal, relocation or alteration of certain monuments or memorials, on the Senate floor on May 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
On Election Day, Republicans lost a critical advantage in the state Senate. Will Dan Patrick push to change the rules?
In January, the lieutenant governor suggested he could push to further lower the threshold required to bring bills to the floor if the GOP lost its supermajority. Now that that has happened, it remains to be seen whether Patrick will follow through. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08730a9fa24cc04df2b060f07652bb78/Senate%20Chamber%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Senate floor on Mar. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Despite vaccine hopes, lawmakers plan for more months of pandemic
The state's leaders are as anxious as everyone else to talk about vaccines and a Texas without the coronavirus. But this is going to take time, and while they're hopeful, they are planning for more months of pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4d22d027ef5589db17fdd77fead4c27c/Charlie%20Geren%20BD%20TT.jpg)
![State Affairs Committee member Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, at the hearing on Senate Bill 4, the "sanctuary cities" bill, on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Key Texas House leader says Capitol occupancy may be limited in upcoming legislative session
The Legislature is set to convene in January. Full Story
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott endorses Drew Springer over Shelley Luther in Texas Senate special election runoff
Springer and Luther, who has been a vocal opponent of Abbott's pandemic management, are in a Dec. 19 special election runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a07a3802777178907ec087033a73350/Drew%20Springer%20Modern%20World%20JF%20TT%2015.jpg)
![Drew Springer at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas elections are over. Now it's time to govern.
The seasons change in the political world, too. We're in that periodic move from electioneering to governing. The Washington version is noisy. The Texas version is a bit quieter, but it's underway. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/929b53c23ac35999d9a803059ef46d04/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Exterior of the state Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Lawmakers discuss the state budget, redistricting and their priorities ahead of Texas’ 2021 legislative session
Plus, what the Legislature will look like in a pandemic, and what Tribune reporters are watching most this legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24f34d009f5c455b4e838750b23d93d9/TTE-87thLeg_leadart-v3.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: Impeachment is a political option in Washington. In Texas, not so much.
Texas lawmakers rarely resort to impeachment proceedings, even when elected officials like Attorney General Ken Paxton are accused of misusing their public offices. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16f76b3e67dfc90ca1aaae47295f8678/AG-Paxton-SCOTUS-0004.JPG)
![Attorney General Ken Paxton walked across the Supreme Court plaza to hold a press conference in 2016.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Bill Clark -
Bill filing for 2021 Texas session begins with legislation on abortion, police stops and redistricting
Thousands of bills are expected to be filed during the legislative session, when lawmakers will tackle issues including the next state budget and redrawing the state's political maps. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3883816b9732d92e94bd58a0744fa392/01%20Bills%20May%2021.JPG)
![The Sergeant-At-Arms' team prepares bills, mostly House bills, marked on the calendar for the next day on May 21, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In Texas, a seasonal shift away from election politics
The seasonal change in Texas politics and government always seems fast, and it's upon us again. Lawmakers, elected last Tuesday, start filing legislation Monday, even as they fill campaign accounts in advance of the legislative session that starts in January. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/24/__95I9613_bills_CMS.jpg)
![Bills stack up on the Senate dais on May 24, 2017. The Senate is facing a midnight deadline to consider House bills less than a week before the end of the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/912511b9dfeb27e7292fa303b520c410/.Duplicate12)