The latest Texas Senate news from The Texas Tribune.
After opposing leadership — and mouthing off — the second-most senior Republican in the Texas Senate is the only senator who was not recognized to bring up a bill for a vote on the floor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a1aa0073db9bc074e54897345aa48d68/03_Kel_Seliger_April_11_JF_TT.jpg)
The upper chamber added those changes to a broader bill that must pass for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to continue functioning. The House has already signaled it would let breweries sell beer to go. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c8f0eef9909e431a132f25c1fec88534/01%20Brewery%20Texas%20ER%20TT.jpg)
The legislation includes a provision to allow local governments to continue operating cameras until they finish out any contracts in effect as of May 7. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6e7ec0c2cf3eb4348bd57ebc2d47c5c/05_Red_Light_Cameras_ATX_MG_TT.jpg)
Republicans in the Texas Senate passed the bill Thursday with the support of two Democrats. If the Texas House concurs with minor changes the Senate made to the measure, it will go to the governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e82ad23af16d4535c354af75bec97552/05%20Texas%20Born%20Alive%20Presser%20MG.jpg)
The measure moved quickly through the Senate after the LGBTQ Caucus killed a near-identical proposal on a procedural motion last week in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b1e1c6ec8405b358c7255908929bcf85/02%20Bryan%20Hughes%20Senate%20Floor%20MG.jpg)
The controversial and wide-ranging Senate Bill 9 has been pitched as an election security measure, but critics have raised concerns about the effects it could have on marginalized voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8747b789c698f31681025b7ca0fe7ba6/03%20SB9%20Hearing%20Voting%20Klick%20MG%20TT.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has done his best to knock down rumors he might take a job with the Trump administration. That hasn't stopped talk about what might happen if he leaves his current job. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/768b4641b653565711a05b9cff233173/09_Lt._Gov._Dan_Patrick_Senate_Floor_Watson_MG.jpg)
The bill already passed the Senate but will require another vote in the upper chamber due to minor changes made in the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/87bc869a7d4db507aba67713c807c6b5/Smoking%20UT%20Campus.jpg)
Behind the 181 members of the Texas Legislature, thousands of people work to keep the Capitol humming during legislative sessions. The work isn't always glamorous, but many view their small roles in helping state government function as an honor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7116958a72017087b881793d5ed865d6/UTD-12-Lead-8.jpg)
Some of the central issues are momentous, but the 86th Texas Legislature has managed — so far — not to lose its temper. That's out of the ordinary, but for a group of politicians who don't want to be compared to their federal counterparts, it counts as a kind of success. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0ec648de3e8c308b913f02c2b235b9d1/06_Creighton_Confederate_Monuments_MG_TT.jpg)
The bill addresses many of the conditions of the state's incarcerated women. It would also require the department to offer up to 10 free feminine hygiene products to women each day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f44494e4d432dabf2f54ec8b8ca50e2/Women%20Prison%20Johnson%20TDC.jpg)
On this week’s TribCast, Aman talks to Ross, Matthew and Shannon about how Texas lawmakers' plan to raise the sales tax collapsed, why the 2019 session is like the 1997 one and what we'll be watching out for in the session’s final three weeks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f8daddaf1c11b1ccad5eb630a76ec2dd/TribCast%205_8_19%20MG%20TT.jpg)
The bill would also prevent what abortion opponents call "discriminatory abortions" — where a woman or a doctor pursues an abortion on the basis of the fetus' sex, race or disability. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/640a241cd6dd2dbd83149d9beb714575/Kelly_Hancock_MKC_TT.jpg)
Lawmakers moved to apply the state's sales tax to goods sold by remote vendors who don't have physical operations in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34472c791917858e90ce080d555043a9/iStock_e_commerce_TT.jpg)
Supporters say the measure would prevent women from regretting an abortion after they have the procedure. But abortion rights advocates fear the bill lacks key protections, like a requirement for the counselor to be a licensed medical professional. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/307adb1b021d3815d0705b5809e68771/Angela_Paxton_DB_TT.jpg)
The medical school is projected to accept a class of 30 students for Fall 2020. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f0967a381fd5a5c16b7f18772d6ddee9/01_University_of_Houston_MS_TT.jpg)
The upper chamber passed a bill Wednesday that would add several restrictions on the popular, but controversial, machines. The measure would require scooter renters to be at least 16 years old and it would prohibit more than one person from riding at a time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/da8d0b171322bf3a0296a686c26dbc17/IMG_5255.jpg)
Lawmakers are in their last month of a regular session, with their priority issues — public education and property taxes — still incomplete. If they can't finish without a special session, they'll run into someone else's deadlines; school districts write budgets and set tax rates in June. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d35132be323aefe81b5b11b56edf487f/01_Abbott_House_Floor_JF_TT.jpg)
His comment comes the day after the Texas House gave preliminary approval to the bill in a 98-43 vote. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/66996b50392dd205d434d6c9f3a4ea6c/03_Patrick_Kolkhorst_Conroe_SB_678_MG.jpg)
The Senate Committee on Water and Rural Affairs took public testimony on a bill that would strengthen state oversight of above-ground tanks that hold hazardous hydrocarbons. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4767d57deaacd93b1b4d6307b512bf9/Oil%20Houston%20Facility%20PP%20TT.jpg)