Texas parents: Help us understand your school choices
As we examine school choice proposals before the Legislature, The Texas Tribune wants to hear directly from families who would be affected by changing state and national policies. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Like the Texas Legislature at large, committee chairs are mostly white men
Most of the members of the Texas Legislature are white men — and so are the committee chairs. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus have assigned committee chairs for the 2017 Legislature.]()
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Religious leaders turn to debate over Texas "bathroom bill"
While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick huddled with pastors at an Austin church Thursday to discuss the proposed "bathroom bill," other religious leaders organized at another church nearby to decry it as discriminatory. Full Story
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![Rev. S. David Wynn of Fort Worth, who identifies as a transgender male, speaks at a press conference of the Texas Believes coalition on Feb. 9, 2017. Wynn and other falth leaders from around the state gathered in Austin to help combat anti-LGBT discrimination bills proposed in the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
"Sanctuary" cities, Syrian refugees and stolen jerseys (podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Alexa, Aman and Patrick about the hunt for Tom Brady's missing jersey, the Texas Senate's fight over "sanctuary" cities and Syrian refugees arriving in Texas amid President Trump's travel ban. Full Story
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Credit: Emily Albracht / Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Playing chicken with the “bathroom bill” in the Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is having a hard time with the "bathroom bill." The Senate is trying to pull together the votes, and the House is trying to find some motivation. Both are waiting to see what the governor thinks. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate debates "sanctuary city" bill and ethics reform (live video)
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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![Parliamentarian Karina Davis watches as new Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Texas Senate on Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
At the Texas Capitol, the union dues bill is back
Legislation to stop automatic payroll deductions for most public employee unions is back after failing two years ago. Supporters say the state shouldn't be involved in collecting union dues; opponents say the GOP is trying to cripple certain unions. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the chairwoman of the Senate State Affairs Committee, listened to testimony during a Sept. 14, 2016, committee meeting.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Facing business opposition, Dan Patrick seeks to boost "bathroom bill"
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday decried as "bogus" a report indicating the potential economic impact that could result from the proposed "bathroom bill." Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham give the media an update on SB6 The Texas Privacy Act also known as the "bathroom bill" on Feb. 6, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick asks Texas Rangers to find Tom Brady's missing jersey
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick asked the Texas Rangers and Houston Police Department to team up in finding New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's football jersey, which was stolen Sunday night. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during January 11, 2017 Tribune Conversation]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Rising criticism threatens one-punch voting in Texas
Most states have dropped straight-ticket voting, but not Texas. There's another attempt coming in the current legislative session, and it's got some high-level supporters. Full Story
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![Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Nathan Hecht, gives his State of the Judiciary speech on Feb. 1, 2017 to a joint session of the Texas Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas, a legislative sideshow to the main act in D.C.
The Texas Legislature is primed to go, but this is going to be a session outside the limelight. The Texans are busy, but the spotlight is on the new administration in Washington, D.C. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers his State of the State address in the House Chamber on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
School choice bill pitches savings accounts, tax credit scholarships
Sen. Larry Taylor on Monday filed Senate Bill 3, which pushes education savings accounts and tax credit scholarships to subsidize private school tuition and other education expenses. Full Story
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![Sen. Larry Taylor discusses school choice legislation during a press conference on Jan. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: What we talk about when we talk about school vouchers
The debate over education savings accounts and other voucher programs is only peripherally about educating kids. It's really a debate about money. Full Story
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![Children from charter and private schools all over Texas turned out for the 85th legislative session's National School Choice Rally on Jan. 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Human Rights Campaign to open Texas offices to fight “bathroom bill”
The prominent LGBT civil rights organization is opening three offices in Texas for the legislative session to fight Texas' "bathroom bill" and other anti-LGBT legislation. Full Story
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![An all-gender restroom at The University of Texas at Austin.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas leaders posturing in public for legislative advantage
Texas state leaders are debating several important issues in a very public way, delivering their messages to one another through rallies, press conferences, trade association meetings and the media. Get your popcorn ready. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a rally at the Capitol for school choice January 24, 2017. Both Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick spoke in favor of expanding school choice options. Students, educators, activists and parents marched on the south lawn to show their support for expanding school choice options during National School Choice Week.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pans Texas House budget proposal
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday panned the Texas House's budget proposal, suggesting it is fiscally irresponsible because it exceeds Comptroller Glenn Hegar's biennial revenue estimate. Full Story
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during January 11, 2017 Tribune Conversation]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Straus seeks to publish efficiency report that Patrick wanted scrapped
House Speaker Joe Straus has asked a state agency to release its ideas for improving government efficiency. The request came on the heels of news that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had directed the board to do the exact opposite. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus (left) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls for House, Senate vote on school choice this session
At a "National School Choice Week" rally Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott urged the Legislature to take a vote on school choice legislation this session. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks during a rally at the Capitol for school choice January 24, 2017. Both Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick spoke in favor of expanding school choice options. Students, educators, activists and parents marched on the south lawn to show their support for expanding school choice options during National School Choice Week.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Will Texas pass school choice this year?
School choice legislation hasn't made much headway in past legislative sessions. But this year could be different — here's why. Full Story
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![National School Choice rally in Austin on January 30th, 2015]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Thousands of school choice advocates expected to rally at Texas Capitol
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will headline Tuesday's rally, marking the start of a protracted battle this session over whether Texas should allow parents to pay for private school with taxpayer money. Full Story
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![A school choice rally, part of National School Choice Week, drew advocates to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Jan. 30, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich