Abbott promises special session announcement "later this week"
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday promised to make an announcement "later this week" on whether he will call a special session. Full Story
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![At an outdoor bill-signing ceremony in Austin, Gov. Greg Abbott tells reporters he'll make an announcement on a special session later this week.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers teeter on the brink of special session
As of Sunday night, lawmakers still had little to show for two assignments Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had given them in the home stretch: property tax reform and a "bathroom bill" that would regulate which restrooms transgender Texans can use. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott looks on as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (left) and House Speaker Joe Straus shake hands at the Capitol on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Legislature approves bill requiring disclosure of government contracts
Politicians who make money off government contracts will have to disclose the work under a bill that got final approval in the Legislature Sunday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House, Senate accuse each other of inaction on critical legislation
House members accused the Senate of playing games with Texans’ health and safety by holding out on legislation that would keep state agencies, including the Texas Medical Board, in existence. Full Story
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![Flanked by fellow lawmakers from the House, State Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, speaks at a press conference on May 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Political showdown over bathrooms has been years in the making
Well before the current legislative standoff over public accommodations for transgender Texans, the political elements of the "bathroom bill" fight were falling into place. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Joe Straus on the dais in the House chamber for a joint session memorializing the nation's veterans, on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Convention of states-related bill hits Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
A bill outlining the duties and limits of Texas delegates should a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution occur is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for a signature. Full Story
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![People interested in the convention of states process listened to Gov. Greg Abbott speak on Texans' role at the state Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Oversized tweets from a Texas trainwreck
It's the last Saturday of the legislative session — a day combining long, boring periods of inactivity with high levels of drama. In other words: perfect for a wandering mind. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker of the House Joe Straus on the dais in the House chamber for a joint session memorializing the nation's veterans, on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A test of negotiating skills for the state’s top three leaders
Texans will get a close look at the state's top leaders over the next three days — the end of the regular legislative session — as they try to unknot their differences over regulating restroom use and limiting local property tax increases. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are shown on May 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Office of the Governor -
Abbott appears undecided on signing texting-while-driving ban
Gov. Greg Abbott appears to be undecided on whether he will sign a proposed statewide ban on texting while driving that is now on his desk. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott: There is still time to avoid a special session of the Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday there is still time for a deal to be struck to avert a special session of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the Convention of States gathering at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Killing Texas ethics legislation without leaving fingerprints
It's hard to get tougher ethics laws for politicians and officeholders through the Texas Legislature. It can be even harder to figure out exactly who killed them. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, leads a discussion on House Bill 501, an ethics bill, on May 3, 2017. The bill passed, 147-0.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Conference committee approves convention of states-related measure
A Texas legislative committee reinstalled a Senate provision in a bill that would only allow state lawmakers to serve as delegates in a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
![People interested in the convention of states process listened to Gov. Greg Abbott speak on Texans' role at the state Capitol on Dec. 6, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers pass bill making attacks on police, judges a hate crime
Under the bill, any crime against either group that results in serious bodily injury would be a first-degree felony, which carries a sentence of up to 99 years or life in prison. Full Story
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dozens of Abbott appointees surpass donor threshold targeted by stalled "pay for play" bill
At least 71 of Gov. Greg Abbott's nearly 800 current state board and commission appointees appeared to have donated more than $2,500 to the governor's campaign account since 2013. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaking on Sept. 19 at a conference hosted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Workforce Commission.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New in Tribtalk: Sid Miller urges Greg Abbott to veto barbecue bill
In a column for our op-ed site, TribTalk, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller writes that a bill headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk related to barbecue restaurants "needs to be stopped." Full Story
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Credit: Callie Richmond -
El Paso County files lawsuit seeking to halt Texas "sanctuary" law
A lawsuit in federal court charges that Senate Bill 4, if enacted, would violate several provisions of the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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![Monserrat Garibay of Education Austin speaks in front of the Texas Governor's Mansion on May 8, 2017, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4, known as the "sanctuary cities" bill, the night before.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes "second chances" bill for nonviolent offenders
The Texas Senate has approved its version of House Bill 3016, which would make it easier for people to apply for jobs if they have low-level offenses on their records. Such applicants would not be required to disclose their offenses. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott, Patrick: More work needed as special session threat looms
Gov. Greg Abbott says he's optimistic that lawmakers can avoid a special session. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants the "bathroom bill" passed or he'll keep pushing for one. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott signs bill protecting sermons from subpoenas
Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law legislation shielding pastors' sermons from government subpoena power. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott ceremonially signs Senate Bill 24 into law as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and others look on at Grace Church in The Woodlands on May 21, 2017. The legislation shields pastors' sermons from government subpoena power.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Patrick takes hostages — and control of legislative session
Amid rumors of a special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put out a short list of bills he wants the House to pass if he's going to let the Senate advance must-pass legislation. And he appears to have the upper hand in the last days of the session. Full Story
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![At a May 17, 2017 press conference at the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warns he'll seek a special session if the House doesn't pass certain legislation.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune
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