Analysis: 5 takeaways from the UT/TT Poll
After four days, seven stories, piles of graphics and one podcast about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, a handful of things stuck out. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol at sunset on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters wary of making changes to the U.S. Constitution
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wants a convention of states to consider amendments to the U.S. Constitution, but most Texas voters aren't convinced that's a good idea, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Lawmaker says he was "grossly misled" about white nationalist rally
State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, said his office was "grossly misled" by a white nationalist group that wanted him to sponsor a rally at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, on the House floor on Jan. 11, 2017.]()
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Ahead of special session, annexation reform debate gears up
Residents and military officials testified about annexation reform Monday during a meeting of the House Defense and Veteran’s Affairs Committee. Full Story
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![State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, the chairman of the Texas House Defense and Veterans' Affairs Committee, leads a June 19, 2017, hearing in San Antonio on how annexation reform affects area military bases. Next to Gutierrez is committee clerk Margaret Wallace.]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters weigh in on importance of "bathroom bill"
Most Texas voters don't rate proposals to regulate transgender people's use of public restrooms as an important issue, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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UT/TT Poll: Majority of Texas voters back new immigration provisions
The state's new immigration law has the support of most Texas voters, but the differences on partisan and ethnic lines are dramatic, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Beermakers' efforts to get Abbott's veto go flat
House Bill 3287, which Gov. Greg Abbott didn't veto, will force larger breweries to pay a distributor to deliver their beer — even if they're delivering it to on-site taprooms just yards away from where it's produced. Full Story
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![Colorado-based Oskar Blues, which has a tap room in Austin, is opposed to a bill that would require it to pay what critics call an "extortion fee" to beer distributors.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Check what happened to this regular session's most high-profile bills
After 140 days, what did Texas lawmakers actually accomplish? Here's our guide to what happened with the regular session’s most high-profile measures. Full Story
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Abbott signs measure that tightens state law on child brides
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Thursday to prohibit people younger than 18 from marrying unless a judge consents. The measure also prohibits anyone under 16 from getting married. Full Story
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![Trevicia Williams was 14 years old when her mother forced her to marry a man 12 years her senior.]()
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As court scoldings pile up, will Texas face a voting rights reckoning?
A barrage of court rulings has forced Texas leaders to confront whether they strayed too far in enacting voting laws found to have disproportionately burdened minorities. Full Story
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Gov. Abbott signs bill that seeks to end "lunch shaming"
One of the most surprisingly contentious measures of the legislative session — ending "lunch shaming" for Texas public school students — was signed into law Thursday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-De Soto, speaks during a press conference regarding the "lunch shaming" bill on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott OKs religious refusal of adoptions in Texas
Child welfare providers can use their "sincerely held religious beliefs" to decide what homes and services foster and adoptive children should receive. Full Story
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New law clears the way for driverless cars on Texas roads
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill backed by auto manufacturers that explicitly allows autonomous vehicles to operate on Texas roads without a driver inside. Full Story
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![The Alliance for Transportation Innovation in February 2016 offered Texans trips in a driverless shuttle that maneuvered along a pre-programmed route in parking lots near Globe Life Park in Arlington.]()
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Texas Gov. Abbott signs bill to enforce reporting of police shootings
Starting in September, Texas law enforcement agencies could be fined $1,000 a day if they don’t report police shootings to the state in a timely manner. Full Story
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Abbott vetoes 50 bills passed by Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed 50 bills that were passed during the regular legislative session, his office announced Thursday. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
San Antonio voted to annex his home. Now he's hoping the special session will give him a say.
Annexation reform died in the final moments of the regular session. Mike Stewart, whose home is under threat of annexation, will anxiously watch July's special session debate. Full Story
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![San Antonio city limit sign on U.S. Highway 90 west of the city.]()
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Abbott proposal would nullify city rules on distracted driving
Texas recently became the 47th state to pass a statewide texting-while-driving ban. The governor's proposal to pre-empt local ordinances on drivers' mobile phone use could weaken stricter city ordinances that have been in place for years. Full Story
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![A woman checks her phone while driving in Austin. A statewide texting-while-driving ban goes into effect Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
North Texas mayors reject protectionist “Buy American” iron and steel bill
The mayors of Dallas and Fort Worth are siding with Canadian officials over the potentially negative impact a “Buy American” iron and steel measure could have on Texas-Canada trade relations. Full Story
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![Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price]()
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State removes license for eyebrow threaders (video)
The Texas Legislature passed a bill deregulating eyebrow threading, which has for years required practitioners in Texas to pay licensing fees and undergo hundreds of hours of unrelated cosmetology training. Full Story
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Credit: Justin Dehn for The Texas Tribune -
Will Texas lawmakers ax tree ordinances in more than 50 cities?
Dozens of cities and towns in Texas have ordinances aimed at protecting trees. During the special legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott wants to change that. Full Story
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![A tree is protected by wood planks during construction at a private residence in Austin on June 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price / The Texas Tribune
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