State Rep. Cecil Bell is a member of a committee that oversees utility districts in Texas. Many of those districts give his construction companies big contracts, while some of their lawyers contribute to his campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/IMG_9733.jpg)
Three dispensaries expect to get final approval from Texas soon to start growing and cultivating marijuana. It’ll take another several months before they can begin distributing the kind of cannabis oil that lawmakers legalized in 2015. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/06/01/_BDB5609SB339.jpg)
A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed the state of Texas’ lawsuit against Travis County and other defendants over the state's new immigration enforcement law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/07/SB4_protest_May_7_JA_TT.jpg)
The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a bill that seeks to crack down on mail-in ballot fraud, one of Greg. Abbott's priorities. But in doing so, they repealed another law meant to prevent such fraud at nursing homes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/09/7C2A9599.jpg)
Texas women would have to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions — what an opponent dubbed "rape insurance" — under a bill given early approval by the Texas House on Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/_95I7556_Smithee.jpg)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about Gov. Greg Abbott's comparison of his accomplishments to former Gov. Rick Perry's, whether school finance reform has a real shot in the special session, and how soon the Texas Legislature will adjourn — again. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/22/TTE-tribcast_leadart.png)
Once the lone dissident against an army of elected officials, the land-use attorney made a name for herself pushing back against North Texas' long-planned Trinity Parkway. After 11 years, her fight paid off. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Hunt_03.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott tasked the Texas Legislature with passing 20 items in 30 days. State lawmakers have completed 22 of those days so far, at a cost of $736,000 and rising. The grounds of the Capitol have played host to hundreds of amendments, dozens of hours of debate and numerous rallies. And zero bills have made it to Abbott's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/18/__BDP4667_Trio_2_.jpg)
Since 2016, public entities have had to reveal the businesses they have large contracts with. These "1295 disclosures" reveal numerous legislators among the contractors — and some of those lawmakers have sponsored or voted on bills that help those same public entities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/ETHICS.jpg)
With a little more than a week left for this special session of the Texas Legislature, lawmakers are preparing closing arguments — and obituaries — for their pet issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Taylor_SEN_presser_BD_TT.jpg)
Not a single measure has made it to the governor’s desk despite a steady drumbeat from his office urging lawmakers to go "20 for 20." A "bathroom bill" is on life support, but a property tax measure still has momentum, supporters say. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/08/Straus_and_Patrick.jpg)
A federal judge signed off on Texas' proposal to temporarily move more than 1,000 inmates from one hot prison to 11 different facilities around the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/19/PrisonAir.jpg)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is backing Wisconsin in a high-profile case asking the U.S. Supreme Court whether lawmakers can go too far when drawing political maps to advantage one party. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/02/25/Paxton_TT.jpg)
Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor said he would not accept the House's proposal to put $1.8 billion into public schools, comparing it to driving a broken car into the ground. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/24/_95I9630_Taylor_2__CMS.jpg)
Congress is out for the summer, and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is on a six-day, 20-stop swing across his sprawling swing district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/11/09/hurd-willTT.jpg)
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd logged hundreds of miles Sunday and Monday to hold town halls during Congress' summer recess, and his interactions with constituents illustrated the fine line he must walk in his massive swing district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/07/Hurd_2_PS_TT.jpg)
A law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will let store owners refuse to process credit or debit card transactions if the buyer won't show ID. Some say the law won't override contracts that currently bar merchants from doing so. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/07/APrice-CreditCard-2.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus had their first one-on-one meeting in months Monday afternoon. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/27/Patrick_Straus_shake_Abbott_smiles_TT.jpg)
Nearly the entire Texas delegation in the U.S. House signed on to a letter that bears striking resemblance to one penned by a United Airlines lobbyist, according to a report from Politico. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AirplaneLandingAirportSunset.jpg)
The Texas House voted to approve a package of bills that would put $1.8 billion into public schools, increase funding for certain student groups and help out struggling small, rural schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/08/04/_95I7301_Huberty_lighter.jpg)