Past Contributions

• “The right man at this point in Texas history”: How Dennis Bonnen led the Texas House

  By Cassandra Pollock May 30, 2019

  Dennis Bonnen gaveled out on Monday with much of the same widespread support in the Texas House that accompanied his unanimous election to the speaker’s gavel in January. Full Story 

• To pass school finance and property tax bills, Texas’ legislative leaders had to choose cooperation over combativeness

  By Cassandra Pollock and Emma Platoff May 27, 2019

  In the past, personalities got in the way of policy at the Texas Capitol. This year, state leaders refused to let that happen. Full Story 

• Bill lengthening amount of time child sex abuse victims can sue heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk

  By Cassandra Pollock May 24, 2019

  The House initially exempted churches and nonprofits from the extended statute of limitations, but the chamber agreed to include them Friday after sex assault victims pushed back. Full Story 

• Texas' legislative leaders say they have a deal on school finance and property tax reform

  By Cassandra Pollock and Aliyya Swaby Updated: May 23, 2019

  Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced they have finalized the details of the three bills that will accomplish their top policy goals. Full Story 

• This session's biggest mental health bill got killed on a technicality — then resurrected

  By Cassandra Pollock, Edgar Walters and Elizabeth Byrne Updated: May 21, 2019

  Senate Bill 10, focused on connecting children to mental health services, was knocked out of contention with a parliamentary maneuver Tuesday night but was revived as an amendment to another bill hours later. It's one of several measures the state's GOP leaders championed in the wake of the deadly shooting last year at Santa Fe High School. Full Story 

• Gymnasts who survived abuse by Larry Nassar urge Texas lawmakers not to water down reform

  By Cassandra Pollock May 13, 2019

  A bill aims to lengthen the amount of time people can sue someone who sexually abused them when they were children. But the House stripped language extending the limit for certain entities that may be culpable. Full Story 

• In a surprising turn, Texas House opts to delay consideration of sales tax swap legislation until 2021

  By Cassandra Pollock and Aliyya Swaby May 7, 2019

  Gov. Greg Abbott and other legislative leaders endorsed the sales tax increase, intended to help fund ongoing cuts to school district taxes. But it has been effectively killed this session. Full Story 

• Texas state Rep. Jonathan Stickland resigns from hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus

  By Cassandra Pollock May 6, 2019

  Stickland was perhaps the group's most outspoken member. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott, legislative leaders assert confidence as deadline to cut property taxes nears

  By Aliyya Swaby and Cassandra Pollock Updated: May 3, 2019

  Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen did not close the door on passing a sales tax swap with a simple majority instead of the current approach requiring two-thirds support of lawmakers and voter approval. Full Story 

• Change in tax bill would let many cities and counties raise property tax levies by more than 3.5%

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Cassandra Pollock May 2, 2019

  The revision was made in the House. But the high-priority property tax bill is expected to head to a conference committee, where negotiations could change or remove the provision. Full Story