John Wray fights for old Texas House seat against Brian Harrison in special election that has turned personal
The two Republicans are fighting to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey, R-Waxahachie, who is now a congressman. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/699395907846bd9dc024366dc447e0f6/House%20chamber%20MGO%20TT%2006.jpg)
-
![The House floor at the end of day one for the third special session on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune -
Texas bill restricting transgender student athletes’ sports participation has enough votes to pass, House Speaker Dade Phelan says
Three times this year — in the regular session and in two subsequent special sessions — legislation targeting transgender student athletes sailed through the Senate only to falter in the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0fcf2cf7a23f6296cc77fec9de63b981/TTF21%20Dade%20Phelan%20EG.TT.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan sits on an interview with The Texas Tribune at the Capitol on Aug. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans hope to flip San Antonio-area House seat in Tuesday special election
After upsets in previous special elections and President Joe Biden’s underperformance in South Texas last year, Democrats running for an open Texas House seat are taking the GOP threat seriously. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d72ea0e6b2886cd46ebf70737827fae/House%20Floor%20823%20EG%20TT%2054.jpeg)
![Roll call is tallied on the House Floor on Aug. 23, 2021]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Chris Paddie, chair of powerful state affairs committee, says he won’t run for reelection
The news comes less than a month after Paddie, who has represented House District 9 since 2013, announced he would run for reelection. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c7cefb3910514cb478cda44d189a00b/House%20Floor%20May%2023%20JV%20TT%2018.jpg)
![State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, speaks from the podium at the front of the House of Representatives on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Law enforcement warns of “credible threat” against Texas legislators who voted for abortion ban
The threat was apparently made on Reddit and included the names of House and Senate members who voted for Senate Bill 8 during the regular legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a6319bf07cbe112c05e967745e3b204c/House%20File%20817%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The House floor on Aug. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Austin state Rep. Celia Israel won’t run for reelection, is exploring mayoral run
Israel’s decision creates a vacancy in Austin-area House District 50 with redistricting underway at the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1c6c9af443af7d5b70bf97bd960955d2/05_Celia_Israel_Voter_Rolls_Press_Conference_EW.jpg)
![State Rep. Celia Israel, D-Austin, during the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and House Elections Committee press conference regarding the statements released about the alleged 95,000 non-citizens on the voter rolls, in Austin on Jan. 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
First draft of Legislature’s map of new State Board of Education districts shores up Republican majority
The Republican-dominated, 15-member board determines what millions of public school students in the state are taught in classrooms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Scott Sanford, a McKinney Republican, announces he’ll retire at the end of his term
Sanford’s announcement came a day before the Texas Legislature reconvenes for a third special session of 2021. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/da5562b95b7ce82f6ca218e7425cb001/State%20Rep%20Scott%20Sanford%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Scott Sanford, R-McKinney, announced that he would not file for re-election on Sept. 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Texas House of Representatives -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill restoring the funding that he vetoed for the Texas Legislature and its 2,100 state employees
Abbott vetoed the funding earlier this year as retribution for the House Democrats’ walkout to block the GOP elections bill at the end of the regular session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aad3145faabab2c0a3c0cb88c22e0180/House%20Floor%20May%2023%20JV%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with lawmakers on the House floor during the legislative session on Sunday, May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Special election runoff between John Wray and Brian Harrison for state House district in North Texas set for Sept. 28
The two Republicans are vying to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey, who is now in Congress. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3cdc92bf9d9453af2babb27a0288c0bd/Capitol%20File%20SP%20TT%2006.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol on June 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
How the quorum break got broken: Texas Democrats splintered during second session break
For House Democrats, the story of the second special session is much different from that of the first one. The excitement of leaving the state had worn off, the media spotlight had dimmed and the pressures to return home were mounting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3c7108110219fbecf70891574dbfc47a/House%20Floor%20823%20EG%20TT%2011.jpg)
![From left: Houston democratic state Reps. Ana Hernandez, Garnet Coleman, and Armando Lucio Walle on the House floor on Aug. 23, 2021]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Special Texas House election for former state Rep. Leo Pacheco’s San Antonio-area district will be Sept. 28
Gov. Greg Abbott set the special election date Tuesday. The race has already drawn several candidates from both parties, and Republicans are eager to make inroads in the San Antonio-area district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8d4b61df620d89b26ba61fc965eac4d9/House%20Floor%20823%20EG%20TT%2031.jpg)
![Empty chairs on the House floor on Aug. 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature adjourns second special session after passing more of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities
The Legislature is expected to return soon for another special session focused on redrawing the state's political maps. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a4fec613eaeff7895ed93324412b26b5/House%20Floor%20JV%20TT%2011.jpg)
![Speaker Dade Phelan presides over the Texas House of Representatives on Aug. 16, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
GOP bill targeting how race, slavery and history are taught in Texas schools heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Before the second special session ended, lawmakers sent the GOP-backed bill for the governor's signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d914aea13e6280ddc5df73143bbbc7f8/Chapa%20Middle%20School%20JV%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Students work at their desks during a geometry class at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Social media companies can’t ban Texans over political viewpoints under new law
The law requires social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram to produce regular reports of removed content and disclose their content regulations procedures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b46299514b9b2d78ae1ff6ce8c4a03a2/Big%20Tech%20Social%20Media%20Icons%20IS%20TT.jpg)
![Social media icons on an iPhone screen.]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Texas House advances bill to restore money to pay salaries for 2,100 state workers after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed Legislature funding
The legislation will need another stamp of approval in the House before it heads to the Senate, which has not yet debated its version of the proposal on the floor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc189c9101d387ca5b8fe4bc7dd8209d/Texas%20For%20All%20Vigil%20MM%20TT%2003.jpg)
![The sun sets on the state Capitol in Austin, on May 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
GOP's so-called critical race theory bill advances as bill to restrict transgender student athletes stalls in House committee
The committee action came less than 24 hours after Dutton had taunted Patrick, threatening to hold his prized legislation back amid rumors that the Senate was stalling a bill to restore funding to the Legislature. Full Story
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Former state Rep. John Wray vying for old seat in Tuesday special election
Wray is among eight candidates, including five Republicans, on the ballot Tuesday to fill a vacancy in his old House District 10. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dbf8e6d9599cfdd3507af7d021266ab6/John%20Wray%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
![State Rep. John Wray, R-Waxahachie, chats with state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham, on the House floor on May 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas is one step closer to funding virtual learning, but could leave out many students of color
The bill, which would provide funding through September 2023, will head back to the Senate before reaching Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a726020d6c0324454d07cea7fc972f60/Phan%20-%20Remote%20Learning%20JV%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Sophomore Alexis Phan does her Algebra 2 homework remotely, from her home in Pflugerville on Nov. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The election restrictions bill passed the Texas House. What’s next?
In this week’s episode, Matthew, Alexa and Cassi look back at months of political fights after the elections bill made it out of the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9cf1819577ca642081980446d132270e/TribCast%20Voting%20Rights%20Bill%20TT.jpg)
![Voters cast their ballots at the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center near downtown Houston on Oct. 22, 2018.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a5d92bb1cdcb85f97e96d4da38f0f64b/House%20Floor%2005-13%20JV%20TT%2023)