Analysis: Texas leaders’ closely watched breakfast club
One way to check the political mood when the Texas Legislature is meeting is to watch the state's top three leaders — and how their Wednesday breakfasts are going. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f7c6a0e37ee3f6afa885d8f0a48d358/House%20Floor%20Phelan%20BD%20TT%2012.jpg)
-
![Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks to the House of Representatives during opening ceremonies as the 2021 legislative session begins. Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
Electricity repricing bill hits wall in House, marking first major schism with Senate this session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the House "stood for big business" after Speaker Dade Phelan signaled skepticism about reversing billions of dollars in charges for wholesale electricity during last month’s winter storm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/40dc468edd28f8c5018a4a79722c29c5/ATX%20Snowstorm%20Drone%20MG%20TT%2002.jpg)
![An eastern aerial view of Austin after a severe snowstorm dumped heavy snow and plummeted temperatures. Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Masks won't be required at state Capitol — but lawmakers face stricter rules in House, Senate chambers
The Texas Senate and House have different rules for their members. But both require members to wear masks, though there are exceptions to when their faces must be covered. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/83ac09d8d8bf475a2d12b66d36be200e/Lege%202021%20Opening%20Day%20MG%20TT%2008.jpg)
![A sign states that face masks are required to enter the House gallery at the Texas Capitol on the opening day of the Legislative Session on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers plan slate of bills in response to power outages, but experts skeptical there will be meaningful change
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday also said he wants lawmakers to prioritize correcting any ERCOT-related billing errors, including inaccurately high electricity charges. That came after the Public Utility Commission said it will not fix ERCOT's $16 billion power billing mistake. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c623dae9a850c18985c717f49da3056b/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20EL%20TT%2018.jpg)
![Snow at the Capitol in Austin on Feb. 15, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Debate ramps up at Texas Legislature over governor’s emergency powers during pandemic
Gov. Greg Abbott is well aware that some lawmakers, particularly in his own party, are interested in reining in his authority. However, it remains to be seen how much power Abbott is willing to relinquish. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/10431e242ec99e9ea1120ce2807fbd50/El%20Paso%20COVID-19%20Testing%20JAJ%20TT%2005.jpg)
![Medical personnel wear personal protective equipment at a COVID-19 testing site at Nations Tobin Recreation Center in El Paso on Oct. 21, 2020.]()
Credit: Joel Angel Juarez for The Texas Tribune -
Catastrophic Texas power outages prompt finger pointing and blame shifting at legislative hearings
Lawmakers grilled public regulators and energy grid officials about how power outages happened and why Texans weren't given more warnings about the danger. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/120f80cda439cd42c625fb6ed66de545/ATX%20Winter%20Storm%20SF%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Electrical workers repair a power line in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power, and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
Republican David Spiller wins rural Texas House seat, replacing Drew Springer
David Spiller, a Jacksboro attorney and school board member, faced fellow Republican Craig Carter for the seat previously held by Springer, who is now in the state Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d86320c7cb98da458c4c95c7a81f692/David%20Spiller%20TT.jpg)
![David Spiller faces off against Craig Carter for the Texas House District 68 seat.]()
Credit: David Spiller for Texas House Campaign -
Gov. Greg Abbott says power is almost fully restored statewide and grocery stores will soon be restocked
Abbott said power should be fully restored across the state Sunday night or Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/399c0fb207f3a2c7dd3cb86c062a17ec/HTX%20Winter%20Storm%20Feb%2019%20MYL%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Volunteer Catherine Tuppen helps with the water and beverage station at Kelly Village, a supply distribution site, on Feb. 19, 2021, in Houston.]()
Credit: May-Ying Lam for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A winter storm leaves Texas with a black eye
The Texas government's failures in the face of a winter storm have been very hard on Texans, and could do lasting damage to the state's reputation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25dbe56c871458c411fb1770564538ba/ATX%20Snowstorm%20Feb%2017%20MG%20TT%2015.jpg)
![From left to right, Martin Xoxa, Chelsea Pursley and Joe Williams build a fire to keep warm outside of Pursley's home in East Austin. The group has been without power since Monday evening. Feb.17, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: State Rep. Harold Dutton, chair of public education committee, discusses how Legislature should respond to pandemic, winter storm
Dutton joined The Texas Tribune on Thursday for a conversation moderated by Aliyya Swaby, the Tribune's public education reporter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/92be3f20e853d955ed498c2bcd6886c7/TTE-HDutton_leadart-v2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Republican who helped Trump campaign challenge Joe Biden's win will lead election work in Texas House
State Rep. Briscoe Cain was named chair of the House Elections Committee months after traveling to Pennsylvania to help the Trump campaign challenge the results of the 2020 election. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d731bde2a8a1a6e3492722b8f818117/Briscoe%20cain%20House%20floor%20JF%20TT.jpg)
![State Rep. Cain Briscoe, R-Deer Park, on the House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Feb. 23 special election runoff date for race to succeed Drew Springer in Texas House
The race for the solidly red seat in Northwest Texas pits David Spiller against fellow Republican Craig Carter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c90e7303b8e834a62a05a3723a0967b/Election%20Day%20Dallas%20BT%20TT%2002.jpg)
![A young women wearing a face covering votes inside the polling location at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, on Nov. 3, 2020.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
Speaker Dade Phelan shakes up Texas House leadership with new chairs on key committees
With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24486be33edbabd1edece94a9193c490/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A committee hearing room featuring plexiglass dividers on Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Four years in, the Freedom Caucus finds a less contentious role in the Texas House
The group of hardline conservatives made waves in 2017 by sparring with House leadership and fellow Republicans. Now members say relationships with the broader chamber have improved. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/73ab4e724cc2d48635022287d49ba03a/Texas%20State%20Capitol%20MG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The state Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Greg Abbott’s priorities match what lawmakers are already doing
In his State of the State speech this week, Gov. Greg Abbott laid out his top priorities, and his chances of success might be pretty decent: They match up with the issues Texas legislators were already working on. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/619b21c15a02b2e92b261fdc50742523/State%20of%20the%20State%202021%20BD%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State speech at Visionary Fiber Technologies outside of Lockhart on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Pool -
Analysis: Not every legislative day in Texas is a workday
During the first month of the Texas legislative session, the House and Senate will have met for less than a week, and most lawmakers will have been away from the Capitol for most of that time. It’s an early sign that this pandemic-shadowed session might be limited in scope. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/30d4b097ff76fab23a48e17fb52cf643/Senate%20Floor%20Jan%2013%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: How Texas lawmakers are conducting a session during a pandemic
The 2021 Texas legislative session will be unlike any other, as lawmakers work to get the people’s business done in the midst of a pandemic that shows few signs of slowing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/71666e0b5b75e94b2c0ac94793c946eb/Capitol%20Opening%20Day%20JV%20TT%2002.jpg)
![A temporary tent outside the north entrance to the Texas State Capitol offers complimentary rapid COVID-19 testing for all who may enter the building. Testing is not mandatory. Jan 4, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
“If we’re all sick, we can’t legislate”: Coronavirus cases at Texas Capitol put lawmakers further on edge
At least four Texas House members have tested positive for the coronavirus since the legislative session began this month. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dfa6745787969c3e782a1897b31e4941/Lege%202021%20Opening%20Day%20MG%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A state trooper stand guard outside of the door to the House chamber on opening day of the legislative session on Jan. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Two Republicans headed to runoff for Northwest Texas House seat
David Spiller advances along with second-place finisher Craig Carter in the race to replace outgoing state Rep. Drew Springer, who was elected to the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fb5f75adddf6c2325c54cc9150229429/House%20Floor%20Jan%2013%20JV%20TT%2016.jpg)
![The Texas House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas state Rep. Carl Sherman says he’s tested positive for COVID-19
Sherman did not say how he thought he contracted the virus. The House, which gaveled in for start of the 2021 legislative session last week, adjourned Jan. 14 and is not set to convene again until Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1370288af2493f851b08273704393343/Carl%20Sherman%20JF%20May%208.jpg)
![State Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto, on the House floor on May 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune