State Rep. Mark Keough not running for re-election in 2018
State Rep. Mark Keough, a Republican from The Woodlands, announced Wednesday he won't seek a third term in the Legislature. Full Story
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![State Rep. Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands, reads a letter to state health officials endorsing proposed rules on the burial of fetal remains.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Legislators show that men will be boys — if you let them
It’s hard to imagine a female Legislature devolving into a parking lot rumble like the one that embarrassed Texas nationally this week. The ruckus in the House punctuated what many lawmakers have called a notably ugly session. Full Story
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![Following a "sanctuary cities" ban protest in the gallery, lawmakers tussle on the House floor on May 29, 2017 — the last day of the 85th regular legislative session.]()
Credit: Nar Dorrycott -
Even before House scuffle, Rinaldi's seat was a high 2018 target for Democrats
State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, who drew national attention as part of an incident on the Texas House floor in which he said he reported protesters to ICE, represents one of 10 Republican-held House districts that Hillary Clinton won last year. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, on the floor of the House after a scuffle with some members of the Hispanic Caucus on the last day of the 85th Legislature, on May 29, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Uncertainty, deep tension mark the end of the 85th regular session
The 85th legislative session came to a close Monday amid uncertainty over whether Gov. Greg Abbott would call lawmakers back for overtime. Tensions ran high up until the session's end. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gaveled out the 85th legislative session for the Texas Senate on May 29, 2017. Patrick hinted at a special session later this year to take care of issues that weren't resolved during the regular session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Will Straus become Texas' longest-serving House speaker? 7 things to keep in mind
The San Antonio Republican defied threats of a special session and stood his ground on the GOP's battles over bathroom legislation and property tax elections. Now, he's eyeing a sixth term leading the lower chamber. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on May 11, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: How the Texas House’s slow play could play into Senate’s hands
The House left an important bill in a dangerous spot, lost it, and might have created an advantage for their institutional rivals on the other end of the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, reviews a list of bills while standing at the back mic of the Texas House on May 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House GOP tensions come to a head with 'Mother's Day Massacre'
Long-simmering tensions among House Republicans boiled over Thursday night when the Freedom Caucus announced a plan to kill more than 100 bills. Full Story
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![The Texas Freedom Caucus in a hastily called press conference telling the press their intent to kill bills on the Local and Consent calendar in retaliation for what they say is unfair treatment during the House session on May 11, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Legislating, from business class to coach
If you're in favor, Texas lawmakers will meet with you and put your legislation on the fast track. Others have to wait, sometimes for weeks, for a chance to talk for a few minutes in a committee hearing room in the middle of the night. Full Story
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Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo -
House lawmakers hear overnight testimony on "bathroom bill"
If the hours of testimony against the measure are any indication, the House's version of the "bathroom bill" will continue to face fierce opposition from LGBT advocates and the Texas business community. Full Story
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![State Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, listens to the first round of testimony of hundreds signed up against SB 4 the sanctuary cities bill on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Watch as the Texas House debates school finance bill
We're livestreaming as the Texas House debates legislation aimed at boosting per-student funding for almost every school district and charter in the state. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives continues the budget debate into the late afternoon Thursday on April 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House to wade into debate over bathroom regulations
A Texas House committee will take up a bill from state Rep. Ron Simmons this week that would ban cities and school districts from enacting or enforcing local policies that regulate bathroom use. Full Story
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![Bathroom stalls at the Austin Convention Center.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
The House takes up the budget: a day in pictures
After more than 15 hours of debate, the Texas House passed its budget proposal early Friday morning, 131-16. Here's the story in pictures. Full Story
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![The Texas House of Representatives takes up the budget on April 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Amid clash over procedure, Texas House moves to defund Enterprise Fund
While the Texas House on Thursday voted to defund a controversial economic development program and put the money toward services for vulnerable children, a group of Tea Party Republicans complained about the way the vote was handled. Full Story
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![As the state House debates its $218 billion budget on April 6, 2017, Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, tells a packed house that he is upset about a procedural battle that caused his voice to be silenced.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
House budget amendments seek to ignite controversial topics
House lawmakers seek to force debate on controversial topics such as transgender rights, bathroom use, border security and abortion when the state's proposed two-year budget comes up on the House floor on Thursday. Full Story
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Analysis: Don’t fret — it’s too early to say Texas lawmakers will blow this
The denizens of the Texas Capitol are already talking about the possibility of a special session if lawmakers haven't finished the budget and other bills by Memorial Day. They might be worried, but you shouldn't be. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Straus agrees with Patrick on their different audiences
In a radio interview Thursday, House Speaker Joe Straus said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a different audience than he does. "He’s an entertainer, a talk show guy. And a statewide elected official. I’m not," Straus said. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at a Texas Legislative Budget Board meeting on December 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate accounting maneuver finds $2.5B in budget; Straus calls it “cooking the books”
By delaying a diversion of sales tax money for transportation projects, Texas Senate leaders said they had an additional $2.5 billion to spend on needs such as health care and schools. Full Story
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![State Sens. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and John Whitmire, D-Houston, at a hearing on Senate Bill 2 on March 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
House Democrats try again for a minimum wage hike
Though the proposals are unlikely to get very far, House Democrats are again pushing for a minimum wage increase in Texas. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Antony Vance Clicks -
Should "made in Texas" mean 100 percent Texas grapes? Texas grape growers split on wine bill
A bill in the state Legislature would require that Texas-labeled wines be made from 100 percent Texas-grown grapes, rather than 75 percent under current law. Full Story
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![Barrels of wine at William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas, on Feb. 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Huberty on school finance, school choice, A-F (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 2/28 conversation with state Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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