The latest Texas Senate news from The Texas Tribune.
Remaking the state’s political maps — redistricting — is important. One way to tell is that the lawmakers making the maps do their dead-level best to avoid saying anything that might signal their intent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/311cb7d5c4ced880216604fb0c07ac4e/01_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
The House will limit attendance for what is typically a crowded day at the Capitol when family and friends attend the opening ceremonies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/43b9ca602b19e86ff2e2ac82b2fc6193/State%20Capitol%20JF%20TT%2001.jpg)
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he wants the Senate to decrease the threshold required to bring legislation to the floor to 18 members, which would allow the GOP to continue sidelining Democrats. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/58c887b31c92b257ed35af51de3ef760/Patrick%20Confederate%20Monuments%20MG%20TT%2005.jpg)
In January, the lieutenant governor suggested he could push to further lower the threshold required to bring bills to the floor if the GOP lost its supermajority. Now that that has happened, it remains to be seen whether Patrick will follow through. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08730a9fa24cc04df2b060f07652bb78/Senate%20Chamber%20MG%20TT%2004.jpg)
The state's leaders are as anxious as everyone else to talk about vaccines and a Texas without the coronavirus. But this is going to take time, and while they're hopeful, they are planning for more months of pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4d22d027ef5589db17fdd77fead4c27c/Charlie%20Geren%20BD%20TT.jpg)
The Legislature is set to convene in January. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/912511b9dfeb27e7292fa303b520c410/.Duplicate12)
Springer and Luther, who has been a vocal opponent of Abbott's pandemic management, are in a Dec. 19 special election runoff. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a07a3802777178907ec087033a73350/Drew%20Springer%20Modern%20World%20JF%20TT%2015.jpg)
The seasons change in the political world, too. We're in that periodic move from electioneering to governing. The Washington version is noisy. The Texas version is a bit quieter, but it's underway. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/929b53c23ac35999d9a803059ef46d04/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2010.jpg)
Plus, what the Legislature will look like in a pandemic, and what Tribune reporters are watching most this legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24f34d009f5c455b4e838750b23d93d9/TTE-87thLeg_leadart-v3.png)
Texas lawmakers rarely resort to impeachment proceedings, even when elected officials like Attorney General Ken Paxton are accused of misusing their public offices. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/16f76b3e67dfc90ca1aaae47295f8678/AG-Paxton-SCOTUS-0004.JPG)
Thousands of bills are expected to be filed during the legislative session, when lawmakers will tackle issues including the next state budget and redrawing the state's political maps. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3883816b9732d92e94bd58a0744fa392/01%20Bills%20May%2021.JPG)
The seasonal change in Texas politics and government always seems fast, and it's upon us again. Lawmakers, elected last Tuesday, start filing legislation Monday, even as they fill campaign accounts in advance of the legislative session that starts in January. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/24/__95I9613_bills_CMS.jpg)
If you're going by the numbers of Republican and Democratic winners, nothing really happened in the general election in Texas this year. But there's a lot beneath the numbers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/274fbd13f25a2c6c9a42b94672a69792/ATX%20Election%20Day%20Capitol%202020%20MG%20TT%2003.jpg)
Texas Republicans might not be able to do everything their most ardent partisans would like, but Tuesday's election left them in the driver's seat in what remains a GOP-controlled state government. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/135d5f9b2240a3b63f204aa9b842c4a1/Election%20Day%20Kingwood%20BV%20TT%2026.jpg)
Texans were poised to set a record for voter turnout with Tuesday's election. Voters cast ballots in a litany of races, from president and U.S. Senate to seats in the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/71c21b2e901ceb2bdc20ba208bfb0b40/Election%20Day%20Kingwood%20BV%20TT%2010.jpg)
A nine-seat change in the Texas House could affect the balance of power in the Texas Capitol, but also in Congress. Texas lawmakers will draw political maps next year that could remain in place until the 2030 census. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6579f78095bcad9aa4f03fc16b84209/09_HB2_House_Floor_MG.jpg)
Texas Democrats are trying to add nine seats to their total in the Texas House, enough to regain a majority they lost almost two decades ago. But Republicans aren't idle, and they're targeting seats Democrats barely won last time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1b75cfe565467fc66d76a3833e100fd7/ATX%20Early%20Voting%20Day%20Two%20MG%20TT%2012.jpg)
Springer, a state representative, faces Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year after refusing to shutter her business due to pandemic restrictions, for the seat of state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fb2d273c77738156012d1769e191307d/Luther%20and%20Springer%20Split.jpg)
West made the comments Friday to the Austin American-Statesman after his lack of support for Hegar came up at her first debate with Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8a8ab9175cded3ad39c931bfa685cd85/West%20Hegar%20Split%20TT.jpg)
Much of the drama in the rapid-fire race had centered on Luther, a Dallas salon owner, and Springer, a state representative. Full Story