State Rep. César Blanco to run for Texas Senate
He is vying to replace state Sen. José Rodríguez, who announced Friday he is not seeking reelection. Full Story
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![At a press conference at the Texas Capitol, state Rep. César Blanco, D-El Paso, addresses the decision taken by the Trump Administration to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.]()
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Sen. José Rodríguez, an El Paso Democrat, announces his retirement
Rodríguez, who was first elected in 2010 to represent Senate District 29, said he will retire from the Senate at the end of this term in January 2021. Full Story
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![State Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, speaks to the press following Gov. Abbott's State of the State address in Austin on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
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Sutherland Springs pastor announces run for Texas Senate
The pastor, Frank Pomeroy, said Sunday he will run as a Republican for District 21, currently held by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. Full Story
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![Sutherland Springs Pastor Frank Pomeroy speaks at a panel studying school safety and student mental health issues held by Gov. Greg Abbott at the Capitol in Austin on May 24, 2018.]()
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A new Texas law criminalizes sending unwanted nudes. Lawyers say it might be difficult to enforce.
The law will make the electronic transmission of unwanted sexually explicit material a class C misdemeanor. But legal experts worry it could be written too broadly under the First Amendment to be effective. Full Story
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Credit: Photo illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
"No fist fights. No gun threats." Lawmakers give 86th Texas Legislature high marks
Members of the Texas House and Senate wasted little time touting the never-ending "kumbaya" feeling that enabled them to reform school finance and property taxes. For those who covered the Capitol, a substantive, successful session meant a "boring" one. Full Story
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Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
After blocking David Whitley's confirmation, Senate Democrats see bills die on Abbott’s desk
A monthslong push from the governor’s office to confirm his longtime aide as secretary of state heated up in the session’s final days. Some Democrats feared retribution for defying the governor. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Through the lens: The 86th Texas Legislature in photos
Take a look back at the 2019 regular legislative session as seen through the lenses of Texas Tribune photographers. Full Story
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![Flowers and foliage outside the Capitol on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Secretary of State David Whitley departs as legislative session ends
Whitley leaves his job after presiding over a botched review of the voter rolls that questioned the citizenship of thousands of eligible voters. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley attended a hearing with the Senate Committee on Nominations on Thursday. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Whitley, but he must clear the committee and win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate to keep his job.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers are done. Here are this session's winners and losers.
The 86th legislative session is in the history books. Who's up and who's down after the 140-day marathon in Austin? Full Story
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To pass school finance and property tax bills, Texas’ legislative leaders chose cooperation over combativeness
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
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen before a press conference at the Governor's Mansion on May 23, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas legislators strip last-minute $100 million request for border surge
The money had been included in a previous version of the state's supplemental budget, and legislators had intended for President Donald Trump's administration to repay the funds. Full Story
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![Seen is the border fence between El Paso and Juarez on Sunday, February 10, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
With Secretary of State David Whitley close to losing his job, anxious Democrats take attendance
The Texas Senate needs two-thirds approval to confirm Whitley, but Democrats have stood in the way after his office's botched voter roll review. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State David Whitley at a state Senate Committee on Nominations hearing on Feb. 7, 2019. Whitley was appointed to the job by Gov. Greg Abbott, but Whitley must first clear the committee, then win a two-thirds vote in the full Texas Senate.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
“I’m still doing penance”: How Kel Seliger handles life in the Texas Senate dog house
After opposing leadership — and mouthing off — the second-most senior Republican in the Texas Senate is the only senator who was not recognized to bring up a bill for a vote on the floor. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, in the Senate chamber on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Senate moves to let breweries sell beer to go, make it easier to own several liquor stores
The upper chamber added those changes to a broader bill that must pass for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to continue functioning. The House has already signaled it would let breweries sell beer to go. Full Story
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![Oskar Blues Brewery on Friday June 2, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers send bill to governor that would eventually outlaw red-light cameras
The legislation includes a provision to allow local governments to continue operating cameras until they finish out any contracts in effect as of May 7. Full Story
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![A red light camera at the intersection of I-35 and 11th St. near downtown Austin on May 6, 2019.]()
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Texas lawmakers close to sending “born alive” abortion bill to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Republicans in the Texas Senate passed the bill Thursday with the support of two Democrats. If the Texas House concurs with minor changes the Senate made to the measure, it will go to the governor. Full Story
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![Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano speaks at a press conference to announce the filing of the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act on March 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes religious liberty bill that LGBTQ advocates fear licenses discrimination
The measure moved quickly through the Senate after the LGBTQ Caucus killed a near-identical proposal on a procedural motion last week in the Texas House. Full Story
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![State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, on the Senate floor on May 15, 2019.]()
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This Texas bill that opponents say could lead to voter suppression has lost a key bipartisan provision
The controversial and wide-ranging Senate Bill 9 has been pitched as an election security measure, but critics have raised concerns about the effects it could have on marginalized voters. Full Story
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![House Elections Committee hearing on SB9 at the Capitol on May 15, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A rumor of a game of succession in the Texas Senate
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has done his best to knock down rumors he might take a job with the Trump administration. That hasn't stopped talk about what might happen if he leaves his current job. Full Story
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![Senator Kirk Watson, who was recently elected Senate President Pro Tempore, receives a senate gavel from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick on Jan. 9, 2019.]()
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Texas House votes to raise legal smoking age to 21
The bill already passed the Senate but will require another vote in the upper chamber due to minor changes made in the House. Full Story
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![Sophomore Alberto Long smokes a cigarette on his walk between classes. The philosophy journalism double major thinks the campus smoking ban will help him quit.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune