Photos from the new Texas Legislature's first day
Check out our photographers' shots of the visitors, the speeches and the election of the new speaker of the House. Full Story
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![Fog shrouds the state Capitol on the first day of the 86th Legislature, on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House names Dennis Bonnen new speaker on celebratory opening day
Bonnen’s unanimous election marks a new era of Texas House leadership for the first time in a decade. Meanwhile, the leader of the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was conspicuously absent on opening day. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, is sworn in as House speaker by U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Looking on is Speaker Bonnen's wife Kimberly.]()
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Dan Patrick misses first day of legislative session to help with President Donald Trump’s border wall address
His office said he'll be back in Texas on Wednesday. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks at the Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio on Friday, June 15, 2018.]()
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Following inconclusive harassment inquiry, state Sen. Charles Schwertner asks to give up his committee chairmanship
Schwertner was investigated by the University of Texas at Austin after a student reported that he sent her unwanted lewd texts. He denied the allegation and an investigator determined evidence "does not support a finding" that he violated Title IX. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on the floor of the Senate on April 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Lewd texts and school finance scuttlebutt
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the pre-session school finance scuttlebutt, a big Obamacare ruling out of Texas and a state senator facing allegations he sent lewd texts. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown during a March 22, 2018 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
In the Texas Legislature, bills filed on marijuana, daylight saving are all fair game
Watch the first episode of our mini-documentary series, “Under the Dome,” chronicling the cast of characters passing laws in the Texas State Capitol. Full Story
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UT-Austin says evidence "does not support a finding" that Charles Schwertner violated Title IX by sending lewd texts
Lawyers for Schwertner say the messages were sent by a third party. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, leading debate on urban ride-sharing rules in the Texas Senate on May 17, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Carol Alvarado wins special election to replace Sylvia Garcia in Texas Senate
The Houston Democrat narrowly avoided a runoff Tuesday night as unofficial results showed she prevailed in the special election to succeed ex-state Sen. Sylvia Garcia. Full Story
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![State Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, at a discussion of the impending special session hosted by The Texas Tribune on July 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas police made more than $50 million in 2017 from seizing people’s property. Not everyone was guilty of a crime.
Law enforcement leaders say civil asset forfeiture is a necessary tool for fighting crime, but several lawmakers see it as a violation of Americans’ civil liberties. Texas legislators are poised to take up the issue once again in 2019. Full Story
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Two Texas House Democrats from Houston lead 4-way race to replace state Sen. Sylvia Garcia
State Reps. Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez, both Democrats, are the most well-known candidates running to replace former state Sen. Sylvia Garcia in a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016 by 46 percentage points. Full Story
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![The candidates in the special election to replace Sylvia Garcia in Senate District 6 are, left to right, State Reps. Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez, both Houston Democrats; Democrat Mia Mundy and Republican Martha Fierro.]()
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Beto O’Rourke. Julián Castro. John Cornyn. 2020 already looms large in Texas.
Texas Democrats and Republicans are already gearing up for an action-packed election cycle. Full Story
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![Left to right: Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.]()
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Four candidates file for special election to replace Sylvia Garcia
The deadline was 5 p.m. Friday. Full Story
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Analysis: If you can’t win a race for Texas speaker, you’re not ready for the job
State Rep. Dennis Bonnen appears to have secured the votes needed to become speaker. Now, the hardest political challenges begin. Full Story
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![Rep. Dennis Bonnen R-Angleton speaks during SB1, the property tax debate on August 12, 2017]()
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Bill filing for 2019 session begins with legislation on marijuana, taxes and daylight saving time
The Texas Legislature's 86th session doesn't start until Jan. 8, but lawmakers got a head start on filing legislation Monday. Full Story
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![Tracy Snowden Ortiz works to sort bills filed with the Secretary of the Senate for the 86th session of the Texas Legislature. The session starts in January.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State Sen. Sylvia Garcia resigns, Gov. Abbott sets Dec. 11 special election
The Houston Democrat won a U.S. House seat Tuesday. Full Story
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After another member is accused of sexual misconduct, the Texas Senate takes a wait-and-see approach
A recent allegation of sexual misconduct against a state senator highlights the ambiguity that remains at the Capitol over how Texas lawmakers respond to such cases. Full Story
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![The Senate chamber at the Texas Capitol on Aug. 16, 2017, the morning after the end of the special session.]()
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Sexual misconduct allegation jolts Texas Sen. Charles Schwertner's district
Schwertner has denied the allegation, revealed Tuesday in a news report, but his challengers on the November ballot think it may prompt voters to give the race a second look. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown (center) is being challenged by Democrat Meg Walsh (left) and Libertarian Amy Lyons (right).]()
Credit: Facebook campaign pages: Walsh and Lyons/Thomas Meredith: Schwertner -
Analysis: Dan Patrick and the reddest Texas Senate ever
Texas Democrats had a chance to limit Republican legislators' power in the state Senate. But with a special election loss this week, they may have cemented it instead. Full Story
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![Former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock (left) and current Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
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How Texas Democrats lost a state Senate seat amid talk of a blue wave
Republican Pete Flores defeated Democrat Pete Gallego on Tuesday in a state Senate district that Hillary Clinton won by 12 points, prompting Democratic soul-searching less than two months before the midterms. Full Story
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![Peter Flores thanks his supporters after his victory over Pete Gallego in a special election to succeed former state Senator Carlos Uresti, on Sept. 18, 2018.]()
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Republican Pete Flores upsets Democrat Pete Gallego in race for Uresti seat
Democrat Gallego has conceded to Flores in the race to replace convicted former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio, in a Democratic-leaning district. Flores will become the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the state Senate. Full Story
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![Texas Senate candidate Pete Flores applauds early returns that show him ahead of Democrat Pete Gallego in SD-19 race to replace disgraced Sen. Carlos Uresti on Sept. 18, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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