Angela Paxton, Texas attorney general's wife, running for state Senate
Angela Paxton, the wife of Attorney General Ken Paxton, is seeking the seat in Senate District 8 that Van Taylor, R-Plano, is vacating to run for Congress. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton and wife Angela at his swearing in as attorney general at the Texas Senate chambers in Austin on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Cindy Burkett challenging state Sen. Bob Hall in primary
State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, is launching a primary challenge to state Sen. Bob Hall of Edgewood. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale votes on an amendment in the Texas House on May 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: North Texas voters set to see new faces, familiar names
Families in politics are nothing new — they're all over history and, for that matter, the current Texas Legislature. But the upcoming Senate primary in Collin County offers a fresh twist on the theme. Full Story
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![Angela Paxton and Phillip Huffines]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich: Paxton/Laura Buckman: Huffines -
Texas Legislature sends another tree bill to Abbott
Days after approving an amended version of a House bill on tree regulations, the Senate voted to reverse itself late Monday night, rolling back two amendments that House Speaker Joe Straus had rejected. Full Story
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![A neighborhood in East Austin on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Radio made Dan Patrick powerful in Texas. And it's helping him stay that way.
As a political outsider, radio launched Dan Patrick's career. But now that he's mostly off the airwaves and in the lieutenant governor's seat, Patrick's station continues to push his conservative agenda. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's voice has largely left the airwaves of KSEV-700 AM. But he still owns the radio station that launched his political profile, and it's helping him maintain power.]()
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Texas Senate passes bill to allow people to vote on whether a city can annex them
The measure would allow citizens targeted by annexation to vote on city proposals. A similar bill died in the final moments of regular session debate. Full Story
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![Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, answers questions about Senate Bill 6 on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Senate backs bill to roll back cellphone safety laws in many Texas cities
The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to legislation that would roll back local mobile phone ordinances that go beyond the recent statewide ban on texting while driving. Full Story
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![A statewide ban on texting while driving goes into effect Sept. 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Check what happened to this regular session's most high-profile bills
After 140 days, what did Texas lawmakers actually accomplish? Here's our guide to what happened with the regular session’s most high-profile measures. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson -
Abbott vetoes 50 bills passed by Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott has vetoed 50 bills that were passed during the regular legislative session, his office announced Thursday. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott lays out items for a special session at a press conference on June 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera 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 -
Texas lawmakers pass bill making attacks on police, judges a hate crime
Under the bill, any crime against either group that results in serious bodily injury would be a first-degree felony, which carries a sentence of up to 99 years or life in prison. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks on the first day of the 85th Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes "second chances" bill for nonviolent offenders
The Texas Senate has approved its version of House Bill 3016, which would make it easier for people to apply for jobs if they have low-level offenses on their records. Such applicants would not be required to disclose their offenses. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
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 -
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 -
Senate committee advances proposal to gut the Top 10 Percent Rule
A proposal to substantially weaken the Top 10 Percent Rule took an important step forward Wednesday. Full Story
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![Students on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texplainer: How do you navigate the Senate intent calendar?
At this point in the session, there are a lot of bills on the Senate’s “intent calendar.” How can you tell which bills will be considered on a given day? Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Senate approves two-year tuition freeze, 1% cap on increases after that
The Texas Senate voted 29-2 to freeze tuition for two years, and then cap tuition increases at 1 percent plus inflation after that. The idea will now go to the House, where leaders are skeptical of tuition freezes. Full Story
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Bills to plug public information "loopholes" breeze through Senate
The legislation pushes back against two 2015 Texas Supreme Court rulings that have enabled private companies involved with government contracts to keep parts of those contracts secret. Full Story
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![Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, talks about open records efforts on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Phillip Huffines files to run for Texas Senate
Phillip Huffines, whose twin brother Don already serves in the Senate, submitted paperwork to begin raising money for a campaign for Senate District 8. Full Story
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![Phillip Huffines is the twin brother and business partner of state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas.]()
Credit: Huffines Communities Website -
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
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