Cars registered in Texas after 2025 will no longer need to pass a safety inspection, but owners will still pay the fee
Cars in some of Texas’ larger counties will still be required to have their emission output checked. Full Story
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![Inspection stickers will begin disappearing from Texas vehicles when the state rolls out a new single-sticker program for inspection and registration on March 1, 2015.]()
Credit: Ryan McCrimmon for The Texas Tribune -
Tension over property taxes produces rare public clash between Dan Patrick, Greg Abbott
Always happy to castigate the Texas House, Patrick breaks form to criticize the governor as misinformed and unsympathetic toward homeowners. Full Story
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![From left: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Abbott backs Phelan’s property tax cut plan, spurring ire from Patrick
The House passed a bill without Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s preferred increase to homestead exemptions — then abruptly adjourned for the special session. That basically tells the Senate to take the House bill Gov. Greg Abbott backs or leave it. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 88th Legislative Session with Sherry Sylvester, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF Headquarters in downtown Austin, on May 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
The first time Texas Senate convicted a state official, the chaotic trial lasted three weeks
In 1917, lawmakers debated the extent of their constitutional authority before they convicted Gov. James “Pa” Ferguson and removed him from office. Full Story
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![Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, who served as the 29th and 32nd Governor of Texas, and her husband James "Pa" Ferguson, who was the 26th governor, his term cut short after he was impeached and removed from office.]()
Credit: Texas State Library and Archives Commission -
Ken Paxton impeachment fight exposes deep fissures among Texas Republicans
As the 88th Legislative Session came to a close, longstanding divisions between traditional conservatives and party’s far right came into focus. Full Story
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![From left: State Reps. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, Eddie Morales, Jr., D-Eagle Pass, and Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, wait as Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, speaks at the back mike as the impeachment proceedings against Ken Paxton are debated on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
AG KEN PAXTON IS IMPEACHED
The House voted 121-23 to suspend the attorney general and refer him to the Senate for trial on charges of bribery, abuse of office and obstruction. It was the first such impeachment since 1975. Full Story
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![The Texas House voted to impeach state Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Donald Trump, Ted Cruz denounce effort to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton
Trump made clear that he will politically target any Texas House Republican who lets the impeachment move forward. Full Story
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![Former president Donald Trump pats Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on the shoulder as he leaves the stage during a rally in Robstown, on Oct. 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Lucas Boland/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via REUTERS -
Paxton defenders compare him to Trump as House hears impeachment charges
The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23, with three members absent. Full Story
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![General Investigating Committee head Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, lays out articles of impeachment against AG Ken Paxton on May 27, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Effort to impeach Ken Paxton, led by fellow Republicans, sets off political earthquake in Texas
Republicans have chosen to remain largely silent during years of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking by the attorney general. Now they will have to take a public stand. Full Story
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![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Attorney General Ken Paxton conferring with Gov. Greg Abbott outside the Senate chamber before his swearing in ceremony in Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
House committee issues 20 articles of impeachment against Ken Paxton
The attorney general, reelected last year by voters who shrugged off his scandals, is accused of a yearslong pattern of alleged misconduct and lawbreaking. The full House is expected to consider the articles soon. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to supporters Paxton Watch Party Barn in Plano after being re-elected on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
House panel investigating AG Ken Paxton’s office; Paxton calls on Speaker Dade Phelan to resign
The dramatic turn of events began with Paxton accusing Phelan of presiding over the House while drunk. Phelan’s office called it a ploy and “a last ditch effort to save face.” Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, left, presides over the house on May 13, 2021, and state Attorney General Ken Paxton, right, gives a speech in the Senate chamber during his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 10, 2023.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Abbott, Patrick, Phelan race to negotiate priority issues as deadlines loom
Seeking to avoid a special session, the state leaders discuss school choice, property taxes and grid reform. Full Story
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![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in the governor's office on Monday, May 22, 2023.]()
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A ban on Texas public universities’ diversity offices inches closer to becoming law
Republicans are at odds on whether to advance, contest or even toss out the House’s amended version of the bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices. Full Story
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![Students on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Nov. 29, 2021.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
House waters down some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priorities, adding to late-session uncertainty
Although the lower chamber backed the Senate’s action on gender-affirming care, it has been less accepting of school choice and attempts to rein in higher education. Full Story
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![Lt. Governor Dan Patrick presides over the Senate at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Why tax policy experts fear the Texas House plan to lower property taxes could have dire ripple effects
Both the House and the Senate’s proposals on property tax cuts would give modest savings to the typical Texas homeowner, but critics say the House plan could create vast inequities and disproportionately benefit wealthy homeowners. Full Story
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![A home in a Houston neighborhood on Dec. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Effort to allow casinos falls short in Texas House
Facing a rigid deadline, gaming supporters were unable to get the supermajority support needed to move the legislation forward. Full Story
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![A cup with the message "I'd rather be a the casino" sits on the desk of state Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor at the state Capitol on April 6, 2023.]()
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In dramatic vote, Texas House approves online sports betting measure
A resolution to let voters decide whether to legalize casino gambling, however, was delayed for a day while supporters worked to find enough support for passage. Full Story
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![A gambler stacks chips at a roulette table during the reopening of Bellagio hotel-casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 2020.]()
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Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universities
A new version of Senate Bill 18 scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday would keep faculty tenure and direct university governing boards to establish policies to grant and revoke tenure. Full Story
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![Students walk through campus at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.]()
Credit: Emil Lippe for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House committee recommends expelling Rep. Bryan Slaton
The House General Investigating Committee found that Slaton, a Republican from Royse City, engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with a subordinate. The Texas Tribune previously reported on an allegation that he had sex with one of his staff, a woman under 21, and gave her alcohol. Full Story
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![State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royce City, sits at his desk in the House Chamber on May 5, 2023. Slaton is under House investigation for alleged liaisons with a Capitol staffer.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Can Texas’ political leaders stop their bickering for the legislative homestretch?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the final three weeks of the Legislature and Colin Allred’s bid for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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![Representatives recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the House floor in Austin on April 18, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune