Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick picks former Houston judge as adviser during Ken Paxton impeachment trial
Patrick, who will preside over the trial, will rely on former state appeals court Judge Marc Brown for advice during the proceedings. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over on the Senate floor during the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
After property-tax deal, Speaker Dade Phelan weighs in on leadership relations, next special session, reelection
Rapport among the state’s top three Republicans has greatly improved, the House leader said, but another relationship-testing special session awaits on contentious education issues. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels in the session on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton legal team works to invalidate every article of impeachment before trial
If successful, the flurry of legal filings would halt the suspended attorney general’s September impeachment trial before it truly begins in the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, speaks during a press conference at the Travis County Republican Party suite in Austin on June 7, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton, lawyers test limits of gag order restricting comments on impeachment trial
Supporters of the suspended attorney general find ways to make known their displeasure about the case — and evidence — ahead of the September trial before the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton gave a speech in the Senate chamber during his swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 10, 2023. This is Paxton's third term in the office.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M leaders’ text messages show desire to counteract perceived liberal agenda in higher education
Some members of the university system’s board of regents said they wanted to promote conservative causes at the flagship campus and resisted efforts to hire journalism professor Kathleen O. McElroy, who they believed would work counter to those goals. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M University campus in College Station on Nov. 15, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Top Texas A&M officials were involved in botched recruiting of journalism professor, who will receive $1 million settlement
A new internal report, conducted by the university system’s office of general counsel, also looked into Texas A&M’s decision to temporarily suspend a respected opioids expert after she was accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in a lecture. Full Story
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![The Texas A&M Administration Building in College Station on July 30, 2023.]()
Credit: Meredith Seaver for The Texas Tribune -
Texas A&M interim president pledges more transparency after accusations of political interference
In his first comments as interim president, Mark A. Welsh IIII cast recent concerns over political interference in Texas A&M’s employment decisions as “communication breakdowns.” Full Story
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![Retired General Mark A. Welsh III, interim president of Texas A&M University, speaks at a press conference in the Flag Room of the Memorial Student Center on the Texas A&M campus, on Aug. 2, 2023.]()
Credit: Courtesy of Meredith Seaver/The Eagle -
Suspended Texas A&M professor denies saying Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick believes overdose victims “deserve to die”
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham alleged Wednesday that opioids expert Joy Alonzo told students in a guest lecture that “Your Lt. Governor says those kids deserve to die.” Alonzo denied the claims. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dawn Buckingham, R-Lakeway at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Kelly West for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton’s lawyers seek to dismiss 19 of 20 articles of impeachment
The suspended attorney general’s legal team argues that evidence of actions prior to January 2023, when he began his latest term, cannot be considered in the Senate impeachment trial. Full Story
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![Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Ken Paxton and wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, R-McKinney, in the Senate chamber on January 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Paxton lawyers seek to disqualify 3 Democratic senators as impeachment jurors
The motion asks Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to block the senators from voting on articles of impeachment, arguing that past statements critical of the attorney general show unacceptable bias. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Nathan Johnson of Dallas, Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, and Sen. José Menéndez of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar/Evan L'Roy/Bob Daemmerich for The Texas Tribune -
2021 statements about role of outside lawyer could play a part in Ken Paxton impeachment trial
Paxton’s top aide told senators that an agency-hired lawyer worked with the Travis County district attorney’s office to investigate a complaint by Nate Paul. County prosecutors dispute that. Full Story
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![First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster speaks during a press conference in the William Clements Building in Austin on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Pro-Paxton group gives $3 million to impeachment trial judge Dan Patrick
Defend Texas Liberty was the lieutenant governor’s largest benefactor in late June, providing a $1 million donation and $2 million loan to his campaign. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to media during a press conference in the offices of Blakemore & Associates in Houston on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Acting as Paxton impeachment judge, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issues sweeping gag order
“Prejudicial and inflammatory statements” from both sides have jeopardized the ability of senators to offer fair and impartial justice, Patrick says. Violators can be found in contempt, jailed and fined. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gavels in the Senate at the state capitol in Austin on June 20, 2023.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas lawmakers approve property tax cuts after 7 months of trying
In this week’s episode, we discuss the winners and losers — politically and financially — after lawmakers approved an $18 billion tax cut bill. Full Story
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![A home in East Austin in 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Property tax special session is over, but months of acrimony could complicate Texas lawmakers’ mission as more work awaits
Efforts to repair rifts, particularly among Republican leaders, begin as another contentious special session looms on Gov. Greg Abbott’s call for “school choice.” Full Story
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![Speaker of the House Dade Phelan gavels the House into session on the first day of the second special session at the state Capitol in Austin on June 28, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Long-awaited $18 billion property tax-cut deal heads to Gov. Greg Abbott
House Democrats attempted to insert benefits for renters and more money for public education into the tax-cuts package in a series of floor amendments but were unsuccessful. Full Story
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![An Aerial image of a suburban neighborhood in San Marcos on October 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House and Senate reach a deal on how to cut property taxes
The deal would channel $12 billion to reduce the school property tax rate for homeowners and business properties, increase the homestead exemption, and create a pilot program to reduce taxes on certain residential and commercial properties. The legislation is expected to pass later this week. Full Story
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![A roofing crew begins to shingle a home under construction in the new Pavilion Park housing development on March 14, 2022 in north Midland.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribune -
As Texas lawmakers tussle over property tax relief, it’s unclear whether renters will benefit
Texas’ top Republicans are fighting over how to split property tax cuts between businesses and homeowners. Democrats want renters to see relief, too. Full Story
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![An aerial view of the Kelly Village housing complex in Houston on Sept. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
With second special session underway, Texas lawmakers offer opening property tax-cut proposals
A stalemate among Texas’ top Republicans has dragged on for months. Tax-cut proponents in the House and Senate made their first pitches to end the impasse Wednesday. Full Story
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![Residents put up flags for the Fourth of July in a neighborhood on the south side of Pasadena on July 1, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
A property tax deal has eluded Texas lawmakers. Here’s where things stand at the start of another special session.
Top Republicans promised property tax cuts, but have been locked in standoffs on how to achieve it. Gov. Greg Abbott has called another overtime legislative session in hopes of solidifying a plan. Full Story
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![A house in the Windsor Park neighborhood of East Austin on Nov. 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune