Texas Legislature 2019

Latest coverage

• Analysis: A quick turn on property taxes with the long game in mind

  By Ross Ramsey Oct. 22, 2021

  High Texas property taxes were an issue in the state's 2018 elections, and you can see from their work on a new homestead exemption earlier this week that state lawmakers didn't forget that lesson from voters. Full Story 

• Analysis: A Texas state budget — minus $38.6 billion in federal stimulus money

  By Ross Ramsey April 7, 2021

  The state budget approved by the Texas Senate on Tuesday is just the start: Lawmakers still have to decide what to do with billions in federal COVID-19 relief money. Full Story 

• This year, Texas passed a law legalizing hemp. It also has prosecutors dropping hundreds of marijuana cases.

  By Jolie McCullough and Alex Samuels Updated: July 3, 2019

  The new law changed the definition of marijuana, and prosecutors and crime labs say they don't have the resources to test if a substance is legal hemp or marijuana. Full Story 

• Texas is trying to limit public money from going to abortion providers. Some fear other health services could get cut.

  By Lara Korte June 27, 2019

  Starting in September, government agencies will no longer be able to provide anything of value to abortion providers or their affiliates. Opponents of the law fear it could mean the end of some public health and education programs across the state. Full Story 

• Children can still be charged with prostitution in Texas after Greg Abbott veto

  By Lara Korte June 21, 2019

  Lawmakers praised a bill for protecting victims of human trafficking, but the governor said it it would have "unintended consequences" and could provide an incentive for human traffickers to use underage prostitutes. Full Story 

• New Texas law protects rent-to-own customers against criminal prosecution

  By Shannon Najmabadi and Jay Root June 21, 2019

  Texas made it easy for rent-to-own companies to press criminal charges against people who fell behind on their payments for household goods. A new law, passed after a Texas Tribune and NerdWallet investigation, gives broad new protections to their customers. Full Story 

• Watch: Houston and the 86th Legislature

  By Texas Tribune Staff June 19, 2019

  We're livestreaming our noon conversation in Houston recapping the 86th legislative session with four Houston-area legislators: state Sen. Carol Alvarado and state Reps. Sarah Davis, Dan Huberty and Armando Walle, moderated by Tribune CEO Evan Smith. Full Story 

• After Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes cyberbullying prevention bill, some worry forms of online harassment will continue unchecked

  By Troy Closson June 18, 2019

  The bill would have made it a crime to repeatedly use social media to harass or torment someone. It was aimed at protecting children from some indirect forms of cyberbullying. Full Story 

• Texas Tech receives $17 million to build the state's second vet school

  By Shannon Najmabadi June 18, 2019

  The Legislature designated the funding for the Amarillo campus over objections of Texas A&M University, which currently runs the only veterinary medicine school in the state. Full Story 

• Texas prison guards to get a small raise, but some doubt it will help with chronic understaffing

  By Jolie McCullough June 18, 2019

  The state's two-year budget provided $84 million to increase salaries for correctional officers and other prison employees as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces nearly 4,000 empty guard positions. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill requiring children under 2 to ride in rear-facing car seats

  By Elizabeth Byrne June 15, 2019

  Abbott said the measure "is an unnecessary invasion of parental rights and an unfortunate example of over-criminalization." Full Story 

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs $250 billion budget with no line-item vetoes

  By Riane Roldan June 15, 2019

  In addition to signing the 2020-21 budget, Abbott vetoed several dozen bills that the Legislature had passed. Full Story 

• Analysis: The Texas legislative session’s over. Now, all lawmakers have to do is sell it to voters.

  By Ross Ramsey June 14, 2019

  Lawmakers are finished with the regular session and now enter the political season, figuring out how to discuss their work in a narrative voters will find appealing in next year's elections. Full Story 

• Abbott extends state plumbing board until 2021 after Legislature abolished it

  By Elizabeth Byrne Updated: June 13, 2019

  The governor cited Texas' continued recovery from Hurricane Harvey as a reason why he was issuing an executive order to continue the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, which was on track to shut down. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs disaster relief and preparedness bills in Houston

  By Lara Korte June 13, 2019

  The legislation includes framework that provides more than $1.6 billion for flood control projects and repairs across the state. Full Story 

• After House Republicans tackle big challenges in session, they face another one: saving themselves

  By Patrick Svitek June 13, 2019

  Some Democrats are mobilizing in hopes of taking the nine House seats they need for a majority in 2020 as Republican House Speaker Dennis Bonnen tries to prevent intra-GOP challenges in the primaries. Full Story 

• Watch: Dallas and the 86th Legislature

  By Texas Tribune Staff June 13, 2019

  Check out our morning conversation in Dallas with four Dallas-area legislators: state Sen. Nathan Johnson and state Reps. Angie Chen Button, Jessica González and Morgan Meyer. Full Story 

• Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill designed to limit property tax growth

  By Riane Roldan and Shannon Najmabadi June 12, 2019

  A top priority of state leaders, the legislation requires voter approval before local governments increase their property tax revenue by more than 3.5%. Full Story 

• Texas vaccine exemption rates have reached an all-time high. Did Texas make it too easy for parents to opt out?

  By Elizabeth Byrne and Shelly Cheng June 12, 2019

  Texas has resisted recent attempts to change its vaccine laws, allowing parents to get their children exemptions for "reasons of conscience." Use our lookup tool to see how exemption rates have changed in school districts and private schools across the state. Full Story 

• Analysis: Greg Abbott, a song of accomplishments and an out-of-tune tweet

  By Ross Ramsey June 12, 2019

  The governor is busy touting the accomplishments of the recently ended Texas legislative session while inadvertently reminding his Twitter followers of one of his administration's errors. Full Story