Cosmetology licensing under scrutiny in Texas House
Three bills aimed at reducing what it takes to get licensed for certain cosmetology jobs were considered in a House committee hearing Monday evening. Full Story
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![Bri Liu, a client at Wink Threading Salon in Austin.]()
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New study renews fears about Texas bathroom bill's financial impacts
Proposals to regulate which bathrooms transgender individuals may use could cost the state $3.3 billion in annual tourism dollars and more than 35,600 full-time jobs, according to a study by the Perryman Group. Full Story
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![Bathroom stall at the Austin Convention Center.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Embattled TABC chief Sherry Cook is stepping down
Amid a controversy over travel to fancy resorts and other spending controversies, the head of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Sherry Cook, announced she was stepping down from her job effective May 23. Full Story
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![Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Executive Director Sherry Cook prepares to testify before the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics on April 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House to wade into debate over bathroom regulations
A Texas House committee will take up a bill from state Rep. Ron Simmons this week that would ban cities and school districts from enacting or enforcing local policies that regulate bathroom use. Full Story
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![Bathroom stalls at the Austin Convention Center.]()
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 -
In Dallas and Houston, pension fights escalating, sparking unexpected debates
Houston and Dallas leaders were supposed to each be united on how they wanted state lawmakers to address their respective pension shortfalls before the legislative session even began. (Spoiler alert: They're still not.) Full Story
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![Mayors Sylvester Turner of Houston (l.) and Mike Rawlings of Dallas.]()
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Outlook uncertain for bill to raise age of criminal responsibility
Democratic state Sen. John Whitmire of Houston says a bill that would raise the age of adult criminal responsibility in Texas from 17 to 18 years old fails to address his chief concerns: cost and safety. Full Story
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![State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Six weeks left for the Texas Legislature, with lots to fight over
The Texas Legislature's Easter break ends with a sprint. Only six weeks remain between now and the end of this regular legislative session — and most of the 6,000+ bills under consideration are going to die. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
How do the Texas House and Senate budgets compare?
Both chambers have passed state budgets that spend around $218 billion but significant differences remain. With just a few weeks to go before the end of the session, here's a look at the key sticking points. Full Story
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![House Appropriations Chairman John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.]()
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Analysis: The taxes Texas school districts are afraid to cut
A state law that's supposed to keep a leash on school tax increases might be preventing temporary tax breaks in the Texas districts with the highest tax rates. But reversing it could make it easier to raise taxes. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Will Abbott wield sharper veto pen in budget talks?
With some of his priorities on the chopping block this session, Gov. Greg Abbott may be eyeing his recently expanded veto authority in order to get his way. 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 -
TABC on hot seat over trips and spending controversies
For more than three hours, top TABC officials were grilled by House members for misusing state resources, taking trips to Hawaii on the taxpayers’ dime, mixing vacation with state duties, misreporting who has been assigned which state-owned vehicles, and cozying up to the very industry they’re supposed to be regulating. Full Story
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![Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission Executive Director Sherry Cook appears before the House Committee on General Investigating & Ethics on April 13, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House committee considers convention of states measures
The House Select Committee on State and Federal Power and Responsibility considered measures that aim to pull powers from the federal government and hand it to the states. Full Story
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![State Rep. Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land, listens to testimony in the State & Federal Power & Responsibility Select Committee on April 13, 2017. Miller's House Joint Resolution 39 calls for a convention of states under Article V of the U.S. Constitution.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Watch as House committee questions Texas liquor regulators
We're livestreaming a hearing of the Texas House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics, where top Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission officials will testify about controversial spending practices at the agency. Full Story
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Sen. Huffman, advocates at odds over best way to combat sexual assault
Some sexual assault survivors and advocates are clashing with a Texas senator over the best way to combat sexual assault on college campuses. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
For transgender Texans, navigating public restrooms is already complicated
Five transgender Texans explained to The Texas Tribune what goes into making decisions about using public restrooms, including considerations for the comfort of others and reflections on how strangers perceive their gender. Full Story
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![Lily Pando, a 16-year-old sophomore, used to deny herself water, to avoid the discomfort of using public restrooms as a transgender person.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Constitutional or not? Paxton asked to weigh in on $2.5 billion Senate budget trick
Paxton’s answer to that question could shake up budget negotiations in the final weeks of session. Full Story
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Former lawmaker takes local battle over historic zoning to the Capitol
What began as a local dispute over the demolition of a 1910 house has escalated into a statewide battle over what makes a building historic — and who gets to decide. Full Story
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![House at 405 W. 14th St. in Austin on April 12, 2017.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Top liquor regulator got "hazardous duty" pay on Hawaii junket
The state's top alcohol administrator received "hazardous duty" pay while in Hawaii. And the TABC brass has gotten trained as police officers, which allows them to get take-home cars, free gas and an array of weaponry, according to records and interviews. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by John Jordan / The Texas Tribune -
House committee advances scaled-down "sanctuary cities" bill
The latest version of the Texas Legislature’s bill to outlaw "sanctuary cities" in Texas is a scaled-down version of what the state Senate passed out in February. Full Story
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![A coalition of immigrant rights groups protest SB 4 at the East steps of the Texas Capitol prior to a committee hearing on the sanctuary cities bill on March 15, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune