Texas has the most people without health insurance in the nation — again
For the second year in a row, the number of Texans without health insurance increased, and fewer people enrolled in Medicaid. Full Story
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![A medical clinic in Austin.]()
Credit: Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Rural Texas and the 86th Legislature
We're livestreaming a conversation in Lufkin with state Sen. Robert Nichols and state Rep. Trent Ashby. Full Story
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820 new Texas laws go into effect in September. Here are some that might affect you.
The laws include new rules for smokers, telemarketers and kids selling lemonade. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Brass knuckles and other self-defense items will be legal in Texas starting Sept. 1
House Bill 446, authored by state Rep. Joe Moody, lifts a ban on brass knuckles and similar self-defense items. Full Story
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Lines to get driver's licenses are long. Texans are skeptical more money will help.
In hopes to provide quicker service, over 90 of DPS' 229 offices — including every mega center and "severely crowded" office — will become fully staffed, while another 100 will receive smaller personnel boosts. Full Story
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![DPS Mega Center. Pflugervile, TX.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas raises the legal smoking age, exempting members of the military
Senate Bill 21, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman, a Republican from Houston, made Texas the 16th state to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21. Full Story
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![English student Kristin Miller smokes a cigarette and checks her phone on the South Mall between classes.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and the Texas political roller coaster
In May, the House speaker was at the top of the political world. In terms of influence, Sullivan and his Empower Texans organization were near the bottom. And now? Full Story
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![From left: Gov. Greg Abbott, House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. John Zerwas to step down in September
The Richmond Republican was first elected in 2006 and resigns as chairman of the powerful budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. He will serve until Sept. 30. Full Story
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![State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, looks on as Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, takes questions about the SB 1 — the budget bill — on May 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Implementation of San Antonio paid sick-leave requirement delayed amid court fight
The ordinance was supposed to go into effect Aug. 1 but now will be delayed until Dec. 1. It requires businesses with more than 15 employees to allow workers to accrue 64 hours of paid sick leave per year. Full Story
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![San Antonio City Hall in June 2017.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: For Texas lawmakers, a ballad of rope and dope
Texas lawmakers made it legal to farm hemp and, incidentally, harder to prosecute people caught with small amounts of marijuana, which is still illegal. Now they're bickering about whether that's the fault of the new law or of local prosecutors. Full Story
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Texas' biggest cities scramble to figure out what the 2019 legislative session will cost them
Property tax reform and a ban on red-light cameras are among bills that will hit city budgets. Local officials across the state are trying to calculate just how much money they'll forgo as the laws take effect. Full Story
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![Downtown Fort Worth.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
After the Texas legislative session ended, Gov. Greg Abbott raised $12.1 million in two weeks
It's the most the Republican governor has raked in during the post-session fundraising sprint. Full Story
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![From left, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen at a press conference on Senste Bill 2. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law at Wallyâs Burger Express in Austin on June 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas is going to court to end Obamacare. It hasn't produced a plan to replace it.
During a legislative session focused on schools and taxes, Texas lawmakers did little to prepare for the possibility that Obamacare will be struck down in its entirety — even as the state leads the charge to have the law declared unconstitutional. Full Story
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![A protester dressed as Death holds a sign during a rally before a hearing in a lawsuit against the Affordable Health Care Act in Fort Worth on Sept. 5, 2018. Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general Justin Nelson (not pictured) was one of the speakers.]()
Credit: Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Jonathan Stickland and Joe Straus, still sailing in opposite directions
As one of the most rambunctious officeholders in Texas leaves the political scene, one of the quietest is swooping back in. Full Story
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![From left: State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, and former House Speaker Joe Straus. Stickland announced he's not running for reelection in 2020; Straus stepped down in 2018.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas is trying to limit public money from going to abortion providers. Some fear other health services could get cut.
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
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![Planned Parenthood advocates rally outside of the Capitol on April 11, 2019.]()
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New Texas law protects rent-to-own customers against criminal prosecution
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
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![SEPTEMBER 22, 2017: A Rent-A-Center in Newport News, Virginia. (Julia Rendleman for NerdWallet)]()
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Stealing packages could result in jail time in Texas after Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill
Starting Sept. 1, Texans who take items from mailboxes and porches face tougher penalties for their crimes. But some say punishments are too extreme since they're not based on the value of what's taken. Full Story
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Watch: Houston and the 86th Legislature
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
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As Texas overhauls schools, property taxes, voters wary, UT/TT Poll says
Texas lawmakers are boasting about ambitious education and property tax legislation they passed this year, but voters don't appear to be completely sold, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a proposed Texas law banning guns in secure airport areas. Supporters say it's still needed.
Federal law already makes it illegal for most people to possess a weapon on secure parts of an airport tarmac. The bill was aimed at also allowing local law enforcement, especially at smaller airports, to take action in the face of an emergency. Full Story
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![American Airlines planes on the tarmac at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.]()
Credit: Getty Images