Texas legislative session begins with heavy security presence following U.S. Capitol riot
Lawmakers gathered for the start of the 140-day session Tuesday as the coronavirus continues to rage in Texas. Full Story
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![Security at the state Capitol increased after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., earlier in January of 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House elects Dade Phelan speaker as 2021 legislative session gets underway
Phelan’s election to the gavel was one of the House’s first order of business Tuesday, when the Legislature kicked off the 2021 legislative session. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, held a press conference at the capitol to declare that he had enough votes to become Speaker of the House. Nov 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: The incoming speaker speaks
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks politics, policy, priorities and the pandemic with Dade Phelan, the presumptive speaker of the Texas House. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature convenes for its 2021 session Tuesday. Here are 5 things to watch.
Much about the session — including how it will be conducted during a pandemic — remains uncertain. Full Story
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![House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Legislature remains mostly white and male
When the 2021 legislative session begins Tuesday, three of every five lawmakers in the state House and Senate will be white and just 27% of seats will be held by women. Full Story
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![The Capitol at sunset on May 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The Texans objecting to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory
In this edition of the TribCast, Emma talks to Abby, Ross and Cassi about Electoral College drama at the U.S. Capitol — and a new session about to start at the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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![U.S. President-elect Joe Biden during a briefing where he delivered remarks on the U.S. response to the COVID-19 outbreak, at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 29, 2020.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst -
Dan Patrick says senators will be tested for coronavirus, seating will be limited for opening day of the Texas Senate
An announcement of protocols for the Jan. 12 event did not mention masks. Full Story
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![The state Senate floor in Austin on Mar. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Presumptive Speaker Dade Phelan says House will take session "a day at a time" as lawmakers balance agenda with pandemic
Phelan spoke with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith in a virtual interview on the day before the legislative session is set to begin. Full Story
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Watch: Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on vaccines and the state’s economic recovery
Texas’ uncertain economic recovery is tied to the coronavirus vaccine, Hegar said, as state lawmakers convened this week to begin working on a new state budget with less money than they had to spend during the last legislative session. Full Story
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Texas’ medical marijuana program is one of the most restrictive in the country. Advocates hope the Legislature will change that.
There are 3,519 Texans registered with the state to use medical marijuana, though advocates say 2 million people are eligible based on current law. Full Story
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Credit: Getty Images/Patrick Morrissey -
The 2021 redistricting process will impact Texas politics for the next 10 years. Here’s how it’ll work.
Republicans will control the process, but a legal and political fight is sure to commence over who is empowered and whose voice is diluted. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in Austin on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune -
"We need to be at the table": Texans with disabilities worry changes in legislative process during the pandemic could shut them out
COVID-19 rules and accommodations are still uncertain in the Capitol, though many people with disabilities don't plan to give testimony in person because of fears of exposure. Full Story
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![Adapt of Texas, a grassroots disability rights organization, held a rally and march to protest proposed cuts and changes to health care in 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick wants to change Senate rules so GOP keeps a key advantage, despite losing its supermajority
The lieutenant governor said Wednesday he wants the Senate to decrease the threshold required to bring legislation to the floor to 18 members, which would allow the GOP to continue sidelining Democrats. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick reminds senators to keep their testimonies short during a discussion on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1663 relating to the removal, relocation or alteration of certain monuments or memorials, on the Senate floor on May 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
On Election Day, Republicans lost a critical advantage in the state Senate. Will Dan Patrick push to change the rules?
In January, the lieutenant governor suggested he could push to further lower the threshold required to bring bills to the floor if the GOP lost its supermajority. Now that that has happened, it remains to be seen whether Patrick will follow through. Full Story
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![Senate floor on Mar. 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune