Texas Lawmakers say Driver Responsibility Program repeal unlikely this session
A measure to repeal the widely unpopular program made it out of the House but died before hitting the Senate floor. Full Story
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House, Senate strike deal on “Buy American” iron and steel bill
Senate Bill 1289 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would require large state projects to purchase iron and steel from an American supplier if the cost doesn’t exceed 20 percent more than the price of cheaper, foreign imports. Full Story
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![Construction in downtown Austin's Warehouse District on Tuesday, May 2, 2017.]()
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Abbott appears undecided on signing texting-while-driving ban
Gov. Greg Abbott appears to be undecided on whether he will sign a proposed statewide ban on texting while driving that is now on his desk. 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 -
Uber, Lyft returning to Austin on Monday
Uber and Lyft are returning to Austin on Monday, the same day Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign ride-hailing legislation passed by Texas lawmakers. Full Story
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![Uber and Lyft, two San Francisco-based transportation networking companies, have launched services in several Texas cities.]()
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House backs proposal requiring seat belts on school buses
The Texas House on Thursday tentatively backed legislation that would require three-point seat belts be installed on new school buses across the state. Full Story
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![Eanes ISD school bus mechanic Chase Roberts washes the dirt off the advertising on buses in West Lake Hills, Texas, on Feb. 14, 2012.]()
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Senate sends bill creating statewide ride-hailing regulations to governor
After a debate among lawmakers over the best way to regulate services like Uber and Lyft, the Texas Senate tentatively backed a proposal that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, visits with State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, after Senate passage of HB 100, which would regulate ride-hailing companies statewide.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers resume efforts to provide Texans with toll road relief
Amid debate on a routine measure designed to keep the state's transportation agency in business, House lawmakers on Tuesday renewed their efforts to curb the growing number of toll lanes in the state. Full Story
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![State Reps Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, and Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, negotiate with House members with amendments to SB 312, the Texas Dept. of Transportation sunset bill on May 16, 2017. Pickett is a member of the House transportation committee and Gonzales is overseeing sunset legislation.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate revives House version of ride-hailing bill, keeping “sex” amendment alive
A bill meant to regulate ride-hailing companies has now made its way to the Senate — and senators have revived controversial language that would define "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, at a Business and Commerce Committee hearing on March 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes measure to increase “Buy America” provisions
Senate Bill 1289 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would increase “Buy America” provisions already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board to all state agencies. Full Story
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![State Reps. Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie (left), and Chris Paddie, R-Marshall on April 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senator strips “sex” amendment from bill backed by Uber and Lyft
The Senate sponsor of a bill meant to create statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies said Thursday he had stripped a controversial amendment that would define "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
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House defeats bill that would’ve allowed the expansion of toll road projects
The Texas House shot down House Bill 2861, a measure that would’ve allowed the Texas Department of Transportation to use tolls to fund the construction, renovation or widening of several highways. Full Story
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Opponents of proposed Dallas-Houston bullet train push lawmakers to kill it
As the legislative session reaches its final weeks, opponents of a private firm's plans to build a bullet train line between Dallas and Houston are urging lawmakers will pass one of several bills that would likely kill it. Full Story
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![The JR Central N700 Series, a Japanese Shinkansen bullet train.]()
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Senate passes bill to eliminate most vehicle safety inspections
The Texas Senate on Thursday gave its blessing to a bill that would eliminate the state’s vehicle safety inspection requirement for most vehicles. It would still apply for commercial vehicles. Full Story
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![Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas, shows his copy of the U.S. Constitution during the Open Carry Texas rally Jan. 13, 2017 at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: A high-stakes budget duel — if Texas lawmakers want one
The Senate doesn't like the House's hit on the Rainy Day Fund. The House doesn't like the Senate's delay of a deposit into the state's highway fund. Neither wants to raise taxes. But all is not yet lost — unless they want to fight about it. 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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Uber picks Dallas, Fort Worth as test cities for flying vehicle network
The company also tapped a Dallas real estate development firm and Fort Worth's Bell Helicopter to develop pick-up and drop-off sites for electric vehicles that would take-off and land vertically. Full Story
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![Artist's visualization of a Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft in Dallas.]()
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Uber and Lyft call "sex" amendment disappointing, unnecessary
Representatives for Uber and Lyft say an amendment to a statewide ride-hailing bill that defines "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female" is disappointing and unnecessary. Full Story
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State's top lawyer sides with Texas Senate in budget dispute
Attorney General Ken Paxton sided with the Texas Senate Friday in a dispute among legislative budget-writers over a $2.5 billion accounting trick using state transportation funds. Full Story
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Bathrooms and ride-hailing cross paths in the Texas Legislature (video)
House Republicans successfully added gender-defining language to a bill that would regulate companies like Uber and Lyft. That's among the news in this week's Texas Political Roundup. Full Story
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House Democrats disavow ride-hailing bill after addition of “sex” amendment
A group of House members removed their names as co-authors of a bill that would regulate ride-hailing companies because of an amendment that defines “sex” as the “physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, reacts to comments from Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, during debate on House Bill 100 on April 19, 2017. The bill seeks state-level regulation of transportation network companies.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Austin group aims to reframe debates around city's development
Evolve Austin, a nonprofit that advocates for denser development and more affordable housing, is aligning with some high-profile real estate and business groups to push for changes to how Austin regulates land use. Full Story
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Credit: Dave Wilson