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Texas Senate

The latest Texas Senate news from The Texas Tribune.

Texas Senate passes its own school safety funding bill, but little time remains to get it across the finish line

By Brian Lopez Dec. 1, 2023

Senate Bill 5 would send an extra $800 million to public schools for security upgrades over the next two years. But the measure is at risk of becoming the latest casualty of the rift between the Texas House and Senate. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Pat Fallon says he changed his mind about running for Texas Senate after pleas from his son and Mike Johnson

By Matthew Choi Nov. 15, 2023

The second-term congressman pulled out of a run for Senate after both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson courted him into their ranks. Full Story

Credit: Julia Nikhinson/CNP/Sipa USA via REUTERS
U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon drops Texas Senate bid, will run again for Congress

By Zach Despart Nov. 14, 2023

Fallon, who made the decision 24 hours after filing to run for his old Texas Senate seat, did not say why he changed his mind. His staff said the congressperson would provide more information later. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
Republican Pat Fallon to give up Congress seat and run for his old Texas Senate post

By Patrick Svitek Updated: Nov. 13, 2023

Fallon served in the Texas Senate for two years before running for Congress. He won’t see reelection in the U.S. House. Full Story

Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune
Senate fast-tracks passage of vouchers and border security legislation

By Patrick Svitek Nov. 9, 2023

The Senate revved to life Thursday, holding committee hearings with little advance notice and advancing four bills that satisfy Abbott’s agenda. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
State Sen. Drew Springer will not seek reelection in 2024

By Patrick Svitek Nov. 7, 2023

The Republican, who represents a north Texas district, is the first member of the state Senate to announce ahead of the Nov. 11 start of the filing period that he won’t be running. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
With time running out, Texas Senate punts on taking action on border bill

By Pooja Salhotra Nov. 5, 2023

The Senate on Sunday afternoon failed to take action on a border security bill, leaving virtually no time to pass the bill before the special session ends on Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Watch a Texas Tribune conversation on the state Legislature’s special session

By Texas Tribune Events Staff Updated: Nov. 15, 2023

Journalists covering the Texas Capitol discussed what came out of this year’s third special session and what is still to be resolved. Full Story
Private schools are ready to expand into smaller communities if Texas adopts voucher program

By Brian Lopez and Yuriko Schumacher Oct. 30, 2023

With rural Texas relatively underserved by private schools, the potential for expansion could play a role in the debate over whether to let families use taxpayer money to pay for private education. Full Story

Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
Texas House approves ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers

By Karen Brooks Harper Updated: Oct. 26, 2023

Violations could bring a $50,000 fine under an amendment adopted Wednesday. The bill’s sponsor said the ban would be the strongest in the nation. Full Story

Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
Texas voters split on House, Senate handling of Paxton impeachment, poll finds

By Patrick Svitek Oct. 25, 2023

Republicans showed a more clear divide, giving the Senate higher marks than the House for how the attorney general’s impeachment was handled. Full Story

Credit: Sam Owens/Pool via San Antonio Express-News
House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher program

By Karen Brooks Harper Oct. 20, 2023

The Senate’s Republican bill would let state leaders grow the program by taking money from other agencies without the Legislature’s approval. The House bill would bar the practice. Full Story

Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune
Texas House priority bill increases education spending in exchange for creating voucher program

By William Melhado and Brian Lopez Updated: Oct. 20, 2023

House Bill 1 would make an educational savings account program available to 25,000 Texas students in its first year, with increased participation to follow. The governor’s office indicated that the proposal was lacking. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Two of Ken Paxton’s top deputies depart attorney general’s office

By Vianna Davila, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, and Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune Oct. 19, 2023

Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune show the attorneys were expected to return to work after the impeachment trial ended and their extended absence raised concerns internally about the offices’ ability to function properly. Full Story
After fighting for Uvalde residents, Roland Gutierrez struggles to break through crowded field to challenge Ted Cruz

By Andrea Drusch, San Antonio Report Oct. 17, 2023

The Democrat has dedicated significant energy to probing law enforcement’s response to the Uvalde school shooting. But he faces a fundraising deficit against U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas. Full Story

Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune
Texas’ main voucher bill seeks to avoid other states’ mistakes but keeps ideas that attracted criticism

By Brian Lopez Oct. 13, 2023

Like in Texas, voucher programs in other states sparked vigorous debates, came with the same promises and faced similar concerns. Not all predictions came true. Full Story

Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
Texas Senate moves border bill that allows state police to arrest migrants at U.S.-Mexico border

By Uriel J. García and William Melhado Oct. 12, 2023

Two immigration bills advanced in the Senate on Thursday evening. A bill that would increase the minimum sentence for smuggling migrants passed with bipartisan support and will head to the House. Full Story

Credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Texas Senate unveils its priority school voucher bill

By Brian Lopez Oct. 9, 2023

The proposal would give families who exit the state’s public education system access to $8,000 of taxpayer money each year to pay for their children’s private schooling. Full Story

Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune
Special session on school vouchers begins with Republicans in disarray

By Zach Despart, Patrick Svitek and Brian Lopez Oct. 9, 2023

Gov. Greg Abbott needs a delicate coalition of Republicans to pass his top priority. But the House and Senate leaders aren’t getting along. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune
Body camera footage shows February drunk-driving arrest of Sen. Charles Schwertner

By Patrick Svitek Sept. 30, 2023

Newly released body camera footage shows state Sen. Charles Schwertner’s February arrest for suspicion of drunk driving. Travis County prosecutors dropped the charge in July. Full Story

Credit: Austin Police Department