Watch a Texas Tribune conversation on the state Legislature’s special session
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f01101fb768125a867a05d0dc46e5f33/11-15_SessionTakeaways-Lead-Title-01-v1.png)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
-
With time running out, House punts on taking action on school vouchers
Gov. Greg Abbott just announced he’d reached a deal with the House to advance school vouchers, but with less than a week before the Legislature must adjourn the lower chamber took no action on the governor’s priority legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e259936f3c8a9145e09c51ef2d2f008a/House and Senate Action BD TT 07.jpg)
![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan before gavelling in the House for the third-called special session on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Private schools are ready to expand into smaller communities if Texas adopts voucher program
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f8ca870d69025b1227a3772d14a6afc/COVID Highland Village Elem ST TT 56.jpg)
![A student's school supplies on the first day of in-person classes in Texas on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Defend Texas Liberty backs Brent Money in special election to replace Bryan Slaton
The far-right political action committee is getting involved in a critical special election for the Texas House, the first major test of its influence since its then-leader was spotted meeting with a prominent white supremacist. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25cd0f119721f707404ee83b24b39b96/Jill Dutton and Brent Money TT 01.jpg)
![Republicans Jill Dutton and Brent Money are running in a special election for state House District 2 seat, empty since former state Rep. Brian Slaton, R-Royse City, was expelled from the House.]()
Credit: Campaign websites -
Texas House passes three immigration bills after contentious night of debate
Democrats fumed when Republicans tried to block more amendments on a bill that would create a new state crime for illegally crossing the border into Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/077e099f389b850129dfee7f4bb1b8b1/RGV Migrants Border REUTERS TT 01.jpg)
![Asylum-seeking migrant families surrendered themselves to the U.S. Border Patrol, after crossing the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Roma, Texas, on April 16, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Go Nakamura -
Texas House approves ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dedf0e1169e11b8759de6f8c668de893/2021-06-07_Houston_Methodist_Nurses_Walkout_Pu.Ying.Huang0076.JPG)
![A man carries a sign protesting Houston Methodist Hospital's COVID-19 vaccine mandate outside Houston Methodist Hospital in Baytown on June 7, 2021. Employees who chose not to inoculate themselves by the hospital's Monday deadline faced suspension without pay and job termination, a policy criticized by the protesters as unfair and unauthorized.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas voters split on House, Senate handling of Paxton impeachment, poll finds
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e499ebe428e70c5096a2ca21476b2d6c/0915 Paxton Trial Day 9 SO SAEN 02.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, talks with his defense attorney Tony Buzbee, left, before starting the ninth day of his impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Sam Owens/Pool via San Antonio Express-News -
Texas lawmakers weigh spending $1.5 billion on more border barriers. Experts say walls alone won’t stop migrants.
The House Appropriations Committee passed House Bill 6 on Monday. If it becomes law, the bill would fund an estimated 50 miles of new barriers at the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7496037f337af347e6185676efc7f27f/Border_Immigration_2_REUTERS_LE_TT.jpg)
![Immigrants who illegally crossed the Mexico-U.S. border are apprehended by the U.S. border patrol in the Rio Grande Valley sector, near McAllen, Texas, U.S., April 5, 2018.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Loren Elliott -
House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher program
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/149c8b9c08df282b6fdbd2829062d0c6/0913 Odessa School Tours EH 18.jpg)
![Nimitz Middle School students take part in a class activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House priority bill increases education spending in exchange for creating voucher program
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f316a9caaf7c5736cf08b27c2432a2d/0111 House Floor EL TT 16.jpg)
![State representatives meet on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Texas needs water workers. Will high school students answer the call?
Nearly two-thirds of the state’s water and wastewater agencies say they need more workers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4fee1afe07f1f4650a8d7b525f7099da/Consolidated Water MF TT 18.jpg)
![Consolidated Water Supply Corporation employees patch a broken pipe on April 19, 2023 in Crockett.]()
Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Andrew Murr took on Ken Paxton and lost. He has no regrets.
The five-term House member, and his mustache, gained notoriety during the high-profile impeachment of Paxton. He warned tolerating corruption could hurt Republicans in the long term. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e3876d46c793ad75e7c06751857fd579/1003 Andrew Murr EH TT 01.jpg)
![State Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Junction.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Special session on school vouchers begins with Republicans in disarray
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc4031040e3b161ef8ab86e93abe3783/Phelan Gavel Day One BD TT 02.jpg)
![Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels in the House for a third called special session on October 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton to file criminal complaints against Texas House impeachment managers
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he will file criminal complaints against the group of state representatives who led his impeachment trial. He accused the lawmakers of violating a state law by releasing his personal information. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa40737cc4e2da3aeb9cca7c64c918b1/0915 Paxton Trial Day 9 SO SAEN TT 06.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, walks back to his seat after speaking privately with defense attorney Dan Cogdell before starting the ninth day of his impeachment trial in the Senate Chamber at the Texas Capitol on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Austin.]()
Credit: Sam Owens/Pool via San Antonio Express-News -
Ken Paxton endorses candidates challenging House Republicans who impeached him
Paxton’s campaign promised more details soon on a “statewide Fall tour,” including campaign stops with the candidates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc818370c344392adae2bcc36912bf42/0915 Paxton Trial Day 9 BD TT 33.jpg)
![Suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton enters the Senate floor among his attorneys as both sides have rested in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial in the Texas Senate on Sept. 15, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Body camera footage shows February drunk-driving arrest of Sen. Charles Schwertner
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91e28372c9519434e9dc766d811b1264/Schwertner Bodycam Glasses TT 01.jpg)
![State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, takes a field sobriety test, seen in bodycam footage released by the Austin Police Department. Schwertner was arrested in February for suspicion of driving while intoxicated but will not face prosecution.]()
Credit: Austin Police Department -
Texas House Democrats hint at disunity ahead of possible October special session
State Rep. John Bryant said Democrats will need to work together to block the “school choice” bill in October. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc68466f5feb548ff1f23fb432251685/0923 House Dems TFF23 JS TT 05.jpg)
![Texas Tribune managing editor Matthew Watkins moderates a panel with Texas House Democrats Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, Victoria Neave Criado, D-Dallas, and John Bryant, D-Dallas, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton blasts fellow Republicans and floats Cornyn challenge in post-impeachment interview
In his first remarks since being acquitted on 16 articles of impeachment, the suspended Texas attorney general blamed Democrats while also taking aim at a number of high-profile Republicans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e35687e2311172a0cebe4238b425171d/Paxton SATX KGB TT 05.jpg)
![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attends a campaign event during a Bulverde Spring Branch Conservative Republicans meeting on May 16, 2022, in Bulverde. Paxton criticized President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, discussed voter fraud in Texas and praised the leaked SCOTUS draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton verdict heightens political tension ahead of education special session
The Texas House and Senate were already far apart on “school choice.” Anger over the impeachment trial might make it even harder to find common ground. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c65f797a3c9725322f2fc5fc80bd25af/Capitol File Feb 1 EL TT 04.jpg)
![The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Ken Paxton’s prosecutors stumbled at times. But did it matter in the GOP-dominated Senate?
The House impeachment managers faced a high bar: convincing enough Republican senators to vote against their own political self-interest. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7f1c32eec7a1417802fd993306c899e9/0916 Paxton Trial Day 10 BD TT 15.jpg)
![House impeachment manager Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, center, listens as votes are votes cast during Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial on Sept. 16, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e259936f3c8a9145e09c51ef2d2f008a/House%20and%20Senate%20Action%20BD%20TT%2007.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3f8ca870d69025b1227a3772d14a6afc/COVID%20Highland%20Village%20Elem%20ST%20TT%2056.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/25cd0f119721f707404ee83b24b39b96/Jill%20Dutton%20and%20Brent%20Money%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/077e099f389b850129dfee7f4bb1b8b1/RGV%20Migrants%20Border%20REUTERS%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e499ebe428e70c5096a2ca21476b2d6c/0915%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%209%20SO%20SAEN%2002.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/149c8b9c08df282b6fdbd2829062d0c6/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2018.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8f316a9caaf7c5736cf08b27c2432a2d/0111%20House%20Floor%20EL%20TT%2016.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4fee1afe07f1f4650a8d7b525f7099da/Consolidated%20Water%20MF%20TT%2018.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e3876d46c793ad75e7c06751857fd579/1003%20Andrew%20Murr%20EH%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc4031040e3b161ef8ab86e93abe3783/Phelan%20Gavel%20Day%20One%20BD%20TT%2002.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa40737cc4e2da3aeb9cca7c64c918b1/0915%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%209%20SO%20SAEN%20TT%2006.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dc818370c344392adae2bcc36912bf42/0915%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%209%20BD%20TT%2033.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/91e28372c9519434e9dc766d811b1264/Schwertner%20Bodycam%20Glasses%20TT%2001.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bc68466f5feb548ff1f23fb432251685/0923%20House%20Dems%20TFF23%20JS%20TT%2005.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e35687e2311172a0cebe4238b425171d/Paxton%20SATX%20KGB%20TT%2005.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c65f797a3c9725322f2fc5fc80bd25af/Capitol%20File%20Feb%201%20EL%20TT%2004.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7f1c32eec7a1417802fd993306c899e9/0916%20Paxton%20Trial%20Day%2010%20BD%20TT%2015.jpg)