With assignments out, legislation that has been filed can be referred to committees for potential hearings. The committees overseeing public education, budget writing and redistricting are among those with new chairs.
87th Legislative Session
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Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott sets Feb. 23 special election runoff date for race to succeed Drew Springer in Texas House
The race for the solidly red seat in Northwest Texas pits David Spiller against fellow Republican Craig Carter.
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Texas Legislature 2021
After El Paso massacre, Gov. Greg Abbott signaled openness to gun control. Now, some worry he’s moved on.
The absence of any mention of the mass shootings rankled gun control advocates and state lawmakers from El Paso, who see this legislative session as their best chance to advance the very measures Abbott expressed support for in 2019.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Texas lawmakers reformed key sexual assault laws in 2019. Advocates hope the progress continues this session despite the pandemic.
Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for statutory changes and budget allocations to combat sexual assault in Texas. These include expanding the definition of sexual assault and processing a backlog of rape kits.
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Texas Legislature 2021
Republican Texas lawmakers reviving push to end in-state tuition for undocumented college students
Activists worry that if the bill becomes law, many undocumented students will lose opportunities to further their education. They also say it could hurt the state’s economy.
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COVID-19 Recession in Texas
“We do a lot of work”: Texas’ low-wage workers hope for more as Biden, Congress push minimum wage hike
The minimum wage in Texas pays $7.25 an hour, well below a livable wage and far lower than the minimum hourly pay in most states.
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Homeless in Texas
As Gov. Greg Abbott vows to ban homeless camping in public, Austin officials and unsheltered residents push for better housing access
A year and a half after Austin lifted a local ban on camping in public, some city officials are pushing to turn hotels into housing for people experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, a state-sanctioned encampment in the city is full and can’t accept new residents.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott pushes Legislature to protect businesses from coronavirus-related lawsuits
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, unsuccessfully pushed for similar federal legislation. Abbott’s support comes as Texas intensive care units are filling up with coronavirus patients.
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Point of Order
Point of Order: Funding Texas schools during a pandemic
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Sen. Larry Taylor, chair of the Senate Education Committee, about whether it’s possible to fully fund last session’s school finance bill, learning loss, broadband access, the STAAR test and more.
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Politics
Texas state Rep. Carl Sherman says he’s tested positive for COVID-19
Sherman did not say how he thought he contracted the virus. The House, which gaveled in for start of the 2021 legislative session last week, adjourned Jan. 14 and is not set to convene again until Tuesday.