House panel advances new Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises
The proposal recommends spending billions on programs including property tax cuts, teacher pay raises, mental health services and border security. It leaves out requests for pay raises for retired state employees and funding for rent relief and childcare programs.
Two years after Texasโ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
State policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
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In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races
The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted.
Texas GOPโs voting bill passes key House vote
Texas has become the latest Republican-dominated state to advance sweeping new limits on voting, despite no evidence of any problems with last yearโs vote and a coalition of state and federal officials calling the 2020 presidential election the most secure in history.
Texas GOPโs voting restriction bill passes key House vote
Texas has become the latest Republican-dominated state to advance sweeping new limits on voting, despite no evidence of any problems with last yearโs vote and a coalition of state and federal officials calling the 2020 presidential election the most secure in history.
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Texas' factory of conservative legislation may be at risk
AUSTIN, Texas โ Win or lose in Texas on Tuesday, Republicans will still run plenty of America's state capitols. For a decade the Texas Legislature has been America's foremost factory of conservative legislation. Voting restrictions, expanded gun rights, immigration crackdowns and limits on abortion have passed out of the state House. So did Texasโ longest-serving female lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson, who would be Texasโ first House speaker who is female or Black. โIt allows, us, frankly, to finally have an opportunity to really set policy at the state level of Texas," he said.
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Trey Martinez Fischer becomes second Democrat to announce run for speaker of the Texas House
State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, is the second Democrat to announce a bid for speaker of the Texas House. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas TribuneState Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer on Monday announced he is running for Texas House speaker, becoming the second Democrat in the lower chamber to launch a bid for the gavel. Martinez Fischer, from San Antonio, joins state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black person in the history of the Texas Legislature, in the race. In a statement, Martinez Fischer said the โnumber one job of the Speaker is to protect the House and its members.โโMembers know that I have been a defender of the House rules and wielded them to protect the institution and the people we serve,โ Martinez Fischer said. โMy vision for the Texas House is an independent body that will work respectfully in a bi-partisan manner with the best minds at the table.