https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alex-nguyen/The latest news by Alex Nguyen.enFri, 02 Jun 2023 18:37:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/Texas joins 17 other states restricting transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Opposing legal groups have vowed to sue to stop the new law from taking effect.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 02 Jun 2023 18:37:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-gender-affirming-care-ban/People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during a "Fight for Our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ bills on March 27.People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-special-session-property-taxes/The House passed a bill without Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s preferred increase to homestead exemptions — then abruptly adjourned for the special session. That basically tells the Senate to take the House bill Gov. Greg Abbott backs or leave it.By Joshua Fechter, Uriel J. García and Alex NguyenTue, 30 May 2023 16:49:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/30/texas-special-session-property-taxes/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 2023 regular legislative session with Sherry Sylvester, distinguished senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF headquarters in downtown Austin on May 30, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick recaps the 88th Legislative Session with Sherry Sylvester, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, at TPPF Headquarters in downtown Austin, on May 30, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/A Texas Tribune review of the investigators’ employment history, voting records and campaign donations found a lack of support for the attorney general’s claim.By Alex Nguyen and Carla AstudilloWed, 24 May 2023 21:09:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.State Attorney General Ken Paxton holds a press conference at the Houston Recovery Center on Oct. 26, 2021.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-dont-say-gay-legislature/For the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines.By Alex NguyenMon, 22 May 2023 20:12:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-dont-say-gay-legislature/Lufkin students sit in an art class in January. A Texas bill would prohibit classroom lessons and teacher guidance about gender identity or sexual orientation.Students sit in art class at Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas, U.S., on Friday, January 27, 2023. Public school officials in rural areas like Lufkin face budget challenges because of proposed school choice legislation, which provides taxpayer-funded alternatives to sending a child to a local public school.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/The bill no longer targets drag performers, but LGBTQ advocates say the legislation’s vague language could still be used to criminalize such shows.By William Melhado and Alex NguyenFri, 19 May 2023 11:46:49 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-drag-performers/A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas last year.A drag queen performs at the Nasher Sculpture Center during the Pride Block Party in Dallas, TX on June 17, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban-sb14/Gov. Greg Abbott said he will sign Senate Bill 14 into law, which will make Texas one of over a dozen states that restrict transition-related care for transgender minors. Legal groups have already pledged to challenge it in court.By Alex NguyenWed, 17 May 2023 19:20:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban-sb14/People gather on the stairs across from the House floor on May 12 to protest against Senate Bill 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the chamber.People gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-legislature-local-control/Gov. Greg Abbott and other supporters of the bill have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations that they say hamper business owners and harm the state’s economy.By Joshua Fechter and Alex NguyenMon, 15 May 2023 19:24:25 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/15/texas-legislature-local-control/The Austin skyline on July 13, 2022.The Austin skyline on July 13, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/austin-dell-childrens-gender-affirming/Attorney General Ken Paxton previously announced an investigation into “potentially illegal” activity. Parents are scrambling to find transition-related care for their kids as the Legislature appears poised to ban it altogether.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Alex NguyenSat, 13 May 2023 14:54:53 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/13/austin-dell-childrens-gender-affirming/People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the Texas Capitol in Austin, waving signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of bills affecting LGBTQ people in March.People line the railing on all three levels of the outdoor rotunda of the state Capitol in Austin, and wave signs during the "Fight for our Lives" rally in opposition of anti-LGBTQ+ bills on March 27, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/The House approved a bill Monday that would ban doctors from providing transition-related care to children. It now heads back to the Senate, which can accept the changes or ask for a committee to iron out the chambers’ differences.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 12 May 2023 13:41:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/12/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions Friday to people gathered outside the House to protest against Senate Bill 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth.Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, gives instructions regarding a press conference to people who have gathered on the stairs across from the House floor to protest against SB 14, which seeks to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender youth, before it is heard for debate in the House at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas’ law banning sodomy in 2003. It took almost 20 years for Democrats to get a bill to repeal the defunct ban on the House calendar.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoThu, 11 May 2023 23:59:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-sodomy-ban-repeal-bill/State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the Texas House floor on April 6.State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, speaks with fellow lawmakers on the House floor on April 6, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/The Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.By Brian Lopez and Alex NguyenTue, 09 May 2023 23:17:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session on the House floor during session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Senate Bill 14 spurred protests that led to altercations with state police earlier this week. Bill supporters and opponents again showed up at the Capitol for an expected vote Friday.By Alex NguyenFri, 05 May 2023 13:57:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/05/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/House lawmakers discuss a point of order called on Senate Bill 14 on the chamber floor on Friday.House lawmakers discuss a point of order called on SB 14 on the House floor on May 5, 2023. Left to right.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-senate-bill-14-transgender-care-protests/Senate Bill 14, which spurred demonstrations earlier this week, is again scheduled for House debate Friday. Trans Texans consider it one of this year’s most consequential bills.By Lucy Tompkins, The Texas Tribune and The New York Times, and Alex Nguyen, The Texas TribuneThu, 04 May 2023 22:23:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-senate-bill-14-transgender-care-protests/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-hiv-testing/House Bills 3377 and 2235 were authored by freshman state Rep. Venton Jones, the Legislature’s first openly HIV-positive member. They’ve received overwhelming public and bipartisan support.By Alex NguyenThu, 04 May 2023 20:58:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-hiv-testing/State Rep. Venton Jones, D-Dallas, takes the oath of office from his desk on the House floor in January. Jones is the Legislature’s first openly HIV-positive member and is working to make HIV tests part of routine screenings for sexually transmitted infections.State Rep. Venton Jones, D-tktktk, takes the oath of office from his desk on the house floor on the first day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Texas state police detained and handcuffed people protesting legislation that would prohibit transgender kids from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The House separately delayed a vote on Senate Bill 14 until later this week.By Alex Nguyen and Sneha DeyTue, 02 May 2023 10:09:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/02/texas-trans-kids-health-care-ban/Demonstrators protest Senate Bill 14, which would ban transition-related health care for transgender kids in Texas, while the bill was slated to be debated in the Texas House on Tuesday.Demonstrators protest SB14, a bill to eradicate gender transition healthcare for trans kids in Texas, while the bill is heard in the House at the state Capitol on May 2, 2023.Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/01/transgender-texas-gender-affirming-care/As Texas House members could soon vote to ban transition-related care for minors, many lives are in limbo, and trans kids like 16-year-old Randell are grappling with difficult decisions.By Alex NguyenMon, 01 May 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/01/transgender-texas-gender-affirming-care/Randell inspects the rose bush outside of his home in North Texas on Thursday. He says it can be difficult for anything, or anyone, to grow in Texas.Randell inspects the rose bush outside of his home in Fort Worth, on April 27, 2023. He says it can be difficult for anything, or anyone, to grow in Texas.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/transgender-health-care-legislature/The Senate advanced a bill that could create such high financial risks for doctors and health insurers that they’d stop providing or covering gender-affirming care — even for adults.By Alex NguyenTue, 25 Apr 2023 14:40:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/transgender-health-care-legislature/Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio on March 31. Critics of a Texas Senate bill say it could cause transgender people of all ages to lose access to gender-affirming care in the state.Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio on March 31, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/24/sid-miller-agriculture-department-texas-anti-trans-dress-code/The policy comes as LGBTQ advocates are fighting a wave of hostile legislation at the Capitol, including proposals to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender children.By Patrick Svitek and Alex NguyenMon, 24 Apr 2023 15:05:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/24/sid-miller-agriculture-department-texas-anti-trans-dress-code/Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller speaks to reporters at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Aug. 6, 2022.Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller speaks to reporters at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-local-control/City officials say the full scope of the legislation advanced Tuesday is still unclear, but it would limit their ability to issue worker protections, water restrictions and more.By Joshua Fechter, Erin Douglas and Alex NguyenTue, 18 Apr 2023 18:20:22 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/18/texas-house-local-control/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, stands on the House floor on May 14. Burrows is the author of a bill that would impose new limits on what Texas cities and counties can regulate.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, on the House floor on May 14, 2019.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/texas-gender-affirming-care-kids-legislature/Under the legislation, minors currently receiving certain gender-affirming care would have to taper off their treatments. A majority of Texas lawmakers in each chamber has supported previous versions of the legislation.By Alex Nguyen and William MelhadoFri, 14 Apr 2023 14:12:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/14/texas-gender-affirming-care-kids-legislature/Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio last month. A Texas House panel on Friday advanced legislation restricting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kids.Demonstrators march for Trans Day of Visibility in San Antonio on March 31, 2023.Blaine Young for The Texas Tribune