Texas House approves bill aimed to limit city, county property taxes
Texas cities and counties have already had their budgets compressed by a variety of factors, including the state’s current property tax limits. Full Story
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![Cars drive on Intersate 35 East with the downtown Dallas skyline looming in the distance on Sunday, July 27, 2025.]()
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North Texas lawmakers talk impeachment, property taxes, school choice
At a Texas Tribune event, Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione said his vote to impeach Ken Paxton was akin to being a grand juror who found enough evidence to warrant a trial in the Senate. Full Story
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Texas House backs death benefits for state troops in Operation Lone Star
The bill was amended to make the benefits retroactive, supporting the family of a soldier whose name is on the legislation. Full Story
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![Family members of Bishop Evans, a Texas National Guard member, stand to be recognized by members of the House during a memorial resolution remembering his life at the state Capitol on April 11, 2023. Evans drowned after jumping into the Rio Grande to save two migrants being swept away by the current in April 2022.]()
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The Texas Legislative session begins today. Here are 6 things we’re watching.
Lawmakers begin work today for their biennial legislative session. They’ll debate over the state budget, school issues, border security and property taxes, among other issues. Full Story
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![A legislator fist bumps a House Administration staffer as they entered the House Chamber on Aug. 11, 2021.]()
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Texas House Democratic Caucus elects Trey Martinez Fischer as its new chair
Martinez Fischer replaces Rep. Chris Turner of Grand Prairie, who has led the caucus since 2017 and did not seek reelection. Full Story
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![State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, speaks at a press conference at Mt. Zion Baptist Church near the state Capitol in Austin after Democrats broke quorum in opposition to Senate Bill 7, a sweeping GOP voting bill. May 30, 2021.]()
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State Rep. Chris Turner won’t run for House Democratic Caucus chair again
The Grand Prairie lawmaker has led the minority party’s House caucus since 2017. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, House Democratic Caucus Chairman, speaks at a press conference on the opening day of the 87th legislative special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021.]()
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New Texas voting laws, political maps could once again require federal approval under U.S. House bill named after John Lewis
The federal bill seeks to reinstate sections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that were written to protect people of color. Texas House Democrats see it as a way to prevent implementing provisions of a Texas voting restrictions bill moving through the state Legislature. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line at a polling site at Austin Oaks Church on Oct. 14, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Quorum-busting Texas House Democrats still plotting next move ahead of second special session
Following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement that a second round of legislative overtime would begin Saturday, the Democrats who relocated to Washington, D.C., to prevent the House from having enough members to conduct business indicated they are still discussing what they’ll do now. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, joined other Democratic members of the Texas House of Representatives, who are boycotting a special session of the legislature in an effort to block Republican-backed voting restrictions, as they speak in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., on July 13, 2021.]()
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In a pandemic and an election year, Texas Democrats look for the right tone
The party, which has high hopes in the state in 2020, is looking to offer contrast without politicizing a crisis. Full Story
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![Democratic Party signage and logos at the Texas Democratic Party office in Austin.]()
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Appointees claim Gov. Greg Abbott ousted them from board for voting to sanction judge who refused to perform same-sex marriages
After those two appointees left the commission, it handed down just a warning to the judge, Dianne Hensley. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott during the Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony on May 25, 2019]()
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House Democrats call for Michael Quinn Sullivan to release secret Dennis Bonnen recording
"Complete transparency is paramount; allowing select political insiders to hear it in private isn’t going to cut it," said state Rep. Chris Turner, chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Arlington, speaks to the press following Gov. Abbott's State of the State address in Austin on Feb. 5, 2019.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill requiring children under 2 to ride in rear-facing car seats
Abbott said the measure "is an unnecessary invasion of parental rights and an unfortunate example of over-criminalization." Full Story
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![A mom buckles her infant son safely into a rear facing car seat as they get ready to drive somewhere in their vehicle. The baby's mouth is visible with a big smile. Sunlight shines in from behind. Horizontal with copy space.]()
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Through the lens: The 86th Texas Legislature in photos
Take a look back at the 2019 regular legislative session as seen through the lenses of Texas Tribune photographers. Full Story
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![Flowers and foliage outside the Capitol on April 9, 2019.]()
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Texas House approves property tax reform bill, setting up negotiations with the Senate
The House approved the bill designed to slow local property tax revenue growth, but made the bill contingent on the passage of a school finance bill, which is still pending in the Senate. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announces committee assignments at the state Capitol on Jan. 23, 2019.]()
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Watch: A conversation on higher education outcomes
Watch video of our conversation in Fort Worth on improving higher education outcomes, moderated by the Tribune's Shannon Najmabadi. Full Story
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Watch: A higher education conversation with state Sen. Brandon Creighton and state Rep. Chris Turner
Watch our interview with state Sen. Brandon Creighton and state Rep. Chris Turner, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith. Full Story
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![From left: Tribune CEO Evan Smith is joined by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and state Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, at Studio 919 in Austin on March 7, 2019. Creighton and Turner are chairmen of their respective higher education committees.]()
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Texas House approves online posting of politicians' personal financial statements
The Texas House preliminarily approved the requirement that the personal financial statements of state politicians and bureaucrats be posted online. Full Story
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![State Rep. Chris Turner, D-Grand Prairie, shows his support of minimum wage bills being considered in the House Business and Industry Committee during a press conference March 20, 2017.]()
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Gov. Greg Abbott's top health appointee draws bipartisan fire at hearing
Both Republican and Democratic members of a key legislative oversight committee unloaded on Gov. Greg Abbott’s top health appointee Thursday, putting him and others on the hot seat for hours about alleged contracting abuses. Full Story
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![Charles Smith, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, testified Aug. 15, 2016, before the House State Affairs Committee on contracting procedures.]()
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Top Republican counsels against secret taping
After unconfirmed reports that House members were recording private conversations with colleagues, the Republican who oversees internal affairs in the chamber said he's asked members to refrain from any surreptitious taping. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, chairman of the House Administration Committee, looks toward the gallery while House members watch severe weather during debate on May 25, 2015.]()
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2015 Tribune Festival: Audio From the Open Government Track
The Open Government track at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured a panel discussion on public integrity and state government and a conversation over ethics. We also featured a conversation with Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht