Amid Chaos and Crisis, the 87th Texas Legislature Gets to Work

Can we rebuild a democracy?

"...death in the face. In between these Wednesdays, the 87th Texas Legislature came into being, as happens every two..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Criminal Justice Goes Unreformed by a Dismal 87th Texas Legislature

High presession hopes lead to deeper disappointments now

"...Last fall, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, with encouragement from Gov. Greg Abbott,..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Women's Health Advocates Brace for "Perfect Storm" at Texas Legislature

Republican lawmakers racing to further restrict abortion access

"...A month before the 87th Texas Legislature gaveled in, Republican lawmakers were already working..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Mary Tuma

Will the Texas Legislature Take On Police Reform?

George Floyd Act, APD takeover, TCOLE all on Lege's agenda

"...The Texas Legislative Black Caucus introduced the George Floyd Act in..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Six-Week Abortion Ban Leads List of Bad New Texas Laws

Parade of horribles comes courtesy of the 87th Texas Legislature

"...In odd-numbered years in Texas, Sep­tem­ber 1 – Wednesday, as the Chronicle went to..."

Sept. 3, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Has Texas Observed Its Last Confederate Heroes Day?

Texas Lege considers bills to end the state holiday

"...Last month, the state of Texas observed Confederate Heroes Day for what many hope will..."

Feb. 5, 2021 News Feature by Benton Graham

Bill Banning Law Enforcement From Contracting With Reality Television Clears Texas House

“Policing is not entertainment.”

"...Talarico, D-Round Rock, is shepherding a bill through the Texas Legislature to ban state and local law enforcement from..."

April 23, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

COVID’s Toll on Texas Inmates Among the Worst in the Nation

LBJ School study details dismal infection, death rates

"...Nine of the approximately 200 inmates in Texas prisons who have died from COVID-19 in recent months..."

Nov. 17, 2020 News Post by Brant Bingamon

Texas House Dems Demand Gun Reform

Special session? Texas House Democrats are asking Abbott to call one

"...On Thursday, June 23, 58 members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus sent a letter to Gov. Greg..."

July 1, 2022 News Feature

Texas Dems Take the Voting Rights Fight to D.C.

Breaking quorum again, lawmakers leave state to thwart Abbott's restrictive bill

"...Depending on your partisan bent, the departure of Texas House Democrats to Washington, D.C., this week can be..."

July 16, 2021 News Feature by Kimberly Reeves

The Fumbling, Bumbling Letdown of the 87th Legislature

Sine dead

"...When the 87th Texas Legislature kicked off in January, six days after..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Texas' Draconian Abortion Restrictions Likely to Face Court Challenge

Amid clouds and darkness, Texans get ready to fight for choice

"...clear about this – abortion is still legal in Texas," Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, reminded the hundreds of energized..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Mary Tuma

Once Again, Redistricting Looms in Texas

Republicans hold all the power to draw new lines, but there's more attention on the process than ever before

"...Dancing With the Stars? – ventured rogue to re-redistrict Texas in 2003, after the GOP flipped the state House..."

Feb. 12, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

State Employee Unions Look Askance at Texas Lege’s Pension Changes

Unions give a hard pass on cash balance plan proposed in Senate Bill 321

"...The 87th Texas Legislature's proposal to shore up the state's pension..."

May 14, 2021 News Feature by Kimberly Reeves

COVID-19 Turns the Texas Lege's Routines Upside Down

The challenge ahead – how to get back to the business of legislating without staging a superspreader event

"...COVID-19 is endangering record numbers throughout Texas, but state leaders are determined that the show must..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Texas LGBTQ Caucus Looking for Change

At town hall reps reinforced the need to flip the House in 2020

"...The 87th Texas Legislature is coming. That's been a resounding message..."

Nov. 1, 2019 News Feature by Sarah Marloff

Bipartisan Support, COVID Make Increased Broadband Access a Priority at the Texas Lege

Bipartisan support, COVID make increased broadband access a priority

"...Entering the 87th Texas Legislature, increased broadband access was one of a..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Clara Ence Morse

Cannabis Bills Near Texas Lege Finish Line, Diluted and Distorted

[UPDATED] Delta-8 ban hangs in balance; tiny boost for medical use

"...of press time, with six days left in the 87th Texas Legis­lature's regular session, no conference committee has been..."

May 28, 2021 News Feature by Kevin Curtin

Even the Winter Storm Disaster Couldn't Budge the Texas Lege on Climate Change

Maybe when hell freezes over?

"...Zwiener, D-Driftwood, in January at the beginning of the 87th Texas Legislature, she was "optimistic that the body [would]..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Lina Fisher

As Texas Redistricting Maps Advance, Lawmakers Aspire for Newly Drawn Seats

Talarico goes south, Doggett west, as Casar trades up

"...lawmakers wrapped up the third(!) special session of the 87th Texas Legis­lature this week; it's even more damp on..."

Oct. 22, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Texas Dems Go to Court to Block Abbott's Funding Veto

Filing says governor's defunding of Lege is invalid

"...18 issued his stunt veto of funding for the Texas Legis­lature in the upcoming biennial budget, to "punish" the..."

July 2, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Will Texas Expand Medicaid?

Long-running health care debate looks different through a pandemic prism

"...Although Texas has long had the highest numbers of uninsured residents..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Texas Primaries Loom as Redistricting Lawsuits Drop

New maps and new challenges

"...Abbott had signed into law the fruits of the Legislature's quick and dirty redistricting process, the new lines on..."

Oct. 29, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Texas Senate Speeds This Year's Abortion Bills Through Lege

Senate speeds this year's abortion bills through Lege

"...Last year, as Texas grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, local abortion assistance group..."

April 2, 2021 News Feature by Mary Tuma

Opinion: The Extreme Anti-Abortion Agenda Being Pushed Forward at the Texas Lege Is Harmful and Cruel

Texans deserve the trust and the power to decide what is best for them, their bodies, and their futures

"...bills in the country are quickly moving through the Texas legislature, including a bill that would ban abortions at..."

April 16, 2021 Column by Courtney Chambers

Texas' Rickety Health Care System Heads for a Fiscal Cliff

As D.C. dollars dry up, millions of uninsured Texans see no signs of improvement

"...Everything's bigger in Texas – except for the system that's supposed to provide..."

Nov. 19, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

Will the Texas Lege Roll the Dice on Gambling This Session?

The gambling caravan is back, but it’s losing momentum

"...Medicaid expansion), the gambling caravan parades through every revenue­-challenged Legislature, each session shinier and noisier than the last. This..."

Jan. 15, 2021 News Feature by Mike Clark-Madison

Texas Lege Sends Message to Schools: Take the Money, Don't Talk About Race

Public schools retain their funding, but with culture-war strings attached

"...However, the major boost to school funding from "the Texas Plan" enacted in 2019 was left intact, removing a..."

June 4, 2021 News Feature by Clara Ence Morse

Austin at Large: New Voters for a New Texas?

Kirk Watson says it’s possible: “Two million more people are now paying attention”

"...to talk to someone who's been around Austin and Texas politics for a while, who understands how elections work,..."

Nov. 13, 2020 News Column by Mike Clark-Madison

Texas Bill Gives Localities a Way Past State Obstruction to Medicaid

Lloyd Doggett looks to get Medicaid to more

"...However, the leaders in non-expansion states – of which Texas is the largest – might soon have little say..."

July 2, 2021 News Feature by Beth Sullivan

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