LEGELAND
From the Print Edition
Will D.A. Garza Be Removed From Office Over Handling of Drug Cases, Nonexistent Abortion Crimes?
Petitioner hopes so, legal experts say it’s unlikely
April 26, 2024 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Texas Lege Defeats Abbott’s Voucher Plan – Again
Meanwhile, harsh immigration bill succeeds
November 24, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Opinion: I’m a Chaplain. Here’s Why I Oppose Replacing School Counselors With Chaplains.
As a chaplain and school volunteer, the Rev. Deborah Reeves explains why school districts should reject the option to install chaplains in public schools
October 27, 2023 BY DEBORAH REEVES
Opinion: Vouchers’ Ripple Effect – How They Threaten Texas’ Teacher Retirement System
Texas state Rep. Vikki Goodwin makes the case against public school vouchers
October 13, 2023 BY VIKKI GOODWIN
Special Session Kicks Off With Nazi Accusations and GOP Infighting
Battle of the billionaire-funded Republicans
October 13, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
The Common Law
New Texas laws passed in the 2023 legislative session
September 8, 2023 BY LUKE ELLIS
Lawmakers Promised a "Bread-and-Butter" Session. They Served a Repressive Agenda Instead.
Here are just a few laws taking effect Sept. 1
September 1, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
GOP Bill Will Double Austin ISD Police
Parents say they don't want more officers
August 18, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Five Texas Families Sue State Over Ban on Health Care for Trans Youth
ACLU says C U in court
July 21, 2023 BY DEX WESLEY PARRA
Even Republicans Agree: Schools Are Underfunded
But are vouchers more important?
July 21, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Houston Sues the State Over “Death Star" Law
Lawsuit cities state overreach, vague language, and undue burden on cities
July 14, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
We Have an Issue: Another Dispiriting Lege Session
Why does the Texas GOP hate Texans so much?
June 2, 2023 BY KIMBERLEY JONES
Assessing the Damage the 88th Texas Legislature Has Done So Far ... and Bracing for What's Yet to Come
When the Lege hits home
June 2, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
Legislature Narrowly Averts Funneling Public School Funds to Private Schools
How schools fared in Texas' 88th legislative session
June 2, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Legislature Ensures More Gas Production in Texas, Less Renewables
Assessing this session's environmental impact
June 2, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Texas Legislature Failed to Kill Police Oversight Statewide (for Now)
Senate Bill 2209 would have crushed Austin's oversight act
June 2, 2023 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
How Bipartisan Efforts to Increase Housing Supply Died This Session
Mourning the dead bills that could've addressed housing shortages
June 2, 2023 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Republicans Didn’t Pass Priority Bills, but Succeeded in Punishing Trans Texans
At least they couldn't pass proposed "Don't Say Gay" legislation
June 2, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
Texas GOP Still Set on Sending Vigilantes to the Border
Frightening border bills haven't passed yet, but might in special session
June 2, 2023 BY BENTON GRAHAM
Silver Linings at the Lege: Texas Moms to Get 12 Months of Free Health Care
And other good news from this legislative session
June 2, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
Voters Want Strong Police Oversight. Will the City Deliver It?
Oversight undermined
May 26, 2023 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Opinion: House Bill 7 Will Not Only Endanger the Lives of Migrants, but of All Texans
HB 7 is dangerously far-reaching. But we should also be worried about what it doesn't say.
May 26, 2023 BY HORTENCIA RODRÍGUEZ SANDOVAL
Anti-Queer Laws Just Keep Coming at the Texas Legislature
Out of the closet, into the woods
May 26, 2023 BY DEX WESLEY PARRA
Opinion: How to Stay Mindful in the Face of Fascism
A satirical guide to maintaining your personal mental health and well-being while your queer, trans, BIPOC, and non-Christian neighbors consider fleeing Texas
May 19, 2023 BY AUBREE BROWN
Opinion: Teachers Can No Longer Afford to Live in Texas
Senate Bill 9 is an insult to teachers
May 19, 2023 BY CARY BESHEL
Will Texas Reduce Marijuana Penalties?
Keep it class C, Texas
May 12, 2023 BY DEX WESLEY PARRA
Bill of the Week: Red State vs. Blue Cities
Texas House passes broad restrictions on local regulations
April 28, 2023 BY DEX WESLEY PARRA
Will Texas Expand Medical Marijuana Access?
Weed be a lot cooler if we did
April 21, 2023 BY DEX WESLEY PARRA
With Six Weeks Left This Session, Queer Texans Aren’t Done Fighting
Bad bills keep moving
April 21, 2023 BY JAMES SCOTT
GOP Bill Would Nullify Austin Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
Cities could be sued over progressive employment laws
March 24, 2023 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Breaking Ground: What Three New Studios Mean for the Texas Film Industry
Three new studios in the Austin area could mean space for the film industry to expand
March 17, 2023 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Bill of the Week: Texans Take to the Capitol to Battle Discriminatory Property Bills
Who gets a piece of Texas?
March 17, 2023 BY BENTON GRAHAM
New Bill Would Give Most Texans 12 Weeks Parental Paid Leave
In the words of Cardi B: I got a baby. I need some money. I need cheese for my egg.
March 10, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
Opinion: From Mentorship to Pay – Smart Solutions to the Teacher Shortage
An Austin teacher has ideas for what the Texas Legislature can do to fix our educator crisis
February 17, 2023 BY MATTHEW BALTER
Doggett Gets Funding for Texas State University Climate Change Research
A publicly available tool will project climate impacts on state water resources
February 17, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Texas Lege Looks to Address Flooding and Drought Without Saying "Climate Change"
Dipping a toe into a pool of options – and money
February 3, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Bill of the Week: Republicans Tell D.A.s to Bang Cymbals Together Like Animatronic Monkeys
New bill throws prosecutorial discretion out the window
February 3, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
Bill of the Week: Eating Fetuses the Legal Way
A bill for a nonexistent problem would present a new one
January 27, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
Could State Employees Get First Cost-of-Living Raise in 21 years?
Austin's own Rep. John Bucy has filed a bill to do just that
January 27, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Data, Dollars, and Defending Austin ISD at the Capitol
Highlights from the AISD Board of Trustees' first meeting in 2023
January 20, 2023 BY MAGGIE Q. THOMPSON
From the Newsdesk Blog
11th Hour School Funding Bill Adds Abbott's Voucher Plan
Democrats in the House ain't gonna like it
May 23, 2023 BY BRANT BINGAMON
The Stars Come Out for Texas Film and Video Game Incentives
Big names in new ad to get big boost over the finish line
May 16, 2023 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Will a Tax Credit Make Life Better or Harder for Texas Filmmakers?
Advocates worry plan would increase production but hurt local talent
April 18, 2023 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Advocates Scrutinize Sweeping Senate Water Supply Bill’s Strategy
Environmental impacts still need to be assessed
March 23, 2023 BY LINA FISHER
Here's What a New Border Bill Would Do to Texas
"Most dangerous" immigration bill ever takes the stage
March 22, 2023 BY BENTON GRAHAM
Texas House Passes Anti-Trans Sports Bill
HB 25 bans trans students from teams matching their gender identity
October 15, 2021 BY BETH SULLIVAN
Texas House Passes Near-Total Abortion Ban
SB 8 allows anyone the right to sue a provider
May 5, 2021 BY MARY TUMA
Local Legal Leaders Come Out Swinging Against Anti-Abortion Bills
Proposals let literally anyone drag providers into court
April 30, 2021 BY MARY TUMA
LGBTQIA Advocacy Groups Navigate COVID Restrictions While Keeping Texans Engaged This Lege Session
Equality Texas, TENT go online to boost queer, trans voices at Capitol
March 19, 2021 BY LILLI HIME
UPDATE: #SaveChickFilA Bill Moves Closer to Adoption in a Blow to LGBTQ Rights
SB 1978 passes House despite heart-wrenching testimony
May 17, 2019 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Texas Senate Education Committee Advances Its Own School Finance Plan
SB 4 would essentially gut the House version of the bill
May 1, 2019 BY AUSTIN SANDERS
Meet the Texas Lawmaker Working to Ban Conversion Therapy
Rep. Celia Israel on politics, queerness, and transportation
April 2, 2019 BY LILLI HIME
Sweeping Religious Freedom Bill Heads to Senate
The Senate State Affairs Committee approves a license to discriminate
March 26, 2019 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Equality Texas Promotes LGBTQ Friendly Legislation
Report finds “stark gap” between acceptance and lack of protections
February 27, 2019 BY LILLI HIME
Group Calls for Legislative Action to Address Texas’ High Maternal Mortality Rate for Black Women
Black Mamas Community Collective says, “We must do better.”
February 26, 2019 BY ALEX PUENTE
Far-Right Texas Legislator Files Bill to Completely Outlaw Abortion
HB 896 too fanatical even for extreme anti-choice groups
February 4, 2019 BY MARY TUMA
False Confederate Capitol Plaque Removed – And It Only Took Six Decades!
Efforts by Democrat Rep. Johnson led the way
January 14, 2019 BY MARY TUMA
Dawnna Dukes' Charges Dropped
13 felonies gone, two misdemeanors resolved
October 24, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Dukes Deal Off. Next Stop: Court.
District Attorney confirms state rep will stand trial
August 2, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Updated: Plea Deal for Dukes Expires
State rep had until close of business Tuesday to accept D.A.'s offer
August 1, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Abbott Announces Special Session
Eye-popping 20 item sprint begins July 18
June 6, 2017 BY CHASE HOFFBERGER
Last Day at the Lege
Sine die arrives as threat of a special session looms
May 29, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
“Cruel” Anti-Abortion SB 8 Sent to Gov’s Desk to Become Law
Expect a court challenge over "unconstitutional" bill
May 26, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Numbers Don't Lie, Film Rebates Work
Which films and TV shows quit Austin over lack of rebates?
May 25, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Uber, Lyft Return to Austin Monday
Gov. Abbott expected to sign rideshare bill
May 25, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Texas Legislators Push Through Two Anti-LGBTQ Bills Sunday Night
Bathroom and religious freedom bills both likely to become law
May 22, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Protesters Stage Sit-in at Governor's Office to Oppose Sanctuary Cities Bill
Activists won't move until Abbott vetoes "racist" bill
May 1, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Marathon House Debate Yields “Show Me Your Papers” Sanctuary Cities Bill
Amendment lets cops question detainees' immigration status
April 27, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Still No Vote on the Bathroom Bill "Compromise"
After five hours of public testimony, HB 2899 sits in limbo
April 20, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Court Rules: Texas Voter ID Still Racist
Second ruling finds GOP deliberately suppressed minority vote
April 11, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Bathroom Bill Flushed to Senate
Despite 21 hours of testimony, SB 6 goes to chamber floor
March 8, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Texas Vets Push for Marijuana Reform
Veterans Lobby Day held Wednesday at the Capitol
February 23, 2017 BY MONTINIQUE MONROE
Straus Announces House Committees
Lots of seats but no chair positions for reps in Travis County
February 9, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Reproductive Rights Advocates Prepare for the Fight
Groups, lawmakers relaunch "Trust. Respect. Access." campaign
February 9, 2017 BY MARY TUMA
Dawnna Dukes Indicted
State rep faces 15 counts relating to abuse of office
January 18, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Vela Kicks Off
Immigration lawyer formally adds name to foggy HD 46 race
January 13, 2017 BY MICHAEL KING
Vela to Waffling Dukes: Go Now
Updated: Dukes confirms she will be on the floor today
January 9, 2017 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Texas Bathroom Bill Battle Officially Begins
Sen. Kolkhorst has filed the Texas Privacy Act
January 5, 2017 BY SARAH MARLOFF
Houston Voters Say No to "Robin Hood"
HISD rejects making school finance payments
November 15, 2016 BY RICHARD WHITTAKER
Anti-Bullying Bill Filed for Texas Legislature
San Antonio lawmakers open pre-filing season with David's Law today
