Texas Legislature

The push comes as Texas leads the nation in fatal crashes involving large trucks.

"It establishes a baseline state-level policy plan, and infrastructure, that ... will allow us to solve the problem."

An outraged Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick castigated those implying that GOP efforts to restrict Texas voting are racist. But the state has a history of marginalizing voters of color, and many business leaders, voting rights advocates and Democrats see it taking another step down that path.

House Bill 1535 from state Rep. Stephanie Klick of Fort Worth would expand medicinal cannabis oil access in the state, making people with all forms of cancer and veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder eligible for the Texas Compassionate Use Registry.

Three federal stimulus packages passed during the pandemic included more than $19 billion for Texas public schools, but state leaders have yet to distribute most of the money. Local districts say they need it to cover pandemic-related costs.

The budget does not factor in over $35 billion in federal aid. Senators said they don't yet know when that money will come in and what strings could be attached.

A Houston Chronicle columnist says the energy industry is the “reigning champion” when it comes to influencing legislation in Texas.

American Airlines and Dell are directly criticizing Republican-sponsored legislation in the state legislature that would curb expanded voter access.

Senate Bill 3 would require all power generators, transmission lines, natural gas facilities and pipelines to make upgrades for extreme weather. Its prospects are uncertain in the House, which is scheduled to take up a series of related, standalone bills on Tuesday.

Election-related bills are taking heat in the Texas legislature. Lawmakers convened on Friday to discuss a dozen bills related to how elections should be conducted moving forward.

A provision that would remove police officers' legal shield against civil lawsuits has been pegged by multiple lawmakers as a sticking point in the Republican-led Legislature.

Harris County around Houston used drive-thru voting and extended voting hours to boost turnout in 2020. Republican leaders in Texas say such efforts were an overreach.