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Two gun rights activists argue with a state trooper who will not allow them to enter an overflow room due to COVID-related restrictions at the Capitol on April 29, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

Permitless carry of a handgun in Texas nearly law, after Senate OKs bill

Wed, 05/05/2021 - 5:53pm

The Republican-led effort to allow Texans to carry handguns without any kind of license cleared what is likely its biggest remaining hurdle in the Capitol on Wednesday, when the Texas Senate moved

Read more about Permitless carry of a handgun in Texas nearly law, after Senate OKs bill

A member of the House gallery listens to legislators speak during a debate on an abortion bill being considered on the House floor on May 5, 2021. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

Fetal “heartbeat” bill, that could ban abortions at six weeks, nears passage in the Legislature

Wed, 05/05/2021 - 5:50pm

Texas lawmakers are poised to enact sweeping restrictions on access to abortions, prohibiting the procedure before many women know they are pregnant, and opening the door for a potential flood of l

Read more about Fetal “heartbeat” bill, that could ban abortions at six weeks, nears passage in the Legislature

Daily Record file photo

Bail reform bills may impact Hays County

Sun, 05/02/2021 - 5:00am

Two bail reform bills are making their way through the Texas Legislature, proposing reformative measures that will keep more people in jail before trial and place limitations on nonprofit bail funds. In Hays County, this might mean spending more tax dollars housing people in jail.

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The bill defines the protected information to include “one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of the individual,” in addition to location or identification numbers, but does not define what information meets that criteria. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

Texas Legislature considering bill to make it harder to get public information about government employees

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 6:58pm

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would restrict state agencies from sharing salary data and other typically public information about government employees with the public in a bill that experts

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Senate Bill 7 — a Republican priority — would make changes to almost the entire voting process, taking particular aim at narrowing the latitude local officials have to control voting. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune

Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing

Wed, 04/21/2021 - 2:48pm

Like Republicans across the country, Texas lawmakers are pushing to enact sweeping changes to state voting laws, including new restrictions on how and when voters can cast ballots.

Read more about Here's how Texas elections would change, and become more restrictive, under the bill Texas Republicans are pushing

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick presides over the Senate session on March 20. On Tuesday, the upper chamber passed a two-year state budget, but several questions remain about expected federal aid. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune

Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used

Wed, 04/07/2021 - 6:46pm

The Texas Senate unanimously signed off on a two-year, $250 billion state budget Tuesday, though there are still questions about how tens of billions of dollars in expected fed

Read more about Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used

A new District Court will be coming to Hays County should an omnibus bill pass in the 87th regular session of the Texas Legislature. Daily Record file photo