In The News

Reflecting on the state of the Texas government after this most recent legislative session, State Senator Royce West (D-Dallas) feels that several important issues were not addressed, while lawmakers were left more polarized than ever.

CNN’s Brianna Keilar grilled Texas state Senator Brian Hughes (R) on Wednesday, confronting him on his support of the state’s new voting bill.

Two days after House Democrats broke quorum to kill Texas' elections overhaul legislation, Republicans say they plan to use a special session to change a controversial provision that raised concerns it would hurt get-out-the-vote efforts by Black churches.

State Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, approaches the Texas House like she does a courtroom: She wants everything on the record.

Some of Gov. Greg Abbott's priority bills died when House Democrats walked out Sunday.

One of the top Republican negotiators behind a failed Texas voting bill said it would have mistakenly limited early voting on Sundays, when many Black boers typically turn out.

Video: State Senator Royce West (D) comments on a restrictive Texas voting bill.

Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted Monday that he would not sign part of the budget that funds the legislative branch

The Democrats’ unusual protest of breaking the chamber’s quorum, tapped only three other times in Texas history, killed a divisive elections bill. But Gov. Greg Abbott promised to revive the legislation.

Texas Republicans were claiming victory late Friday night, saying that they had successfully pushed through one of the most controversial education bills — which advocates said would make it more difficult to address racism in schools — despite last-ditch efforts by Democrats to kill the legislation through parliamentary procedures.

After a process in which Democrats on the conference committee claimed they were essentially locked out from providing input, lawmakers have reached and filed a final agreement on major election bill Senate Bill 7, which has been no stranger to controversy and criticisms since it was first filed.

Republican senators sprang into action Friday night to resurrect a GOP bill limiting how race can be discussed in the classroom, paving over a roadblock thrown up by a Round Rock Democrat in the House.

George Floyd legislation – The guilty verdict in the Chauvin trial is just part of the fight for accountability after the murder of George Floyd. Right now, legislation bearing Floyd’s name is stalled at the State Capitol. We speak with State Sen. Royce West, who filed the Senate bill, about the future of the act as well as his personal perspective on the verdict.

The renovation efforts for Fair Park continue, and with the passing of Senate Bill 2181 in the House on Wednesday, lawmakers are one step closer to securing funds for the project.

The Texas House passed its budget Thursday night after a marathon debate to decide how to spend taxpayer money over the next two years. The big takeaway is more money for education.

Despite the guilty verdicts in the Derek Chauvin trial last week, West does not believe the George Floyd Act, which would institute police reforms, will pass.

Texas state Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Dist. 115, is behind a bill that could give almost a million Texans health insurance if the state would expand Medicaid.