Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning. Nov. 30, 2020, The seasons change in the political world, too. Full Story, by Patrick Svitek Full Story, by Cassandra Pollock The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. With the coronavirus pandemic continuing to affect everyday life, Texas legislators know that it won’t be business as usual at the Capitol during the 2021 legislative session. “There’s a lot of unknowns,” said state Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. In many states, this process is controlled by the state legislature, subject to gubernatorial veto.When one party controls the process, this can lead to gerrymandering, where district lines are set to maximize that party’s control in Congress. About half of them are aimed at increasing voter access, which lawmakers said became a more urgent issue during the pandemic. “This is the people’s house, and we need to make sure the people have access to us,” Jetton said. While Dutton said the caucus has long advocated for increased police training and oversight, widespread outrage following the death of George Floyd in police custody has heightened visibility of Black Americans’ treatment by law enforcement. The Texas Legislature is set to convene its 2021 legislative session on January 12, and lawmakers have already pre-filed several bills that would reform Texas’ outdated cannabis laws. The new Legislature is scheduled to convene on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. HOUSTON – A bill seeking to modify the so-called “castle doctrine” in Texas is getting lawmakers riled up ahead of the legislative session that … Collier said the caucus also plans to address disparities in health care, which have been exposed with greater clarity by the coronavirus pandemic. Nov. 24, 2020, Phelan was a prominent lieutenant of current House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, whose handling of the 2019 legislative session was popular before scandal brought him down. Four Tribune reporters share what they are most watching for at the 2021 legislative session. Full Story, by Ross Ramsey “This is where we go to debate, jump up and down, scream at each other, come out with a kind of forced agreement – and if you can't get together, it doesn't function right.”. Full Story, by Cassandra Pollock We have to live with the results. With the Texas Legislature set to convene in five weeks, an … Three veteran Texas lawmakers said that Dade Phelan, the presumptive Texas House speaker, will unite lawmakers through his experience and sincerity in what will be the Legislature’s first chance to address the health and economic impact of the pandemic next month. It's not. Johnson said some Democrats and Republicans weren’t aware of women’s lack of opportunity in the House until the group of women lawmakers brought it up. Texas Legislature 2021. Dec. 1, 2020, Nearly a dozen pieces of legislation, all of them filed by Republicans, target mail-in balloting, illegal voting and misbehaving elections officials — inspired by events and talking points from the previous election cycle. A month before the 2021 legislative session, much remains unclear, including how a session will work during a pandemic and what the priorities of the governor, lieutenant governor and House speaker will be, Texas Tribune reporters said. Here at Progress Texas, we’re going through every bill filled in the 2021 Texas Legislative Session. Full Story, by Ross Ramsey In many states, this process is controlled by the state legislature, subject to gubernatorial veto.When one party controls the process, this can lead to gerrymandering, where district lines are set to maximize that party’s control in Congress. From the state budget to health care to education policy — and the politics and impact of the coronavirus behind it all — we focus on what Texans need to know about the biennial legislative session. “We have so many tools in our toolbox that we’ll be able to work through it. … Texas Legislative Session Preview. The 87th Legislature's regular session runs from Jan. 12 to May 31. March 24, 2021— Yesterday marked the halfway point of the eighty-seventh Texas Legislature, one of the wildest and most contentious we’ve … Greg Abbott in September by a bipartisan group of state lawmakers. State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa, D-McAllen, also joined the conversation moderated by the Tribune’s executive editor, Ross Ramsey. “And we have to pick and choose what bills get paid when times are tough, and how to manage feeding our family, and how to manage educating our kids, and all the things that women and mothers have to do across the state.”, Incoming members of the Texas Legislature discuss their plans and priorities for their first legislative session. “It will be some pain, yes, but nothing compared to 2011.”, Redistricting leaders in the Texas House and Senate look toward the process of drawing the district maps that will take place this year. In fact, that might be the hardest option available. Jef Rouner - November 20, 2020. by Texas Tribune Staff The gavel doesn’t drop to open the 2021 Texas legislative session until Jan. 12, but state lawmakers are already giving us an indication of what they will be working on next year. It’s a policy pressure cooker. Dec. 1, 2020, The Legislature is set to convene in January. It is supported by Office of Public Insurance Counsel, One World Strategy Group, Texas Infrastructure Now and Fairmont Austin. We're in that periodic move from electioneering to governing. In 1931, the legislature made possession of any amount of marijuana a felony offense, punishable by up to life in prison. The conversation, moderated by Tribune political reporter Alex Samuels, also included state Rep. Harold Dutton, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. On Dec. 9, Lt. Gov. “A lot of this is just really kind of up in the air and I think folks are … getting antsy on just having some answers and some clarity on what all this ends up looking like come January,” Pollock said. Both acknowledged the challenges of navigating a session with a significantly decreased budget, but Hinojosa said it’s nothing the state hasn’t worked through before. But gaming in Texas hasn’t been expanded in almost three decades. The following report was contributed to in part by Wade Long, one of TMHA's long standing lobbyists. Analysis: Texas elections are over. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. A number of statewide public hearings scheduled for earlier this year were canceled because of the pandemic. The gavel doesn’t drop to open the 2021 Texas legislative session until Jan. 12, but state lawmakers are already giving us an indication of what they will be working on next year. In 2021, lawmakers in the nation’s second most populous state and the world’s 11th largest economy, Texas, could be the first to put an end to this practice. In 2021, the Texas Senate will have 18 Republicans and 13 … More than 800,000 people lack adequate broadband infrastructure, according to a letter sent to Gov. The comments came from state Reps. Four Price, R-Amarillo; Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth; Toni Rose, D-Dallas; and Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, during a conversation about the House agenda moderated by Cassandra Pollock, the Tribune’s state politics reporter. By the freewheeling 1970s, Texas marijuana possession laws became less severe. In-Depth News Politics 2021 Texas Legislature gerrymandering legislative redistricting Texas redistricting U.S. Census Bureau. A Texas redistricting committee is holding field hearings across the state ahead of 2021 mapmaking, including in San Antonio on Thursday. This 2021 legislative session is already vastly different as the coronavirus continues to change the everyday lives of Texans. Thousands of bills are expected to be filed during the session, but less than one in four of those will become law, Ramsey said. March 24, 2021— Yesterday marked the halfway point of the eighty-seventh Texas Legislature, one of the wildest and most contentious we’ve ever seen. Morales, the Democrat, said he wants to consider pulling money from the state’s “rainy day fund” to address the budget and would like to increase access to broadband and healthcare in the many rural counties in his district, the largest in the state. Media support is provided by Spectrum News. Legislators will also be selecting a new Speaker of the House during the opening of the 2021 legislative session. This time around, a group of Democratic lawmakers are hoping to change that, having formed an “Equity Caucus” to advocate for women’s equity in House leadership and pledging to vote as a bloc for the House speaker, going public with its pick of Dade Phelan. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Bill Longley, an attorney with the Texas Municipal League, told city officials it is important for them to prepare for what is sure to be a busy 2021 in Austin. “It's up to the 150 of us to come together for the betterment of Texas,” Goldman said. A Texas redistricting committee is holding field hearings across the state ahead of 2021 mapmaking, including in San Antonio on Thursday. Now, he said, it could be delayed because the U.S. Census Bureau has pushed back its deadlines for counting the population due to COVID-19. Texas Senate panel weighs banning abortion in 2021. Facebook. The Legislature Explained at The Texas Tribune's symposium previewing the 2021 legislative session. Leading members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus outline the priorities of their members for the 2021 legislative session. The panelists also highlighted new safety protocols that will be in place this session at the Capitol. On January 12, lawmakers from across the state of Texas will convene the 87 th Texas Legislative Session. He also supports rapid testing in the Capitol and will require masks in his office. Key Texas House leader says Capitol occupancy may be limited in upcoming legislative session, GOP lawmakers heading into the legislative session take aim at voter fraud, despite no evidence of widespread problem. Nov. 27, 2020, More than 60 election-related bills have been filed in the House and Senate in the three weeks since the election. Redistricting takes place every 10 years following the census. With the state government facing a cash shortfall, a billionaire casino magnate is making a bold play for the Lone Star State. “My hope is that we make it a work environment where we can get the job of the people done in a safe and professional way,” Menendez said. State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa discuss their plans to craft a state budget amid an economic downturn. During the 2021 legislative session, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus will focus on continuing efforts to reform the state’s criminal justice system, said state Rep. Nicole Collier, the caucus’ first vice chair. “But 2020 proved another disappointment for the state’s minority party as Republicans remained dominant in Texas, appearing poised to maintain victories in all statewide offices and both chambers of the Legislature,” the Texas news outlet reported. “It's all insider baseball,” Ramsey said. “We want to aim to provide uniformity, some type of consistent system, that people in Texas can look to and say, ‘This is what is expected of our law enforcement officers all across the state.”’. Show us with your support. The state’s budget and redistricting, along with access to education, will be some of the top priorities for new members of the Texas Legislature as the state wrestles with soaring COVID-19 cases and a projected shortfall of nearly $5 billion. Texas House Current Makeup: Republicans – 83, Democrats – 67 | January 2021: Republicans – 83, Democrats – 67. 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