House panel advances new Texas budget with property tax cuts, teacher pay raises
The proposal recommends spending billions on programs including property tax cuts, teacher pay raises, mental health services and border security. It leaves out requests for pay raises for retired state employees and funding for rent relief and childcare programs.
Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
State policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
![In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/y1_YEBJ-ejigt7mdonlqs4iQ7bA=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/63V7R6GSSNEJHJHXAPL7P57MJM.jpg)
In fast-growing Central Texas, redistricting sparks political reshuffling in upcoming statehouse and congressional races
The fast-growing region likely will see a considerable number of new state and federal lawmakers after the 2022 election. And in many cases, they will be representing districts whose boundaries have significantly shifted.
![Texas House Dems in DC ‘re-evaluating options,’ seeking legal advice](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/sovnIoQX8OIFy4nHJapCNL8OVJk=/800x450/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/d1vhqlrjc8h82r.cloudfront.net/08-11-2021/t_6b1a2d4f5f0d4d8d8676ba062c20f5db_name_image.jpg)
Texas House Dems in DC ‘re-evaluating options,’ seeking legal advice
The second special session in Austin is underway but still crippled without a quorum. In Washington, D.C., Congress will return after its August recess. Both impact what the remaining Texas House Democrats in the nation’s capital will do next.
![2 more Texas House Democrats test positive for COVID-19, totaling 5 cases, report says](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/iWPNKcahE4fHlns17zeplv_gAX4=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/INKCCPOGF5CZREYNKHTN3C4OLE.jpg)
2 more Texas House Democrats test positive for COVID-19, totaling 5 cases, report says
Two more Texas House Democrats have tested positive for COVID-19 in Washington D.C. after breaking quorum and leaving the state to block a GOP voting bill last week, according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman.
![Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas lawmakers would prioritize workers in 2021. But advocates say the working class was largely left behind.](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/g2FP3unxapmvhlw5yodbqRDo_DU=/800x536/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VVN25HVY3RFIXP45J3JEV74LZM.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas lawmakers would prioritize workers in 2021. But advocates say the working class was largely left behind.
After Texas workers were praised during the pandemic, many thought lawmakers would increase protections or benefits. But advocacy groups say they spent a lot of time playing defense on bills that could hurt workers.
![Texas' factory of conservative legislation may be at risk](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/d5GRE6421-m6axpyuz5Fse2rCQ4=/1600x1123/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YOWKNKMVIVAAPBHZ3JVRKJTMJQ.jpg)
Texas' factory of conservative legislation may be at risk
AUSTIN, Texas – Win or lose in Texas on Tuesday, Republicans will still run plenty of America's state capitols. For a decade the Texas Legislature has been America's foremost factory of conservative legislation. Voting restrictions, expanded gun rights, immigration crackdowns and limits on abortion have passed out of the state House. So did Texas’ longest-serving female lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Senfronia Thompson, who would be Texas’ first House speaker who is female or Black. “It allows, us, frankly, to finally have an opportunity to really set policy at the state level of Texas," he said.
![San Antonio Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer announces bid for Speaker of the Texas House](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/0JPcncN5jv02odWlOXxAFz_80rQ=/1600x900/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/73W6MKABPVBOVESUPUCHMSEUPA.jpg)
San Antonio Democrat Trey Martinez Fischer announces bid for Speaker of the Texas House
SAN ANTONIO – If Democrats can win the Texas House of Representatives in November, San Antonio native and District 116 Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer hopes to become the first Latino Speaker of the House in the state’s history. The most competitive house race in the San Antonio area is House District 121 - former Speaker Joe Straus' former district. Martinez Fischer said he admires Thompson and welcomes “constructive debate” that will come from the race for Texas Speaker of the House. “I look forward to the conversation with my colleagues both current and future over the coming days," Martinez Fischer said. Martinez Fischer held his House Rep. seat between 2000 and 2017.
![Trey Martinez Fischer becomes second Democrat to announce run for speaker of the Texas House](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/hOcVUaQzO4n-vhCJFKU52HpIj4g=/1200x803/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/N5AOKX5NFFANPPXZ32Y7RPV5P4.jpg)
Trey Martinez Fischer becomes second Democrat to announce run for speaker of the Texas House
State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, is the second Democrat to announce a bid for speaker of the Texas House. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas TribuneState Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer on Monday announced he is running for Texas House speaker, becoming the second Democrat in the lower chamber to launch a bid for the gavel. Martinez Fischer, from San Antonio, joins state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, the longest-serving woman and Black person in the history of the Texas Legislature, in the race. In a statement, Martinez Fischer said the “number one job of the Speaker is to protect the House and its members.”“Members know that I have been a defender of the House rules and wielded them to protect the institution and the people we serve,” Martinez Fischer said. “My vision for the Texas House is an independent body that will work respectfully in a bi-partisan manner with the best minds at the table.
![Records: San Antonio lawmakers criticized Gov. Abbotts COVID-19 response as cases started surging](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/rD7cA9KUWzE0X9XE8dDWMblsEgY=/1280x720/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/XC3T2TM7RVDGFHKEIGQ555GASU.jpeg)
Records: San Antonio lawmakers criticized Gov. Abbotts COVID-19 response as cases started surging
The following afternoon, during Abbotts weekly call with members of the Texas legislature, the question went unanswered, according to Bernal, D-San Antonio. Especially if they were challenging questions or questions that maybe put science ahead of the economy, said Bernal. On June 17, as new daily COVID-19 cases climbed over 3,000, Bernals staff again reached out to the Governors office and asked if Abbott was reconsidering his reopening strategy. Not only did the states positivity rate continue to increase after Bernals inquiries, but so did the number of daily cases statewide and in San Antonio. The KSAT 12 Defenders reached out to Abbotts office for more information on these weekly calls with legislators.