Charlie Kirk's killing adds to rising security concerns among Texas politicians, via @taygoldenstein.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Who will replace Ken Paxton as Texas AG? These Republicans make their cases in first showdown www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Hearst joins media organizations in asking judge to unseal Ken Paxton divorce case www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Ethics commission fines former Texas lawmaker $105K for violating revolving door law www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

How are Texas candidates + politicians adapting to the increasing political violence in the U.S., including the assasination of Charlie Kirk? They're spending a whole lot more time and money on security, sometimes at their own personal expense. My latest: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

The chair of the State Affairs Committee cut off testimony on the bathroom and abortion pill crackdown bills after two hours each. Democratic state Reps. Donna Howard and Jessica Gonzalez are hearing testimony from those who didn’t get a chance to speak now. About 60 ppl here.

NEW: Witness is ejected after outburst at Texas House hearing on transgender bathroom bill (Hats off to @mikalacompton.bsky.social for getting the photo you see below of the moment he was asked to leave) www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

A hearing over the Texas bathroom bill descended into shouts and insults on Friday as one man was ejected and another was accused of threatening to mutilate transgender women. Story by @taygoldenstein.bsky.social. statesman.com/politics/tex... #txlege #SB8 #LGBT #LGBTQ

LGBTQ+ and abortion rights advocates held a rally in the Capitol rotunda for “bodily autonomy” in opposition to both the bathroom and abortion pill crackdown bills. Both were left pending in committee. #txlege

Read the response of executive director of Transgender Education Network of Texas Emmett Schelling to the incident today:

NEW: Democrats who fled Texas are racking up a huge bill. Who is paying the tab? www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: Texas senators running for attorney general to vote on bill expanding the office’s power www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Mia Santoro was sentenced to 20 yrs for a deadly robbery in which she said her traffickers forced her to participate. Advocates say her case is prime exmple of the problem w/ TX's duress defnse. After Gov vetoed a bipartisan bill, lawmakers are trying again: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Texas' special legislative session starts today. Here are the major issues, from a THC ban to flood relief www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski to run again for Texas attorney general www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... (via @benwermund.bsky.social)

NEW: State Sen. Angela Paxton files for divorce from Texas AG Ken Paxton www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Good scoop by @ryanjreilly.com. Top DOJ official, in leaked audio, bragged at a private Republican event that the Trump admin was able to kill a longstanding Texas law that gave undocumented immigrants in-state tuition “in six hours” by coordinating with AG Ken Paxton.

If you're an Express-News subscriber, you can read it here: www.expressnews.com/politics/tex... If you're an Austin American-Statesman subscriber, you can read it here: www.statesman.com/story/news/p...

NEW: Several current and former staffers of AG Ken Paxton's office are trading explosive accusations in new filings, the latest of which alleges that Paxton's top deputy obstructed justice and tampered w/ witnesses during his 2023 impeachment. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Houston-area group homes for people with disabilities shutter as industry faces ‘crisis’, via @taygoldenstein.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: Abbott vetoes summer food aid program, forgoing $450M in federal dollars www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: State Rep. Jolanda Jones jumps into race for Houston's 18th Congressional District www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #TX18

good story from @taygoldenstein.bsky.social in the chronicle this morning about the ripple effects of Texas' new sex definitions law, it's worth your time to sit with it: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Key bills that passed and failed in the Texas Legislature, via @taygoldenstein.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: Abortion fund groups dealt setback in bid to avoid prosecution for providing aid to Texans www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: Push for parental leave wanes as Texas GOP eyes other ways to help families www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

Really great show last night!! @mcglinchyreports.bsky.social killed it as per usual. And the vibes in the new Bass Hall location are, as the youths say, immaculate! Highly recommend.

NEW: Texans could soon need to show their passport or birth certificate to register to vote www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

Demand for Texas child care subsidies is skyrocketing, often leaving families waiting months for help, via @taygoldenstein.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: After outcry, Texas lawmakers tweak bill clarifying abortion ban exception www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

In the 13-county region that includes Harris County, nearly 30K families are in line for state child care assistance, with an average wait time of about 14 months. TX lawmakers will consider today a funding boost to the program to cut down on waitlists: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

NEW: Pro-abortion rights activists at odds over bill meant to clarify medical exception in Texas ban www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

Gov. Greg Abbott sets date for special election to replace Sylvester Turner in Congress www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Texas AG Ken Paxton touts new report that DOJ officials declined to prosecute him www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Justice Department declined to prosecute Texas AG Paxton in final weeks of Biden's term: AP sources www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article...

Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats ‘likely’ to sue over delayed special election for Sylvester Turner seat www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

UPDATE: John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life, which helped write the bill, said impacting the old statute was not the primary intent. The group already believes the law is active. Asked if he believes passing SB 31 would bolster that argument, he said “definitely.” More below:

Texas abortion funds are warning that a bipartisan bill clarifying the state abortion ban's emergency exception contains a “Trojan horse” provision that could help resurrect an over-century-old law that would essentially shut them down. More here: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

"It's a direct threat to the work that we do, and it's something that is basically an attempt to manipulate public perception, and it does nothing to ensure that people are able to access healthcare," said Denise Rodriguez with @teafund.org.

BREAKING: Abortion funds warn Texas bill on emergency exceptions could restrict access further www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

NEW: Ken Paxton's impeachment trial cost taxpayers $5M, state auditor says www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

A second employee of midwife and clinic owner Maria Rojas was charged in connection an investigation into illegal abortions, authorities said. trib.al/wShHd4t

BREAKING: Houston-area midwife arrested in first criminal case under Texas abortion ban www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

BREAKING: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday announced the arrest of a Houston-area midwife for allegedly performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine illegally, marking the first criminal case to be filed under the state’s abortion ban. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Despite 3 of 4 TX teachers being women, many school districts don't offer paid maternity leave. That didn't surprise me too much. Most Texans dn't hve it. But what I didn't know - & I'd guess much of the public doesn't - is they can also DOCK teachers' pay 🧵 www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw, D-Houston, again files mandatory paid parental leave bill — this time w/ option for employer to split cost w/ employees. No Republican co-authors just yet (vs 2 last time). Businesses w <50 employees exempt. Backgrd: www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege

Staggering details from this story: - After TX banned abortion, rate of sepsis shot up more than 50% for women hospitalized when they lost their pregnancies in the 2nd trimester - The rate of maternal deaths in TX rose 33% btwn 2019 + 2023 even as national rate fell by 7.5%

Texas, @houstonchronicle.com wants to hear your parental leave story! Did your company offer it? Was it enough time? How did it help? If not, how did you make it work? Did you have to quit your job? Did your in-laws move in? Share your story here: www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/202...

ICYMI: Most Texans don't have access to parental leave. Red states that don't have the political appetite for mandatory programs have turned to a voluntary, insurance-based model. @houstonchronicle.com found that just two insurers signed up to sell policies. www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex...

Most Texas parents can’t access family leave -- paid or unpaid. What about FMLA, you say? There are a lot of misconceptions about its applicability. Here’s a quick primer on what to know: houstonchronicle.com/politics/tex... #txlege