AUSTIN (KXAN) – Within the final hours of the regular legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed a measure designed to attract businesses to Texas and create high-paying jobs. The Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act gives tax breaks to businesses, but opponents say it's on the backs of the state's students ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas lawmakers were adjourned for almost three hours before Gov. Greg Abbott called them back to the Capitol on Monday. Abbott called for a special session to begin at 9 p.m. Monday following the end of the 88th Texas Legislature's regular session at around 6:15 p.m. He said property taxes and border security are on the agenda for what he called "Special Session No. 1 ..read more

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- The Texas Legislature ended the regular legislative session Monday evening with top priorities left on the table. Lawmakers worked all day to finalize a last-second deal on legislation to lower property taxes. The two chambers have been at an intractable impasse all session, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan arguing their plans will save Texans more money. The legislature was constitutionally required to end their business by midnight Monday. The Texas Constitution prescribes 140-day legislative sessions in odd-numbered years. The 88th session began on ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas House of Representatives approved which 12 of its members will serve as managers when the Senate holds an impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton. The group includes seven Republicans and five Democrats, including all the members of the House general investigating committee that first recommended articles of impeachment against Paxton over years of alleged misconduct. Here's a list of the impeachment managers: Rep. Andrew Murr, R-Junction, chair. Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, vice chair. Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth. Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. Rep. Terry ..read more

This report is an update to KXAN's "Medical Debt Lawsuits" investigation. Our team followed this bill during Texas' legislative session.  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that will require hospitals requesting payment from patients to provide a written, understandable itemized invoice before sending them to collections.  The Senate approved SB 490 in May, sending it to Abbott for his signature. This was the second session the bill was filed. Medical billing transparency legislation passed, heads to governor The legislation was amended to only include health car ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On the last day of session, Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle gave a Houston Democratic representative a lengthy standing ovation to mark a milestone in her legislative career. The Texas House of Representatives approved a resolution Monday honoring Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, for serving 50 years in the chamber. She has now served 26 terms in the House, rising to become known as the dean. She is the longest-serving female and Black lawmaker in the legislature ..read more

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The Texas House adjourned just before 11 p.m. Sunday night without passing a compromise bill to lower property taxes, leaving a highly-anticipated deal to avoid a special session on the table. Texas lawmakers worked into the final hours of the legislative session to bring a deal that would lower property taxes and bridge intractable odds between top Republican leaders in the House and Senate. The House Speaker's Office confirmed just before 10 p.m. that House negotiators signed off on a deal. Lawmakers waited in a holding pattern for multiple hours as they waited for Senate ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A years-long fight to close a controversial legal gap known as the "dead suspect loophole" has finally come to an end. This development comes days after the one-year anniversary of the Uvalde mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers, which put a spotlight on the importance of public records, transparency and the truth. "This work can mean policy, and this work can mean people. Closing the dead suspects loophole was about both," Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, who fought to close the loophole for the fourth session in a row, tweeted after the Senate vote. "I worked this ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A bill intended to end the discrimination of hairstyles associated with race was signed into law Sunday by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 567, better known as the CROWN Act, cleared its final hurdle on May 12 after it was passed by the Texas Senate 29-1. It was sent to Abbott's desk on May 16 and he made it law with his signature on Sunday. It goes into effect on Sept. 1. It passed the Texas House 143-5 on April 12. The CROWN Act is an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair, and it prohibits school districts, colleges or universities, employers or labor ..read more

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Another legislative session in Texas, another round of bills aimed at the city where it all happens. Texas lawmaker files bill that could strip Austin of its compatibility laws That range is not on par with what other major cities around the state, or even around the country, are doing, city staff have said. The bill, filed by Senator Bryan Hughes, would have stripped the radius allowed to just 50 feet in major Texas cities. The bill is one of a handful that didn't make it to the governor's desk, but Smith warns, a special session is looming. "And so if you have a bill, one of ..read more