Aug 17, 2017 | Campaign News
HD47: Austin conservative activist and 2016 candidate and former legislative chief of staff Jay Wiley announced he would seek a primary rematch against Rep. Paul Workman (R-Austin). Workman defeated Wiley, 61%-39%, in the 2016 Republican primary. HD62: Sherman council...
Aug 10, 2017 | Campaign News
GOV: Austin musician Thor Harris announced on Twitter that he would challenge Gov. Greg Abbott (R) but did not indicate a political affiliation. House Speaker: Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), chair of the House Republican Caucus, has called a meeting of the caucus...
Aug 9, 2017 | Campaign News
Special Session: The House, by a 90-37 vote, gave preliminary approval to a bill intended to reduce mail-in ballot fraud. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) would increase penalties for voter fraud committed via mail-in ballots, particularly...
Aug 7, 2017 | Campaign Finance
Redistricting: Parties in the ongoing lawsuit over the state’s congressional and house districts were advised to keep September 5-8 open for a potential remedial hearing. The court also asked attorneys representing the state to provide their availability later in the...
Jul 26, 2017 | Campaign News
Special Session: A bill intended to prevent mail-in ballot fraud was passed by the Senate, 21-10. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) would increase penalties for voter fraud committed via mail-in ballots, particularly for individuals...
Jul 23, 2017 | Campaign News
Special Session: The Senate State Affairs Committee unanimously approved a bill intended to prevent mail-in ballot fraud. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) would increase penalties for voter fraud committed via mail-in ballots, particularly...
Jul 21, 2017 | Campaign News
Special Session: On Sunday, the Senate State Affairs Committee will hear testimony on a bill intended to prevent mail-in ballot fraud. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) would increase penalties for voter fraud committed via mail-in ballots,...
Jul 10, 2017 | breaking-news, Legislation
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation calling a special session of the Legislature to convene at 10 a.m. on July 18 to extend the expiration dates of several healthcare occupational licensing agencies. He also published “an unsigned working draft” of a “supplemental...
Jun 17, 2017 | Legislation
Three election-related bills were among 50 vetoes issued by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill 2410 by Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin) would have permitted a primary runoff to be conducted by mail if fewer than 100 votes were cast in the county’s primary election and no...
Jun 1, 2017 | Legislation
Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law bills that conform the state’s Voter ID law to recent judicial rulings and end the option to cast a single-punch, straight-party ballot after the 2018 general election. Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) codifies a process...
May 29, 2017 | Legislation
This post had been updated to reflect Gov. Abbott’s subsequent actions on these bills. The 85th Legislature, Regular Session has adjourned sine die. While there are rumors of a special session in the air, one is not likely to include election-related issues....
May 27, 2017 | breaking-news, Legislation
Updated. The conference committee on Senate Bill 5, the Voter ID fix, largely kept to the Senate’s version and rejected House language calling for a voter turnout strategic plan and a report on voter education expenditures. The conference committee report (pdf) was...
