Hagenbuch won the primary in a district vacated by former Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster.

The battle to succeed retiring state Sen. Drew Springer has come down to a May 28 runoff between Brent Hagenbuch and Jace Yarbrough.

The 2023 legislation establishing the grant program also includes new equipment for rural sheriffs.

The bombshell request by retiring state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, comes after Paxton decided to stop fighting a whistleblower lawsuit whose claims factored into his impeachment trial.

The Republican, who represents a north Texas district, is the first member of the state Senate to announce ahead of the Nov. 11 start of the filing period that he won’t be running.

“I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,” said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. “But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.”

How have new laws changed accessible parking? How are violations enforced? Here’s what you need to know about parking for people with disabilities.

With little in local tax revenue to help pay staff, rural Texas sheriffs are often forced to do more with less. Lawmakers hope a new grant program will help rebuild the ranks of rural law enforcement.

The House passed a bill with a late amendment to make it a state jail felony for a “public officer” to give alcohol to a minor under any circumstances. Slaton voted for the amendment.

The bill would impose fines when residents make more than three complaints to the state environmental agency in a year if they don’t result in enforcement action. Critics warn the bill would discourage people from reporting pollution.

After redistricting, the state constitution requires senators to draw lots to determine which half of the chamber will have four-year terms and which will have two-year terms. This keeps Senate district elections staggered every two years for the rest of the decade.

The Texas Capitol on Feb. 1, 2021. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas TribuneVoters in northern Texas are going to the polls Tuesday to fill the last vacant seat in the Texas Legislature. Republicans David Spiller and Craig Carter are facing off in a special election runoff to fill the state House seat vacated by Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who recently was elected to the state Senate. Spiller is a Jacksboro lawyer and school board trustee; Carter is a Nocona businessman and former candidate for overlapping Texas Senate District 30. 1 finisher in the special election last month for the rural northwest Texas district, getting 44% of the vote to Carter’s 18%. The runoff was additionally upended by the deadly winter storm last week that left millions of Texans without power.

The Dallas Mavericks are under attack by some GOP Texas lawmakers seizing on a report that team owner Mark Cuban decided to stop playing the national anthem before home games this season. He has previously expressed support for athletes kneeling during the anthem before games to protest racial injustice. Ad“It’s time that Cuban’s special Texas tax breaks comes to an end,” tweeted state Sen. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who hinted that a bill could be filed imminently. Former President Donald Trump in 2017 threatened to end federal tax subsidies for stadiums after professional football athletes kneeled during the anthem. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.

Greg Abbott has picked TKTK for the House District 68 runoff election. Greg Abbott has picked Feb. 23 as the date of the special election runoff to replace former state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who is now in the Texas Senate. Early voting for the House District 68 runoff will begin Feb. 16. Spiller finished first in the five-way special election last month, getting 44% of the vote. For Carter, the period since the special election has been marked by tragedy.

The Texas House of Representatives on Jan. 13, 2021. Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas TribuneSaturday is election day to fill the final vacant seat in the Texas House, as five candidates vie to fill the position that Republican Drew Springer left to join the state Senate. The safely Republican district covers a large swath of rural northwest Texas wrapping around Wichita Falls and up into the Panhandle. Because of the number of candidates, the race is likely to go to a runoff. Springer vacated the seat last month after winning a special election runoff to replace now-U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, in the Texas Senate. Greg Abbott ordered a sped-up special election for Springer's state House seat due to the legislative session, which began earlier this month.

The health of constituents and the local economy, especially for small businesses, are the Senate’s largest focuses, Gutierrez said. He said he wants to zoom in on benefits for small businesses, but different Texas communities may require different solutions. Following guidelines is necessary so everyone can meet their goals within the 140 days of session, Springer said. “We tamped down the pageantry around the beginning of the session,” Blanco said. This conversation was presented by Lone Star College and supported by DoorDash, Texas Association of School Business Officials, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and TEXAS 2036.

César Blanco, Roland Gutierrez and Drew Springer join The Texas Tribune for a live event on Jan. 19. Join The Texas Tribune at noon Central Jan. 19 for an interview with three new members of the Texas Senate: César Blanco, D-El Paso; Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio; and Drew Springer, R-Muenster. Blanco, D-El Paso, represents Senate District 29 in El Paso. Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, represents Senate District 19 in San Antonio. Though donors and corporate sponsors underwrite Texas Tribune events, they play no role in determining the content, panelists or line of questioning.

The south end of the Texas State Capitol. Credit: Spencer Selvidge for The Texas TribuneFour Republicans and one Democrat have filed for the special election to replace state Sen.-elect Drew Springer, R-Muenster, in the Texas House. They are competing for Springer's seat after he won a special election runoff last month to succeed Pat Fallon in the Texas Senate after the Prosper Republican's promotion to Congress. The special election for Springer's seat is happening on an accelerated schedule with the start of the legislative session — Jan. 12 — looming. Abbott announced the special election a week ago, and early voting begins Jan. 11.

Former State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019. Greg Abbott has selected Jan. 23 as the date of the special election to fill the seat of state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who recently won a promotion to the Texas Senate. At least two Republicans have already announced campaigns for the House seat. State law gives Abbott the power to order a sped-up special election when a vacancy occurs within 60 days of the session. The special election for Springer's House seat is the latest development in a game of political dominoes that began when former U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, was named director of national intelligence earlier this year.

State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, spoke during a Texas Tribune panel in 2019. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas TribuneState Rep. Drew Springer of Muenster prevailed over fellow Republican Shelley Luther in a special election runoff for a state Senate seat that was animated by Gov. Luther is the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year over her refusal to close her business due to coronavirus restrictions. While not as bombastic, Springer also expressed disagreement with some of the governor's coronavirus handling, even after earning Abbott's endorsement. Luther and Springer finished neck and neck in the initial six-way special election in late September, with Luther leading Springer by 115 votes. He loaned Luther $1 million before the September election and directly gave her $700,000 in the runoff.

Greg Abbott's campaign has made over a quarter-million dollars worth of in-kind contributions in support of state Rep. Drew Springer's campaign for state Senate. Greg Abbott stayed out of the September special election for a Texas state Senate seat in rural North Texas, content to let his coronavirus response become a flashpoint between two members of his own party. But now that the race is down to a Saturday runoff, Abbott has gone all in. Abbott endorsed Springer earlier this month, making official a preference that many had suspected after Luther spent months lacerating Abbott’s pandemic management. The two finished close together in the six-way September special election, with Luther edging Springer by 115 votes.

Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster. Greg Abbott announced Saturday that Dec. 19 will be the date for the special election runoff to succeed state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper. The runoff in Fallon's solidly red district pits state Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, against fellow Republican Shelley Luther, the Dallas salon owner who was jailed earlier this year over her refusal to close her business due to coronavirus restrictions. Luther and Springer finished close together in the Sept. 29 special election, which included three other Republicans and a Democrat. Luther edged out Springer, 32.17% to 31.93%, ahead by 164 votes out of 68,807 total.

Dallas salon owner Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer, both Republicans, are headed to a runoff for a Texas Senate seat. Credit: The Texas TribuneRepublicans Shelley Luther and Drew Springer are advancing to a runoff in the special election to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, according to unofficial election returns. The two were each getting about 32% of the vote late Tuesday in the six-way special election, with 96% of polling locations reporting. Greg Abbott called the whirlwind special election for the seat a little over a month ago. Springer spent some of the closing days of the special election campaigning mostly virtually, forced to quarantine after his wife tested positive for the coronavirus.

Shelley Luther and state Rep. Drew Springer are among six candidates looking to replace state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper. The special election was triggered by Fallon’s nomination in August to replace former U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, on the November ballot now that he is director of national intelligence. Abbott has not endorsed in the special election, and a spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on the race. Another statewide political figure who looms over the special election is Lt. Gov. Among the Republican candidates, the referendum on Abbott’s pandemic decisions is not limited to Springer and Luther.

State Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, is shown on the Senate floor in 2019. Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas TribuneSix candidates have filed in the rapid-fire special election to fill the seat of state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, according to the secretary of state's office. On Saturday, Fallon submitted his resignation from his state Senate seat, saying it will be effective Jan. 4. Minutes after Abbott announced the special election, Springer jumped into the race with Fallon's backing. Early voting for the special election begins Sept. 14.