WEATHER ALERT
Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortions
Read full article: Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortionsSome health care providers in support of Senate Bill 2880 said people who are mailed abortion pills arenโt given instructions and do not receive follow-up care.
Georgia House approves the second part of sweeping plan to limit lawsuits
Read full article: Georgia House approves the second part of sweeping plan to limit lawsuitsThe second part of Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kempโs top priority to limit lawsuits and large verdicts won final approval from the House on Thursday.
Democrats take hope from upset win in a GOP-leaning Pennsylvania state Senate district
Read full article: Democrats take hope from upset win in a GOP-leaning Pennsylvania state Senate districtDemocrat James Andrew Malone has narrowly won a special election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in a stretch of Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities.
US could run short of money to pay its bills by August without a debt limit deal, CBO says
Read full article: US could run short of money to pay its bills by August without a debt limit deal, CBO saysThe United States is on track to hit its statutory debt ceiling โ the so-called X-date when the country runs short of money to pay its billsโ as early as August without a deal between lawmakers and the White House.
Corporate capital Delaware is changing its law in fight pitting corporate insiders vs. investors
Read full article: Corporate capital Delaware is changing its law in fight pitting corporate insiders vs. investorsDelaware lawmakers are putting aside protests from big investors and approving fast-tracked legislation that backers say will protect its status as the world's corporate capital.
Democrats say EPA illegally canceled hundreds of grants aimed at boosting 'environmental justice'
Read full article: Democrats say EPA illegally canceled hundreds of grants aimed at boosting 'environmental justice'Senate Democrats accuse the Environmental Protection Agency of breaking the law when they cancelled grants worth more than $1.5 billion focused on improving the environment in minority communities hit hard by pollution.
Lawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritize
Read full article: Lawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritizeGov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.
Schumer says he won't step down as Senate Democratic leader despite government funding uproar
Read full article: Schumer says he won't step down as Senate Democratic leader despite government funding uproarSenate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer says he wonโt resign his post, despite pressure from some in the party after he voted to move forward with Republican spending legislation that avoided a government shutdown.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Pennsylvania's state legislative special elections
Read full article: AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Pennsylvania's state legislative special electionsVoters in two Pennsylvania state legislative districts will elect new members in special elections Tuesday.
Senate committee recommends expanding death penalty eligibility for child murder under SB 990
Read full article: Senate committee recommends expanding death penalty eligibility for child murder under SB 990The mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old murder victim, is advocating in Austin for Senate Bill 990, which seeks to expand death penalty eligibility to include all child victims between the ages of 10 and 15 in Texas.
Lawmakers weigh moving bingo operations out of Texas Lotteryโs purview amid agencyโs uncertain future
Read full article: Lawmakers weigh moving bingo operations out of Texas Lotteryโs purview amid agencyโs uncertain futureA possible reassignment of the charitable games comes as 15 bills in the Legislature seek to either alter or abolish the troubled agency.
These are the proposals lawmakers hope will save Texasโ water supply. Track them here.
Read full article: These are the proposals lawmakers hope will save Texasโ water supply. Track them here.Most lawmakers โ as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick โ want to invest big in water. Here are the proposals that would do it.
Texas school districts hopeful lawmakers will help plug $1.7 billion gap in special education funding
Read full article: Texas school districts hopeful lawmakers will help plug $1.7 billion gap in special education fundingProponents say the changes would better serve special education students with widely varying needs โ and help schools pay for it.
Democrats confront limits of their minority power after bruising shutdown vote
Read full article: Democrats confront limits of their minority power after bruising shutdown voteSenate Democrats were grim Friday as they left Washington after a brutal 10-week stretch that consistently showed the limits of their new minority and culminated with a deeply personal rupture over how to best counter President Donald Trump.
Senate unanimously approves fix to prevent $1B cuts for District of Columbia, sending bill to House
Read full article: Senate unanimously approves fix to prevent $1B cuts for District of Columbia, sending bill to HouseThe Senate has swiftly approved legislation that would allow the District of Columbia to keep its budget intact.
Democratic Party fractures in government shutdown fight, with anger running high
Read full article: Democratic Party fractures in government shutdown fight, with anger running highThe Democratic Party appears fractured as a torrent of frustration and anger has been unleashed on Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.
Itโs unlawful for transgender people to change the sex on their IDs, Texas AG Ken Paxton says
Read full article: Itโs unlawful for transgender people to change the sex on their IDs, Texas AG Ken Paxton saysTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued a controversial opinion, declaring it unlawful for transgender individuals to change the sex on their driver's licenses and birth certificates.
The Latest: Senate passes 6-month funding bill, sending measure to Trumpโs desk
Read full article: The Latest: Senate passes 6-month funding bill, sending measure to Trumpโs deskThe Senate passed a six-month spending bill on Friday, hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.
Senate approves funding bill hours before shutdown deadline, sending to Trump for signature
Read full article: Senate approves funding bill hours before shutdown deadline, sending to Trump for signatureThe Senate has passed a Republican-led six-month spending bill hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure.
Kentucky lawmakers add specific medical exceptions to the state's near-total abortion ban
Read full article: Kentucky lawmakers add specific medical exceptions to the state's near-total abortion banRepublican lawmakers in Kentucky have added several medical exceptions to the stateโs near-total abortion ban.
Schumer to advance GOP funding bill, unwilling to risk government shutdown as deadline nears
Read full article: Schumer to advance GOP funding bill, unwilling to risk government shutdown as deadline nearsSenate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has announced he's ready to start the process of considering a Republican-led spending bill to prevent a midnight Friday government shutdown.
Proof of citizenship may be required to vote under new Texas proposal
Read full article: Proof of citizenship may be required to vote under new Texas proposalSenate Bill 16 in Texas proposes requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, affecting new voters and those currently registered.
House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in Senate
Read full article: House passes bill to fund federal agencies through September, though prospects unclear in SenateThe House has passed legislation to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September.
Georgia lawmakers pass bill that could let Trump, others recover costs of election meddling case
Read full article: Georgia lawmakers pass bill that could let Trump, others recover costs of election meddling caseGeorgiaโs Senate has passed a bill that would allow President Donald Trump and more than a dozen people to seek compensation for legal bills stemming from an attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state.
Texas House majority signs on to new bill restricting the use of bathrooms in public buildings by transgender people
Read full article: Texas House majority signs on to new bill restricting the use of bathrooms in public buildings by transgender peopleHouse Bill 239, which echoes a bathroom bill that failed in 2017, includes new provisions for shelters and prisons.
Elon Musk comes to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans who discuss turning DOGE cuts into law
Read full article: Elon Musk comes to Capitol Hill to meet with Republicans who discuss turning DOGE cuts into lawElon Musk has visited Capitol Hill for private meetings with Republicans about his Department of Government Efficiency's budget slashing.
Voucher bills want to prioritize low-income families and be open to all students. Those goals might be at odds.
Read full article: Voucher bills want to prioritize low-income families and be open to all students. Those goals might be at odds.Neither of the Legislatureโs voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access.
Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schools
Read full article: Georgia lawmakers push to ban automated speed cameras near schoolsSome Georgia lawmakers are trying to get rid of automated cameras that enforce school zone speed limits, saying the cameras are more about making money than the safety of children.
Bill to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports teams fails to advance in Senate
Read full article: Bill to ban trans athletes from girls' and women's sports teams fails to advance in SenateThe Senate has rejected legislation aiming to bar transgender women and girls from participating in school athletic competitions designated for female athletes.
Texas House and Senate lawmakers have laid out their property tax cut proposals. How do they compare?
Read full article: Texas House and Senate lawmakers have laid out their property tax cut proposals. How do they compare?House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses.
Democratic activists fueled anti-Trump protests at GOP town halls but also rage at their own party
Read full article: Democratic activists fueled anti-Trump protests at GOP town halls but also rage at their own partyDemocrats filled Republican town halls during the congressional break to protest President Donald Trumpโs power grab in Washington.
Argentina's Milei skirts Congress to seat a divisive judge in the Supreme Court
Read full article: Argentina's Milei skirts Congress to seat a divisive judge in the Supreme CourtArgentinaโs President Javier Milei has temporarily appointed two Supreme Court judges by decree, bypassing Congress during its summer recess to push through a controversial candidate in a move criticized as an overreach of executive power.
Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle
Read full article: Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdleAnother $500 million would be spent toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in North Carolina in legislation approved unanimously by the state House.
States threaten fines and jail time for local officials who resist Trump's immigration crackdown
Read full article: States threaten fines and jail time for local officials who resist Trump's immigration crackdownRepublican lawmakers in some states are threatening local officials with lawsuits, fines and jail time if they resist President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.
Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate session
Read full article: Democrats channel their outrage over DOGE, Ukraine and more in marathon Senate sessionThe budget resolution from Republicans was on the agenda in the Senate, but the nearly all-night debate encompassed so much more.
Senate Republicans approve budget framework, pushing past Democratic objections after all-night vote
Read full article: Senate Republicans approve budget framework, pushing past Democratic objections after all-night voteRepublican senators pushed a $340 billion budget framework to passage over Democratic objections after a nearly all-night vote.
Sen. Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection in 2026, ending long tenure as Republican power broker
Read full article: Sen. Mitch McConnell won't seek reelection in 2026, ending long tenure as Republican power brokerRepublican Sen. Mitch McConnell has announced that he wonโt seek reelection next year, ending a decadeslong tenure as a power broker who championed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of President Donald Trump.
Under Texas House bill, value of education savings accounts would be tied to public school funding
Read full article: Under Texas House bill, value of education savings accounts would be tied to public school fundingThe proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.
Republicans are pursuing separate paths to get Trump's priorities through Congress
Read full article: Republicans are pursuing separate paths to get Trump's priorities through CongressSenate Majority Leader John Thune has teed up a vote on a budget plan that sets the stage for a massive boost in defense and border security spending, and leaves a looming tax cut fight for later this year.
Senate GOP budget bill back on track hours after Trump threw it into turmoil
Read full article: Senate GOP budget bill back on track hours after Trump threw it into turmoilSenate Republicans are pushing ahead with their $340 billion budget bill focused on funding the White Houseโs mass deportations and border security agenda.
Philippine Vice President Duterte asks Supreme Court to void her impeachment and block Senate trial
Read full article: Philippine Vice President Duterte asks Supreme Court to void her impeachment and block Senate trialPhilippine Vice President Sara Duterte has asked the Supreme Court to void her impeachment and block a Senate trial that could remove her from office.
Trump seems to question well-known part of Sen. Mitch McConnell's life โ his childhood polio battle
Read full article: Trump seems to question well-known part of Sen. Mitch McConnell's life โ his childhood polio battlePresident Donald Trump seems to have questioned a well-documented part of Sen. Mitch McConnellโs life โ his childhood battle with polio.
Senate Republicans vow action to boost border funds after briefing with Trump officials
Read full article: Senate Republicans vow action to boost border funds after briefing with Trump officialsSenate Republicans are vowing to move quickly on a budget plan that could pave the way for about $340 billion in additional border security and defense spending.
Georgia Senate bill would cut funding for adult gender-affirming care, but it may have cloudy future
Read full article: Georgia Senate bill would cut funding for adult gender-affirming care, but it may have cloudy futureGeorgiaโs state Senate has passed a bill that would cut off public funding for gender affirming care for adults.
States absorb big increases in Medicaid for sicker-than-expected enrollees after COVID-19 pandemic
Read full article: States absorb big increases in Medicaid for sicker-than-expected enrollees after COVID-19 pandemicStates are absorbing substantial increases in health care costs for the poor, as they realize that the people remaining on Medicaid rolls after the COVID-19 pandemic are sicker than anticipated and costlier to care for.
Wisconsin Supreme Court says swing stateโs embattled elections chief can remain in post
Read full article: Wisconsin Supreme Court says swing stateโs embattled elections chief can remain in postA unanimous Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that the swing stateโs nonpartisan top elections official can remain in her post despite not being reappointed and confirmed by the state Senate.
Senate GOP unveils $340B budget plan with Trump's deportation and defense funds, as House stalls
Read full article: Senate GOP unveils $340B budget plan with Trump's deportation and defense funds, as House stallsHouse Republicans have missed another deadline to produce a massive budget package of tax cuts and slashed spending.
Georgia lawmakers advance a bill to prevent transgender women from competing in women's sports
Read full article: Georgia lawmakers advance a bill to prevent transgender women from competing in women's sportsGeorgia's state Senate approved a bill that would prevent transgender women from competing in women's sports.
Utah Legislature bans collective bargaining for teachers unions and other public sector jobs
Read full article: Utah Legislature bans collective bargaining for teachers unions and other public sector jobsLabor unions that serve teachers, firefighters, police and other public employees in Utah will no longer be able to negotiate on behalf of their workers under a bill that has received final legislative approval.
Trump unleashes a supercharged MAGA agenda and Republicans come aboard
Read full article: Trump unleashes a supercharged MAGA agenda and Republicans come aboardPresident Donald Trumpโs early moves, such as trying to slash the federal government and imposing tariffs on key allies, are testing how far Republicans are willing to go in supporting his supercharged โMake America Great Againโ agenda.
Philippine Vice President Duterte impeached over Marcos assassination remark and other allegations
Read full article: Philippine Vice President Duterte impeached over Marcos assassination remark and other allegationsPhilippine Vice President Sara Duterte has been impeached on a range of accusations that include plotting to assassinate the president and engaging in large-scale corruption.
Top 25: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveils priority bills for Texas Senate
Read full article: Top 25: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveils priority bills for Texas SenateLt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the first round of his top 40 priority bills for the 89th Texas legislative session, outlining a conservative agenda that includes school choice, banning THC, and placing the Ten Commandments in schools.
Tennessee GOP passes school voucher expansion bill with backing from Trump
Read full article: Tennessee GOP passes school voucher expansion bill with backing from TrumpTennessee lawmakers have approved legislation drastically expanding the number of families who can use taxpayer money on private schools regardless of income.
Hegseth confirmed as Trump's defense secretary in tie-breaking vote despite turmoil over his conduct
Read full article: Hegseth confirmed as Trump's defense secretary in tie-breaking vote despite turmoil over his conductThe Senate has confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nationโs defense secretary in a dramatic late-night vote.
What is the Laken Riley Act? A look at the first bill Trump just signed
Read full article: What is the Laken Riley Act? A look at the first bill Trump just signedThe first bill signed by President Donald Trump is named after a slain Georgia nursing student whose name became a rallying cry during Trumpโs White House campaign.
Texas budget writers prioritize school vouchers, teacher raises and border security in early drafts
Read full article: Texas budget writers prioritize school vouchers, teacher raises and border security in early draftsBoth chambers set aside $1 billion for a voucher-like education savings account program โ double what was on the table two years ago โ in a sign that supporters are emboldened after recent electoral gains.
Republican senators are mostly quiet on Trump's sweeping pardons of Jan. 6 rioters
Read full article: Republican senators are mostly quiet on Trump's sweeping pardons of Jan. 6 riotersMany Republicans on Capitol Hill do not agree with President Donald Trumpโs decision to pardon and commute sentences for more than 1,500 people charged with crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Senate passes immigrant detention bill that could be the first measure Trump signs into law
Read full article: Senate passes immigrant detention bill that could be the first measure Trump signs into lawThe Senate has passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his Cabinet
Read full article: Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving Trump the first member of his CabinetThe Senate has confirmed Marco Rubio as secretary of state, giving President Donald Trump the first member of his Cabinet.
It's not clear who will lead the Pentagon when Trump takes office. What happens then?
Read full article: It's not clear who will lead the Pentagon when Trump takes office. What happens then?It's unclear who'll take over at the Pentagon and the military services when the top leaders all step down Monday as President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.
Timeline: Key dates in the century-long battle over the Equal Rights Amendment
Read full article: Timeline: Key dates in the century-long battle over the Equal Rights AmendmentThe struggle over the Equal Rights Amendment started more than a century ago when suffragist Alice Paul first proposed it shortly after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
The Senate advances a migrant detention bill that could be Trump's first law to sign
Read full article: The Senate advances a migrant detention bill that could be Trump's first law to signThe Senate is set for an Inauguration Day vote on legislation that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes.
Texans only Democrats in Congress to vote for bill restricting trans athletes
Read full article: Texans only Democrats in Congress to vote for bill restricting trans athletesRepublicans accused Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of supporting gender transitions for children throughout the 2024 election cycle, which he said took a political toll.
Texas Legislature faces flurry of proposals in 89th session, including immigration, education, and electric grid
Read full article: Texas Legislature faces flurry of proposals in 89th session, including immigration, education, and electric gridAs the Texas legislature kicks off the 89th session, lawmakers have introduced more than 2,400 bills across both the House and Senate. There was a flurry of bills filed November 12, 2024, the first day lawmakers could file.
Hegseth could lead troops who'd face getting fired for actions he's done in the past
Read full article: Hegseth could lead troops who'd face getting fired for actions he's done in the pastSome current and former defense leaders and veterans are questioning whether Pete Hegseth would be able to enforce discipline in the ranks if the Senate confirms him as President-elect Donald Trump's defense secretary.
Prosecutors seek 15 years in prison for former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez after bribery conviction
Read full article: Prosecutors seek 15 years in prison for former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez after bribery convictionProsecutors say former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez should be imprisoned for 15 years after the Democrat became the first to be convicted of abusing a Senate committee leadership position and the first public official to be convicted of serving as a foreign agent.
Senate Democrats join Republicans in voting to advance bill to detain migrants accused of crimes
Read full article: Senate Democrats join Republicans in voting to advance bill to detain migrants accused of crimesNewly in the minority, Democrats voted with Republicans on Thursday to advance legislation that would require federal authorities to detain unauthorized immigrants who have been accused of certain crimes โ signaling that they will try and find spots to work with President-elect Donald Trump while simultaneously trying to block much of his agenda.
Trump's inaugural committee has already raised a record $170M in donations
Read full article: Trump's inaugural committee has already raised a record $170M in donationsPresident-elect Donald Trump has raised more than $170 million for his upcoming inauguration, a record amount as tech executives and big donors have eagerly written large checks.
Eversโ plan to let Wisconsin voters repeal and create state laws meets GOP resistance
Read full article: Eversโ plan to let Wisconsin voters repeal and create state laws meets GOP resistanceWisconsin Gov. Tony Eversโ plan to let voters repeal and create state laws without legislative involvement met opposition from the Republican leaders of the Legislature, who signaled that the idea is likely to be rejected for a second time.
New Majority Leader Thune kicks off Senate session with pledge to preserve filibuster
Read full article: New Majority Leader Thune kicks off Senate session with pledge to preserve filibusterNew Senate Majority Leader John Thune is kicking off the new session with a promise to preserve the filibuster, saying in his first floor speech as leader that his priority will be to โensure the Senate stays the Senate.โ.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia's state legislative special elections
Read full article: AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Virginia's state legislative special electionsVirginia voters will begin the new year filling state Senate and House vacancies on Tuesday in a trio of special elections that could determine control of the narrowly divided chambers.
Fate of Trump's Cabinet picks unclear as Republicans prepare to take power in Senate
Read full article: Fate of Trump's Cabinet picks unclear as Republicans prepare to take power in SenateThe fate of President-elect Donald Trumpโs Cabinet is still unclear after Republican senators spent much of December carefully dodging questions.
Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing 'hurried' House action
Read full article: Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing 'hurried' House actionPresident Joe Biden has vetoed a once-bipartisan effort to add 66 new federal district judgeships.
Biden signs defense bill despite objections to ban on transgender health care for military children
Read full article: Biden signs defense bill despite objections to ban on transgender health care for military childrenPresident Joe Biden has signed the annual defense authorization bill into law despite his objections to language banning transgender health care for military children.