Highlights from in and around the world of Texas politics
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas' legislative session was winding down Sunday, with an all but dead "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people caught in a clash between mainstream Republicans and the most conservative wing of the party that dominates politics in the nation's second-largest state.
Lawmakers were resolving last-minute issues ahead of Monday's final adjournment — but their focus was already shifting to whether Gov. Greg Abbott would order them back to work if a law, like the one that caused national uproar and costly boycotts when it was approved last year in North Carolina, doesn't pass in Texas.
Abbott has said previously he's hesitant to drag legislators back to work over any issue, but he's also bucked other GOP governors in supporting legislation that could impose transgender restroom restrictions.
Tensions between the state Senate and House — both Republican-controlled — have been building for months but boiled over during the final weekend.
The more conservative Senate passed a comprehensive law months ago compelling transgender Texans to use public restrooms corresponding to the gender on their birth certificates.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a former radio talk show host who oversees the Senate and loves picking conservative fights, responded by imploring Abbott to call a special session.
A bill passed in its final form by the state House 78-62 on Sunday lets the board's 15 elected members reject textbook content deemed not "suitable for the subject and grade level."
The GOP-controlled Texas Legislature has approved a weakened voter ID law and sent it to Gov. Greg Abbott after a judge twice ruled that the original version deliberately tried to suppress minority voters.
The Texas Legislature has voted to require all public high schools to provide instruction on how to best interact with law enforcement in traffic stops and other situations.