After 16-Hour Hearing, ‘Sanctuary Cities’ Bill Heads to Full Senate

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningFebruary 3, 2017 2:12 pm,

It’s time to talk about the week that was in Texas politics. Texas Tribune Reporter Patrick Svitek spoke with the Standard Friday about what’s been going on across the state.

After hearing more than 16 hours of testimony, the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee voted in favor of sending a bill banning sanctuary cities to the full Senate.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had named the bill as one of his 25 priorities for the 85th legislative session and Gov. Dan Patrick declared it an emergency item in his State on the State address earlier in the week.

“There was a lot of political momentum exclusively on the Republican side behind this issue,” Svitek says. “This was kind of a steamroll of a proposal at the legislature and it’s likely to get passed out of the Senate next week.”

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– Whether there were any surprises in Abbott’s State of State address

– Why Abbott didn’t mention the “bathroom bill” in his address

– What could happen to Abbott’s pre-k program

Written by Molly Smith.