Gov. Rick Perry
Gov. Rick Perry

State of the State address

Gov. Greg Abbott
Gov. Greg Abbott

State of the State address, January 2017

 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick with Speaker Joe Straus
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick with Speaker Joe Straus

May 27, 2017 House and Senate leaders Patrick and Straus shake while Gov. Greg Abbott watches during the final days of the 85th Legislative Session.

Gov. Rick Perry
Gov. Rick Perry

Jan. 5, 2015: Texas Gov. Rick Perry cheers as he gives his final speech to the Texas legislature that wrapped up a 30-year career in Texas politics, advancing from a state representative to the longest serving governor in state history

Rainbow over Texas Capitol, 2017
Rainbow over Texas Capitol, 2017
Gov. Greg Abbott
Gov. Greg Abbott

Jan. 31, 2017: Gov. Greg Abbott gives his State of the State speech in the House chamber.

 Jimmy Blacklock sworn in at Supreme Court
Jimmy Blacklock sworn in at Supreme Court

January 2, 2018: Ceremonial swearing in of Justice Jimmy Blacklock to the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Greg Abbott.

School choice protest, State Capitol
School choice protest, State Capitol

2017 session

Mariana Thompson, Opening Day in House
Mariana Thompson, Opening Day in House

Jan. 10, 2017: Opening Day of the 85th Texas Legislature as Mariana Thompson, granddaughter of State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, listens.

Respected State Rep. John Zerwas
Respected State Rep. John Zerwas

May 9, 2017: State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, listens to a colleague on the House floor.

New Gov. Greg Abbott gets hugs
New Gov. Greg Abbott gets hugs

Outgoing Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott receives guests in the Senate Chamber as new AG Ken Paxton is sworn into office.

Senators confer in chamber
Senators confer in chamber

Jan. 21, 2015: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, l, discusses legislation with Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

serving up hi-jinks in Texas Senate, 2017

Vice President Mike Pence with Gov. Abbott
Vice President Mike Pence with Gov. Abbott

Nov. 15, 2017: Vice President Mike Pence, l, visits Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Texas regional office for a Hurricane Harvey recovery update from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Anti-Trump protest, State Capitol
Anti-Trump protest, State Capitol

Jan. 20, 2017: Thousands of LGBTQ Texans rally at the Texas Capitol protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Anti-Trump protest
Anti-Trump protest

Jan. 20, 2017: Thousands of LGBTQ Texans rally at the Texas Capitol protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump.

State Rep. Drew Springer comforted
State Rep. Drew Springer comforted

May 11, 2017: State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, breaks down while discussing a bill during a late night session.

House Speaker Joe Straus
House Speaker Joe Straus

May 11, 2017: Speaker Joe Straus during the “Mother's Day Massacre” at the Texas House.

Second Special Session, 2017
Second Special Session, 2017

Aug. 17, 2017: State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, challenges a ruling in the Texas House.

March for Our Lives
March for Our Lives

March 24, 2018: Nearly 10,000 marchers converge at the State Capitol Saturday at March For Our Lives protesting gun violence in the wake of school mass shootings including Parkland, Florida last month.

Anti-Trump rally, State Capitol
Anti-Trump rally, State Capitol

Jan. 20, 2017: Thousands of LGBTQ Texans rally at the Texas Capitol protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump.

March for Our Lives
March for Our Lives

March 24, 2018: Nearly 10,000 marchers converge at the State Capitol Saturday at March For Our Lives protesting gun violence in the wake of school mass shootings including Parkland, Florida last month.

MLK Day rally at Capitol
MLK Day rally at Capitol
"Bathroom Bill" debate
"Bathroom Bill" debate

Activists inside the Capitol protest legislation to regulate use of public bathrooms.

Wendy Davis filibuster
Wendy Davis filibuster

June 26, 2013: Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, pauses before starting a filibuster of SB 5, a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers, on the last day of the special session.

Wendy Davis filibuster
Wendy Davis filibuster

June 26, 2013: Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, begins a filibuster of SB 5, a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers in Texas, on the last day of the special session.

Senate gallery during 2013 filibuster
Senate gallery during 2013 filibuster

Pro-choice activists are forced out of the gallery as Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, continues a filibuster of SB 5, a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers in Texas.

Senate gallery during 2013 filibuster
Senate gallery during 2013 filibuster

June 26, 2013: Pro-choice activists crowd the gallery as Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, begins a filibuster of SB 5, a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers.

Wendy Davis' shoes
Wendy Davis' shoes

June 26, 2013: Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, wears pink athletic shoes as she begins a filibuster of SB 5, a bill that would tighten regulations on abortion providers.

Gun control advocates march
Gun control advocates march

Advocates for a gun-free learning environment on the UT campus and other statewide colleges march to the Capitol in conjunction with the Modern Language Association convention in Austin. About 250 people brought books to show their support for learning not conflict.

 Attorney General Ken Paxton Oath of Office
Attorney General Ken Paxton Oath of Office

Ken Paxton is sworn into office as Texas Attorney General in transition ceremonies in the Texas Senate chamber.