The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Ahead of a trip to Texas to advocate for an end to mass incarceration, the Grammy and Academy Award-winning singer talked with the Tribune about why the state is so crucial to the criminal justice reform movement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/14/JohnLegend-002.jpg)
The Texas Senate passed out a state budget plan Tuesday that spends $211 billion over the next two years. The budget debate on the Senate floor contrasted greatly with the marathon budget debate in the House two weeks ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Senate_budget.jpg)
The House Ways and Means Committee heard mostly praise for Chairman Dennis Bonnen's plan to cut the state's sales tax and the business margins tax. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the Senate remains committed to a property tax cut. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/18/HB11Border287smile.jpg)
Another round of sparring between Texas cities and car service companies Lyft and Uber played out on Tuesday, when a panel of Texas lawmakers considered letting cities regulate Lyft and Uber the same way they regulate cab companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/09/Uber-Lyft-Hybrid.jpg)
On 4/10, I talked about the future of transportation policy in Texas with Deirdre Delisi, former chair of the Texas Transportation Commission; Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins; former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk; and state Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TT-Transportation2015.jpg)
Senators on Tuesday voted 30-1 to approve the state's two-year budget. It will now go to conference committee to be reconciled with the House version. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/25/SenateNelson476.jpg)
UPDATED: After a technical error caused the Texas House to delay its debate on open carry legislation Tuesday, the legislation is now cleared to go back to the full House floor on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/14/_BDB8222TMFCMS.jpg)
At a packed committee hearing Monday evening, advocates for Tesla Motors told a panel of Texas House members that it was time to bring state laws into the 21st century and let the company sell its luxury electric cars in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/15/UP9A0772.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Republicans had hoped to amend the Texas Constitution to tighten the state's spending cap. Short of the needed votes, they passed a measure creating a new cap in state law instead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/10/tt-hancock-001.jpg)
The Austin State Supported Living Center will be the first closed, but more are to come as the state continues moving away from residential centers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AustinStateSchool_wideroom.jpg)
Almost three years after a Texas high school football player died from sudden cardiac arrest, the Texas House has tentatively approved mandatory electrocardiograms for high school athletes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/10/CodyStephens.jpg)
State workers would pay more into their retirement system but get pay raises to offset the cost under legislation that earned preliminary House approval Monday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/05/12/BDB_8568.jpg)
Former House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, is lobbying for the Texas Entertainment Association — the euphemistically named trade group for the state’s strip clubs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75f9ab1bbf47ea51743af6ecaa65d515/BD%20INC%20Jim%20Pitts%20CMS%202013%20TT)
With a huge pot of extra money to inspire them or tempt them to make grand proposals, Texas lawmakers have opted for thrift over big ideas. That's a little out of character. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Capitol-Money-SalarayUpdate_1.jpg)
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics with host Jim Douglas, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey, the show opens with a discussion of the Dream Act. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/12/Ross_Inside_April_12.jpg)
It’s less than a year until the first presidential primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire, and the 2016 race is already well underway, so we start off this week's playlist off the news with a campaign-themed set. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/11/Playlist_April_11TTcrop.jpg)
In the Roundup: The Legislature took steps on key issues this week, including tax cuts, improving the quality of pre-kindergarten programs and repealing in-state college tuition rates for some undocumented immigrants. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/041015_Still_Roundup.jpg)
Lawmakers try to do what voters want, but nobody promised consistency. That's why you can get the same legislators to reduce debt and increase it on the same day, or to argue for and against eminent domain in the same hearing. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100317-DSC_6881.jpg)
State Rep. Ron Reynolds made his case on Thursday for requiring cops in Texas to wear body cameras, citing the fatal police shooting of an unarmed man in South Carolina. But police advocates were skeptical. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/16/RonReynold-2.jpg)
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would tighten the state's constitutional spending cap and make it tougher for future legislatures to break it. Senate Bill 9, by Sen. Kelly Hancock, passed with a vote of 19-12. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/09/Kelly_Hancock.jpg)