The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas continues to rank as the state with the highest rate of residents without health insurance, with 22.1 percent of the population lacking coverage, according to early U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Uninsured4.jpg)
The Planned Parenthood Association of Hidalgo County is cutting its ties with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The move is an attempt to reclaim state dollars for women’s health care for impoverished women. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PlannedParenthood.jpg)
During a Spanish-language townhall on Univision, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, advocated for raising the minimum wage in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/28/LVdP2.jpg)
It's like a variation on a famous advertisement about energy: "If you don't have an oil well, get one!" But a new Austin venture is about the more prosaic business of government, and about how to get policy ideas in front of lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/25/Capitolbuilding1.jpg)
State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, has won Tuesday's special election for Senate District 28, avoiding a runoff in the six-candidate race. He will take the seat vacated by Robert Duncan, who is now the chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/Charles-Perry.jpg)
In her memoir, state Sen. Wendy Davis talks about the difficulties of her childhood, her two failed marriages and her political career. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/12/TXTDavisCanvas-CCR002.jpg)
As Sen. Leticia Van de Putte reaches for one of the most powerful jobs in Texas, the blurred lines between her private work and public role are giving rise to familiar questions in a part-time Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/09/04/_KCB8486.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall on whether his personality is partly responsible for his controversial reputation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BDB0237cms.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall explained his focus on the admissions process at UT-Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BDA0247CMS.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall talked about the job performance and employment status of UT-Austin President Bill Powers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BDB0283CMS.jpg)
Texas abortion providers’ next hurdle in their legal fight against strict abortion regulations is set for next week in a hearing scheduled for federal court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/22/Protesters-Split.jpg)
Check out Bypassed by the Miracle, our seven-part series on the people and communities that have missed out on Texas' economic success or are finding that it comes at a price. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/27/KellerBond_01778-ByPassed.jpg)
As candidates in the general election focus on making themselves known to voters, the latest school finance ruling provides their clearest marching orders yet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/04/_01F0657.jpg)
Ahead of the 2015 legislative session, momentum seems to be building for more chances to earn four-year degrees at community colleges in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/29/TexTrib-Community-006.jpg)
Leander and other fast-growing school districts have relied heavily on a controversial financing tool called capital appreciation bonds to borrow money to expand even as they bump up against state limits on school district debt. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/28/Bypassed-TexTrib-CABs-001_1.jpg)
Texas voters approve billions of dollars in new local debt each year. A growing group of critics argues that voters wouldn't be so agreeable if they were more clearly informed of the debt that's already owed in their name. Full Story
UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/WilliamsM096CMS.jpg)
Hoping to overcome Republican opposition to expanding Medicaid, Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said Friday she would seek a Texas-specific plan to cover poor, uninsured adults if elected lieutenant governor in November. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/04/7C2A8674.jpg)
As Gov. Rick Perry had his mugshot taken and told supporters he would fight the charges, the first lady was recovering from foot surgery. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ba5eb1f67a4d9aed5699f7c70adfde42/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Sioux%20166%202012)
At our 8/18 TribLive conversation in Richardson, I talked with state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton, about health care and the 84th Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Richardson_Event.Still001_1.jpg)