The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
At our 2/27 symposium on demographic change at the University of Texas at El Paso, the Trib's Julián Aguilar talked about the changing political map with state Sen. José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, state Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, former state Rep. Dee Margo, R-El Paso, and George Antuna, co-founder of Hispanic Republicans of Texas. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/19 TribLive conversation at Lamar University in Beaumont with state Reps. Joe Deshotel, D-Beaumont; Allan Ritter, R-Nederland; and James White, R-Woodville. Full Story
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During a stop Wednesday at the Spindletop Museum in Beaumont, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz pitched his energy policy bill. Full Story
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State Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, says his long tenure in office is an asset. Donald Huffines, who is challenging him in a contentious Republican primary race, says he's too liberal and too corrupt to represent a conservative Senate district. Full Story
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The Senate Health and Human Services committee at a hearing on Thursday discussed Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state. Full Story
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The Department of Family and Protective Services has ramped up its efforts to conduct predictive data analysis and reduce the high turnover of CPS caseworkers, the agency’s commissioner told a panel of senators on Thursday. Full Story
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State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, is playing defense against two Republican primary challengers, Elisa Chan, a former San Antonio city councilwoman, and Mike Novak, a former Bexar County commissioner. Full Story
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Following instructions from House Speaker Joe Straus, Texas lawmakers plan to study the benefits of accepting high-level nuclear waste from around the country, a controversial proposition. But even if Texas seeks a waste facility, huge hurdles would stand in its way. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/7 TribLive conversation with three Amarillo lawmakers: state Sen. Kel Seliger and state Reps. "Four" Price and John Smithee. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, assessed her GOP rivals. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, talked about where she and state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, the Democratic frontrunner for governor, differ on open carry. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/6 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor. Full Story
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The University of Texas System met the Feb. 1 deadline for responding to a set of directives dictated by the legislative committee that is investigating one of its regents, Wallace Hall of Dallas. Full Story
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After a crackdown a few years ago in Laredo, gaming halls are on the rise again. But local officials aren't quite on the same page about whether to enforce the gambling laws or to try to change them. Full Story
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UPDATED: Democrat Celia Israel defeated Republican Mike VanDeWalle on Tuesday in a special election runoff for House District 50. She will serve the remainder of former state Rep. Mark Strama's term. Full Story
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After re-electing Harvey Hilderbran every two years since 1992, the voters in House District 53 are vetting a group of fresh faces and hosting a slew of candidate forums to hear where the GOP primary candidates stand on issue No. 1 — water. Full Story
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With most candidates' campaigns for the March primaries in full swing, Hispanic Republicans trying to increase their numbers in the state House are mostly looking past the primaries. Their main fight is in November. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst weighed in on the Senate's two-thirds rule and his possible picks for the chairmanships of key committees. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst addressed criticism that he mishandled the filibuster of abortion legislation by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst made the case for voters re-electing him to a fourth term. Full Story
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