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The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Campaign Chatter

    By Ross Ramsey

    The legislative session is over, the new maps have been drawn, and candidates are starting to make their decisions about whether to run, and for what offices. Full Story 

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  • Slideshow: When Rick Perry was a Democrat

    By Texas Tribune Staff

    It may be hard to believe now, but Gov. Rick Perry got his start in politics as a Democrat, representing Haskell in the Texas House from 1985-1991. It's a period likely to be scrutinized by his Republican opponents should he run for president. Full Story 

    State Rep. Robert Earley (D-Portland) and Rep. Rick Perry on the floor of the House during the 69th Legislative session, May 15, 1985.
    Credit: Texas State Library and Archives Commission

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Aguilar on a change in law that affects applications for state-issued IDs, Galbraith on how the drought is taking its toll on wildlife, Hamilton on an outsider's attempt to lower the cost of higher ed, Murphy visualizes the partisanship of House members, Ramsey on who becomes Lite Guv if David Dewhurst takes another job, Ramshaw on life in the colonias and three stories about Rick Perry — Grissom on how his death penalty stance might play in a 2012 presidential race, Root on how he cemented his reputation as one of the state's most powerful governors and Tan on the growing demand for him to speak elsewhere: The best of our best content from July 4 to July 8, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Guest Column: How Partisan are Texas House Members?

    By Mark P. Jones

    Who are the most liberal and conservative members of the Texas House? Mark Jones, chair of the political science department at Rice University, breaks it down with his 2011 analysis. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy

  • Inside Intelligence: In Closing...

    By Ross Ramsey

    For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked whether this will be the last special session, how many lawmakers will return for another term and what issues from the session will play in the elections next year. Full Story 

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  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Tan on how it all came out in the special session, Tan and Dehn on what the Tea Party folks thought of the results, Aguilar on Rick Perry's uneasy relationship with Latinos, Root on Perry's past positions on various controversies and how those would figure into a presidential race, Ramshaw on a $90 million health care mistake, yours truly on the candidates falling out of the race for the U.S. Senate, Hamilton's exit interview with former University of Texas advisor Rick O'Donnell, Grissom on Anthony Graves' payday, and Galbraith on the Texas drought's effect on hallowed athletic grounds: The best of our best content from June 27 to July 1, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson

  • The Midday Brief: July 1, 2011

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Your afternoon reading: Rick Perry may or may not be running for president, but he definitely had back surgery today. Also, his security detail may not have to disclose their travel records after all. Full Story 

    House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • The Brief: July 1, 2011

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Since most Texas counties have fireworks bans in effect this July 4 weekend, what better way to celebrate than recalling the legislative fireworks of recent weeks and imagining those still to come on the campaign trail? Full Story 

    A boy waves an American flag at an immigration rally held in Dallas on May Day.
    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller