The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Citing health issues, the El Paso Democrat announced Saturday that he would step down from his post effective Jan. 4, four days before the start of the next legislative session. Full Story
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Fort Worth U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that the individual mandate — a critical component of Obamacare — is unconstitutional, rendering the rest of the law invalid as well. Full Story
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The Texas House is about to get a new speaker and more than two dozen new members. While they all have started transitioning into their new roles, they can't do much until they are officially sworn in to their new positions next month. Full Story
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We're livestreaming our conversation in El Paso on the health care agenda heading into the 86th legislative session. Full Story
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A state appeals court ruled Texas' "revenge porn" law unconstitutional. Now, the state's highest criminal court will decide. Full Story
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The campaigns were long and hard, and now we know the winners. Let's look at what they're in for once they take office in 2019. Full Story
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Law enforcement leaders say civil asset forfeiture is a necessary tool for fighting crime, but several lawmakers see it as a violation of Americans’ civil liberties. Texas legislators are poised to take up the issue once again in 2019. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Pablos in January 2017. The secretary of state is Texas' chief elections officer and a top adviser to the governor on issues related to the border. Full Story
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Thomas' conviction stands, but he is entitled to a new punishment hearing based on modern standards for assessing intellectual disabilities, the court ruled. Full Story
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On Nov. 19, the Texas Attorney General's Office backed Plano in a heated lawsuit over the city's development plan. On Nov. 20, the agency said it had made a mistake. Full Story
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Watch our conversation in Waco with state Reps. Doc Anderson and Kyle Kacal, moderated by the Tribune's Evan Smith. Full Story
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The court ruled Nov. 21 that six-figure payments for the prosecutors' work were outside legal limits. Full Story
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To stem the exodus of students to private and charter schools, San Antonio ISD is redesigning dozens of schools that now offer popular educational programs. Families and educators at those schools are thrilled, but people at other schools feel left out. Full Story
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After Gov. Greg Abbott announced a Jan. 11 gathering of the State Preservation Board, which oversees the Capitol grounds, the likely next Texas House speaker applauded a "meeting to begin the process of removing” the controversial plaque. Full Story
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Joanna Cattanach’s concession comes almost one month after the 2018 midterms. The Democrat had trailed state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas, by roughly 200 votes and requested a recount nearly a week after the election. Full Story
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A Georgetown University Center for Children and Families report released Thursday found that Texas had about 835,000 uninsured children in 2017, an increase of 83,000 kids from the previous year. Full Story
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Though students of color in Longview ISD still don’t have the same educational opportunities as white students, a federal judge dismissed a longstanding desegregation court order. Will the district succeed without it? Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Patrick talks to Aman, Emma and Cassi about the 2020 presidential buzz surrounding Beto O'Rourke, the latest in the securities fraud case against Ken Paxton and the debate over a Confederate plaque at the state Capitol. Full Story
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Lawmakers looking to realign the state's public school finances while also cutting local property taxes can't do both without a lot of money. They don't want to raise taxes, but they have nearly $60 billion in annual tax exemptions that might provide a solution. Full Story
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The court agreed in December to weigh in on an obstacle to Paxton’s long-running legal drama, a fight over more than a year’s payment for the prosecutors working on the case. Full Story
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