UPDATED: The Texas Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 11, which would require applicants to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to pass a drug test to receive benefits. Full Story
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With less than two months left in the legislative session, some lawmakers are lowering expectations on what can get done related to funding for roads. Full Story
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Lawmakers haven't ignored transportation this session, but big plans for infrastructure funding may have stalled. Full Story
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In one West Texas county, the oil boom has given rise to a messy side effect: the improper disposal of dirty wastewater. But with the help of the state, the county is fighting back. Full Story
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A bill by state Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, would make homeowners associations more financially accountable. But HOA interest groups say the bill is unworkable and punitive to volunteer board members. Full Story
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Members of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas’ oversight committee were grilled Tuesday by a House panel that asked about their involvement with an affiliated foundation’s decision to rebrand itself. Full Story
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On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: In the past, bills pushing to expand gambling in Texas have either had the support of casinos or race tracks, not both. But this year is different. Full Story
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Texas Catholics rallied at the capitol Tuesday for Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day, calling on legislators to tighten abortion restrictions and improve access to health care, among a wide variety of issues. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Senate panel hears impassioned debate over school choice bill; Perry urges Obama to press Mexico to release water to Texas; Cornyn, McCaul file border security measure Full Story
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The Texas Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would allow the University of Texas at Austin to maintain its cap on automatic admissions no matter the outcome of Fisher v. University of Texas. Full Story
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In a letter to President Obama on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry urged the federal government to press Mexico to release more water to Texas under the terms of a 1944 treaty. Full Story
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A panel of House lawmakers on Tuesday heard prosecutors and defense attorneys debate a bill that would allow prosecutors in child sex crime cases to bring in evidence of prior offenses, including accusations by other children. Full Story
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State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, at a Tuesday hearing delivered an impassioned plea in support of the tax credit scholarship plan that is a critical part of the school choice reform package he has pushed this session. Full Story
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State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed a bill on Monday to clarify the open records obligations of state agencies, including — some would say specifically — the University of Texas System. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about standardized tests in schools, about graduation requirements and about whether the tests should be given in private schools that get state money. Full Story
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It's no shock that Texans tend to be more conservative when it comes to federal gun control measures. But Texans are also conservative in another, more literal sense when it comes to proposals seeking to reduce the requirements to carry a concealed handgun. Full Story
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When the drama surrounding recent decisions by the University of Texas System regents dominates the conversation about higher education, the truly critical issues facing our students and their families are left unexamined. Full Story
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UPDATED: As a bipartisan group of senators purportedly moves closer to introducing a bill to overhaul the country’s immigration system, two Texas Republicans said they would file legislation to first ensure the border is secure. Full Story
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With the budget fight largely over, attention in the Capitol has moved back to other contentious issues, like school choice and gambling. Full Story
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More than 20,000 animals go through municipal animal shelters in Texas every year, and contact information for their new owners becomes public information. A bill under consideration in the Legislature would change that. Full Story
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