The budget that awaits the final approval of the 83rd Legislature — and Gov. Rick Perry — adds about $3.4 billion back to public schools from the $5.4 billion lawmakers cut in 2011. Explore how your school district fares under Senate Bill 1. Full Story
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The final version of a controversial bill filed to prevent so-called ballot harvesting was approved by the House on Friday, but not before a key provision was diluted in the Senate. Full Story
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In the final days of the session, Senate budget leaders came up with an ambitious proposal to find more money for road construction and maintenance. House leaders made it clear they weren't interested. Full Story
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With mere days left in the legislative session — the regular session, at least — we're kicking off our weekly playlist based on Texas politics and policy news with Europe's "The Final Countdown." Full Story
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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Only a few days remain in the 83rd legislative session, and everything is up in the air — including whether lawmakers will come back for more when the session ends on Monday. Full Story
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Legislators are planning to give the Texas Forensic Science Commission authority to review many more labs and types of forensic analysis and to double the agency’s budget, hoping it will become a national model. Full Story
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Grissom and Rocha on a boost in mental health care funding, Root looks at a blurred line between public duties and personal ambition, M. Smith on a CSCOPE change, Aaronson and Hooks compare Perry and Cruz in an interactive, Galbraith on challenges for the state's power grid, Ramsey on a committee's pricey end-of-session dinner, Ramshaw on Abbott making some campaign moves, E. Smith talks with Branch and Martinez Fischer, Batheja on Texas' tax system, and Hamilton on the issue of term limits uniting unlikely allies. The best of our best content from May 20-24, 2013. Full Story
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A fee paid by millions of Texans and businesses on their electric bills would be abolished in September under a deal made Friday, the Senate's budget writer said. The fee goes to a fund that helps low-income Texans with their utility bills. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry's nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents successfully completed a rocky journey to confirmation by the Texas Senate on Friday. Full Story
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On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: It's the final weekend of the 83rd legislative session. Lawmakers still need to finish up the budget, and we answer more listener questions. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry comes out against part of budget deal but stays quiet on special session; insurance commissioner announces resignation; Cruz invited to speak in New Hampshire Full Story
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The State of Texas is asking the U.S. State Department for help resolving a long-running dispute between Texas and Mexico over water from several rivers — a dispute made more urgent by the long drought. Full Story
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With three days before the end of the legislative session, Gov. Rick Perry has revealed his opposition to one portion of a bill considered critical to a budget deal forged between the House and Senate. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers are poised to pass a two-year state budget that is $7 billion higher than the current one. Use this interactive to explore how state spending has grown since 2004. Full Story
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The deadline for bills to win approval from the House and the Senate passed earlier this week, resulting in the death of a lot of legislation. Most of what remains is to reconcile differences between versions of legislation passed by both chambers. Our updated bill apps — one for House bills and one for Senate legislation — detail the results. Full Story
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The Texas Railroad Commission passed a long-awaited rule on Friday to strengthen the construction of oil and gas wells. The commissioners hope to set an example for other drilling states. Full Story
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David Dewhurst, the state's lieutenant governor for the past decade, started this legislative session looking for some momentous conservative victories. He's still looking. Full Story
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The clock is ticking for lawmakers hard at work to pass prize bills in the final days of the 83rd legislative session. Here's a look at what's still outstanding. Check back often: We'll update this story as deals are brokered or broken. Full Story
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Full video of my 5/23 TribLive conversation debriefing the 83rd Legislature with state Reps. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio. Full Story
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It's been a disappointing month in state and local politics for proponents of term limits in Texas — a group whose supporters come from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Full Story
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