TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
The best of our best content from May 25 to 29, 2015. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
On Most Visible Budget Disputes, Senate Fared Better Than House
The $209.4 billion budget sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk includes hundreds of concessions made by the House and Senate. Yet on most of the high-profile disputes, the Senate won out. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, the Senate finance chairwoman, and Rep. John Otto, the House appropriations chairman.]()
Credit: Erika Rich / Bob Daemmrich -
Lawmaker Trivia: How Well Do You Know the Texas House?
For five months, you've watched lawmakers spar, shout and run out the clock. But how well do you really know the members of the Texas House? Take our quiz to find out. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Final Bill in $3.8 Billion Tax Cut Deal Sent to Abbott's Desk
The Texas House sent the last part of a $3.8 billion tax cut deal to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk Friday. Senate Bill 1 will increase the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution. Full Story
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![Speaker Joe Straus on the floor of the Texas House on April 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Hazlewood Conundrum Lingers Into Weekend
Key lawmakers are still far from an agreement on the future of a popular college tuition program for Texas veterans and their children. If nothing is done, some lawmakers say, the program known as Hazlewood could financially cripple the state's universities. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, listens during a debate over Senate Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
"Open Carry" Bill Heads to Abbott
A signature from Gov. Greg Abbott is all that remains before a bill allowing Texans to carry their handguns openly becomes law. Full Story
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![State Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman, l, on the floor debating HB910 the open carry bill on the House floor May 27, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Gets Bill Limiting Ethics Disclosures
Gov. Greg Abbott wanted to "dedicate this session to ethics reform," and now must decide whether to sign a bill limiting the information he and other elected officials must disclose information about their spouses' property and finances. Full Story
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![Sen. Joan Huffman R-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Restrictions on Minors Seeking Abortions Head to Abbott
Far-reaching restrictions on when and how minors seeking abortions in Texas without parental consent can seek help from the courts are headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Full Story
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![State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and state Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, are shepherding legislation to tighten the requirements on "judicial bypass," abortions.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Signs Call to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban
Texas has officially asked Congress to lift its 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports. Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed a resolution that calls the federal ban a “relic from an era of scarcity and flawed price control policies.” Full Story
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Credit: Paul Lowry -
Legislature Sends $209.4 Billion Budget to Abbott
Texas lawmakers in both chambers on Friday overwhelmingly approved a $209.4 billion two-year budget, a 3.6 percent increase over the current one. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Full Story
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![Group congratulates Rep. John Otto R-Dayton after HB1 passes on May 29, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Truancy Reform Heads Down to the Wire
With one Texas county facing a federal investigation into how it punishes chronic school-skippers — and Texas one of only two states that prosecute truants in adult courts — lawmakers are weighing two House measures that would decriminalize truancy. Full Story
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Vacancies Give New UT President Room to Build
When Bill Powers’ second-in-command was appointed to replace him as president of UT-Austin this year, it would have been reasonable to expect continuity in the school's upper ranks. But that's not the situation Greg Fenves inherited. Full Story
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![Current UT-Austin Executive Vice President and Provost Greg Fenves will take over as president of the university on June 3, 2015.]()
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New in Texas Weekly: And Down the Stretch They Come
Moments of emotion and drama emerge in the legislative session's final days, bills die when final deadlines hit and more 2016 maneuvering — all that and more in the latest issue of our subscriber-only newsletter for political insiders ($). Full Story
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The Brief: May 29, 2015
The Dallas Morning News takes a detailed look at the evolution of the deal on tax cuts this session and finds that at a few critical junctures, the deal almost derailed entirely. Full Story
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![House Ways and Means Chair Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, speaks with House Appropriations Chair John Otto, R-Dayton, and House Administration Chair Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, on the House floor on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Drought Eases, but Aquifers Are Slow to Recharge
Heavy rains have led to substantial drought relief throughout Texas, but aquifers — which provide about 60 percent of the state's water supply — have been slower to replenish. Full Story
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![A view downstream from the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Water from the Edwards Aquifer flows from San Marcos Springs into the San Marcos River.]()
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After Error, Hays County Groundwater Legislation Gets New Life
A bill designed to protect western Hays County residents' water wells received a surprising, last-minute reprieve Thursday night — after a procedural error killed the legislation the day before. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the floor of the House on May 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
FEMA Gives Texans More Time to Assess Flood Damage
Federal officials are giving Texans more time to assess the damage to their property so they can file insurance claims after the deadly flooding that recently devastated some parts of the state. Full Story
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![A destroyed bridge over the Blanco River near Fischer Store Road near Wimberley, Texas, is shown on May 27, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Roundup: Guns, Border Security & #ChubASong
In the Roundup: Measures related to guns and border security all got one step closer to becoming law in these final days of the 84th Legislature, and Democrats succeeded in knocking a key bill for conservatives off the calendar. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
"Cop-Stop" Language Stripped From Open Carry Legislation
A controversial provision, which law enforcement officials have said would allow criminals to carry firearms without repercussions, has been removed from a key gun bill, lawmakers confirmed Thursday. Full Story
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![Don Huffines, candidate for Texas Senate, hosts a reception at the Omni Hotel at Republican Party of Texas Convention June 5, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Sends Border Security Bill to Governor
After a months-long staring contest between the House and the Senate, the lower chamber gave a final blessing Thursday to House Bill 11, a sweeping border security bill. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, escorts Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound through the House Chamber on May 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich