Three new House members on the 85th session's big issues (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 2/7 conversation with first-term state Reps. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, Justin Holland, R-Rockwall, and Victoria Neave, D-Dallas. Full Story
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At the Texas Capitol, the union dues bill is back
Legislation to stop automatic payroll deductions for most public employee unions is back after failing two years ago. Supporters say the state shouldn't be involved in collecting union dues; opponents say the GOP is trying to cripple certain unions. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the chairwoman of the Senate State Affairs Committee, listened to testimony during a Sept. 14, 2016, committee meeting.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: What we talk about when we talk about school vouchers
The debate over education savings accounts and other voucher programs is only peripherally about educating kids. It's really a debate about money. Full Story
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![Children from charter and private schools all over Texas turned out for the 85th legislative session's National School Choice Rally on Jan. 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas leaders posturing in public for legislative advantage
Texas state leaders are debating several important issues in a very public way, delivering their messages to one another through rallies, press conferences, trade association meetings and the media. Get your popcorn ready. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a rally at the Capitol for school choice January 24, 2017. Both Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick spoke in favor of expanding school choice options. Students, educators, activists and parents marched on the south lawn to show their support for expanding school choice options during National School Choice Week.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Spinning numbers in lawmakers’ proposed budgets
For lessons in how to speak positively about bad news — without telling lies — you might consider studying at the feet of the people who write the Texas budget. Full Story
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Analysis: Legislators start with a $5.3 billion difference of opinion
In their first-day numbers, the Texas Legislature's two chambers didn’t even agree on the size of the current budget. The House baked in some supplemental expenses that the Senate left that out. Full Story
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On day 2 of session, Texas House gets an early taste of "bathroom bill" fight
State Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Tyler Republican, proposed a rule Wednesday requiring people in the Capitol to use bathrooms corresponding to their biological sex during a House floor debate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, on the House floor on Jan. 11, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Slideshow: 85th Texas Legislature kicks off
The Texas Tribune's photographers were on hand at the state Capitol on Tuesday to capture scenes from the opening day of the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos gavels in the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017.]()
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Analysis: Speaker Straus breaking a trend seen with his predecessors
House Speaker Joe Straus won a fifth term in that post on the first day of the legislative session. And unlike his predecessors, he's more secure politically now than when he started in 2009. Full Story
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![State Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is sworn in as speaker of the Texas House on opening day of the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas lawmakers focus on friendship on legislative session's first day
With pomp and circumstance inside the Capitol and protests and prayer rallies outside it, the Texas Legislature kicked off its 85th session on Tuesday. Full Story
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![A man preaches in the Capitol rotunda before the start of the 85th Texas Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Cotera for the Texas Tribune -
Get all your 85th Texas legislative news in one place
As state lawmakers kick off the 85th Legislative Session on Tuesday, you can use our session page to watch livestreams of the floor action and stay caught up on all the news from the session. Full Story
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House panel warns of "peril" in Texas mental health system
In a report released Thursday, Texas House Select Committee on Mental Health members wrote that mental health “is absolutely one of the most critical areas of concern” facing the state. Full Story
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![Demonstrators participate in a mental health rally at the Texas Capitol, organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, on Feb. 28, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Rangers launch criminal probe into Dallas' pension shortfall
Mayor Mike Rawlings blames former pension administration for a "grave breach of trust," but it's unclear who is the target of the state inquiry. Full Story
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![Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings]()
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Texas electors cast 36 votes for Trump, 1 for Kasich and 1 for Ron Paul
All but two of Texas' 38 electors voted Monday to officially put Donald Trump in the White House, with one elector casting a ballot for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and another voting for a fellow Texan, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Full Story
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![Elector Christopher Suprun, who said he will vote for Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead of Donald Trump, is sworn in at the Texas Capitol as a member of the Electoral College on December 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
A conversation with Joe Straus (video)
Full video of my conversation with Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at our 11/29 symposium previewing the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
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A conversation with Isaac and Murr
Full video of my 11/14 conversation with state Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, and Andrew Murr, R-Junction, on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville. Full Story
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Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees
Although Texas offers free tuition waivers and other benefits to ease foster youths' transition to higher education, the number of students using the resources has declined. Full Story
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![Briana Dovi, who graduated from University of Texas at Arlington, is one of the few foster youths in Texas that has taken advantage of the free tuition waiver provided by the state.]()
Credit: Allison V. Smith for The Texas Tribune -
For Dallas Democrat, win in Texas House race "bittersweet" (audio)
Attorney Victoria Neave's victory over state Rep. Kenneth Sheets, R-Mesquite, was a rare bright spot for Texas Democrats Tuesday night. Full Story
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![Democratic attorney Victoria Neave defeated Republican incumbent state Rep. Kenneth Sheets by less than 900 votes Tuesday to win eastern Dallas County's House District 107.]()
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Democrats pick up four Texas House seats
The latest election returns showed Democrats picking up four seats in the Texas House. Full Story
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![Ryan Babcock make repairs to the Texas House of Representatives board on Aug 3,2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Despite resignation, Dukes handily wins re-election to Texas House
Even after vowing not to serve her district in the next legislative session, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes was winning more than 70 percent of the vote in HD-46. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin and Republican challenger Gabriel Nila]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce/Codie Smith