The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Despite Texas Republicans’ laser focus on keeping Syrian refugees from being resettled here, the head of the state's Department of Public Safety says he’d prefer a wider lens that focuses on all countries connected to “Islamic extremist terrorism.” Full Story
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Because of a recent spike in minors crossing the border illegally in the Rio Grande Valley, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that he is ordering the Texas National Guard to stay in the area through December. Full Story
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Here's video of our 12/16 conversation with state Sens. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, on the coming legislative agenda and its impact on Houston. Full Story
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Texas gambling regulators will decide Tuesday whether to continue a standoff between the state's racetracks and its top political leaders, with a vote on whether to outlaw a new form of gambling at the tracks. Full Story
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Trey Martinez Fischer and José Menéndez will once again battle over Texas Senate District 26 — a rematch of their special election runoff earlier this year, when the latter prevailed. Full Story
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Lost in the debate over the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case is this: For UT-Austin, more than racial preferences in admissions are at stake. If the university loses, the entire way it selects its incoming freshman class could be at risk. Full Story
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The Dallas County Sheriff fired back at what she called inaccurate rumors on her immigration policies during an interim House committee hearing Thursday. Lawmakers also heard about an ill-conceived law that is hindering the state's identification of criminals. Full Story
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Some people think it’s unfair to have more eligible voters in one legislative district than in another. But the number of eligible voters in each district is far from the only difference that might matter to voters. Full Story
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When political districts are based on population, each official represents the same number of people. If the lines were based instead on voting-age populations, their districts could have large variations in the numbers of people — voters plus nonvoters — they represent and serve. Full Story
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Citing student demand and growing industry needs, the Texas Tech University System announced Friday that it will seek to open a veterinary medicine school in the coming years. Full Story
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On 12/4, I talked about the digital divide in Texas with Juanita Budd of Austin Free-Net, Becky Garlick of Blinn College, Will Reed of Technology for All and state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. Full Story
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On 12/2, I talked about the future of health care policy in Texas with state. Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton; state Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin; and Dr. Paul Ogden of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Full Story
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We're livestreaming our conversation on the future of health care in Texas at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock. Full Story
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In a letter sent Wednesday to University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven, state Sen. John Whitmire joined a growing number of legislators asking the UT System to pause and reconsider its plans to open a branch campus in his hometown of Houston. Full Story
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Rice University is the latest private college in Texas to announce that it would opt out of the state's new campus carry law. Full Story
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It’s odd that one officeholder could be convicted, exonerated, re-indicted, convicted and sentenced without completely endangering his political career while another could get knocked out of contention while blaming an indictment. Full Story
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State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, convicted of five counts of illegal solicitation of legal clients last week, was sentenced Monday to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine, but plans to appeal the verdict and will seek reelection in 2016.. Full Story
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In the Roundup: Texas officials take aim at the issue of Syrian refugee resettlement, Rick Perry’s defense team argues to have his indictment dismissed and a lawmaker seeks clarification on the campus carry gun law. Full Story
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Members of the University of Houston System Board of Regents lashed out against the University of Texas System's plans to expand in Houston, calling the idea a "Trojan horse" and passing a resolution expressing strong concerns. Full Story
Between now and the next legislative session, Texas lawmakers will be tinkering with an obscure formula that links their own state pensions to the salaries of state judges. Full Story
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