The latest 82nd Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
Tribune readers, wondering what was personally at stake for the state’s education policy makers, asked us to check where lawmakers send their children to school. We obliged, and posed that question to all 181 members of the Legislature and 15 members of the State Board of Education. Full Story
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The House Election Contest Committee unanimously voted today to uphold Rep. Will Hartnett's determination that Donna Howard won the long-disputed HD-48 seat. Full Story
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The House Calendars Committee voted this evening to place the voter ID bill, SB 14, on the schedule for Monday. Full Story
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Synthetic drugs and hallucinogenic plants shouldn't stand a chance in Texas, lawmakers on the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee said today, as they considered a set of bills that would ban the substances. Full Story
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Late Tuesday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee voted 27-0 to move HB 275 to the floor. The substitute bill authorizes the state to draw down about $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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Calling on Washington to fix the country’s “discriminatory” immigration system, Hispanic Republicans in the Texas Legislature also fired off the first salvos in what could be a divisive battle within the party over immigration legislation. Full Story
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Some small school districts in Texas still paddle poorly behaving students, and protesters at the Capitol today said they want the swatting to stop. Full Story
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The past few days have seen thousands of students, educators and parents at the Texas Capitol to protest the budget cuts they say will do long-term harm to Texas students. Here are some images of the action. Full Story
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House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, thought he had a deal with Gov. Rick Perry and his staff to tap the Rainy Day Fund to close the current biennium shortfall. But with no public support from the governor's office, Pitts adjourned his hearing. Full Story
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In an effort to cut administrative costs, state Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, filed a group of bills last week that would eliminate four state agencies. Full Story
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Legislation banning “sanctuary city” policies in Texas was voted out of the House State Affairs Committee today, sending the controversial bill to the full House for consideration. Full Story
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For our latest TribLive conversation, I sat down with the Speaker of the Texas House, Joe Straus, to talk about budget cuts, possible sources of revenue, hot-button social issues and more. Full Story
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Full audio of our TribLive conversation with Speaker Joe Straus on March 10, 2011. Full Story
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Full video of our TribLive conversation with Speaker Joe Straus on March 10, 2011. Full Story
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At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about whether the Texas House would consider raising taxes to pay down part of the budget shortfall. Full Story
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At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the as yet unresolved differences between the House and Senate versions of the abortion sonogram bill. Full Story
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At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about proposed legislation that would legalize concealed carry on college campuses in Texas. Full Story
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At our TribLive conversation last Thursday, Speaker Joe Straus talked about the ongoing controversy over Barack Obama's citizenship. Full Story
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Who will be blamed for what are expected to be enormous cuts in public education funding? There will be blood. It’s undeniable, especially when the governor goes out of his way to say that he doesn’t have any on his hands. Full Story
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This morning on Austin's KXAN-TV, state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and that "compassionate young fella," state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, discussed adoption by same-sex couples — and whether there's a difference between "transvestite" and "transgender." Full Story
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