The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Commission on Public School Finance will meet for the first time this week as it develops legislative recommendations for overhauling the state's beleaguered system for funding public education. Full Story
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Relive the year in Texas politics and policy through the Tribune's video coverage of the 85th Legislature, Hurricane Harvey, the deadly shooting in Sutherland Springs, the controversy over Confederate monuments and more. Full Story
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Weather-related prison evacuations, legal battles over execution drugs and death sentences, and reform efforts at the Texas Legislature led the state's criminal justice headlines in 2017. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, on Friday questioned Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to endorse against a GOP member of the lower chamber, suggesting it could lead to a Democrat capturing the seat. Full Story
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Texas House Republicans agreed Friday to change their rules for selecting the next house speaker, potentially paving the way for a more conservative leader of the chamber in 2019. Full Story
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The newly established Texas House Select Committee on Economic Competitiveness held its first hearing on how to effectively enact policies that bring business to the state. Full Story
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Attorneys for the state of Texas are set to head back before the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Tuesday to defend the state’s new immigration enforcement law. Full Story
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In an interview with The Texas Tribune, House Speaker Joe Straus discusses his surprise announcement that he won't seek re-election to the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Prosecutors dropped one of their 13 felony charges against state Rep. Dawnna Dukes on Wednesday, acknowledging that their case against the Austin Democrat has weakened. Full Story
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A three-judge panel ruled on Monday that parts of the state’s immigration enforcement legislation can go into effect. The Travis County Sheriff's office confirmed it would now comply with all detainers, a stark change from its previous policy. Full Story
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A new law prevents most registered sex offenders from residing in dormitories on private or public campuses. The law codifies a policy already in place at many of Texas' biggest schools. Full Story
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High schoolers, new drivers and police will all need to receive training on police interactions under a new law — but not until next fall. Full Story
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A new law requires Texas' freestanding emergency rooms to more clearly communicate what health insurance networks they're in, if any. Full Story
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State Rep. Dawnna Dukes failed to turn over a cell phone to investigators and spent more than $51,000 on an online psychic, the Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday. Full Story
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This year, Texas legislators continued efforts to prevent wrongful convictions by passing a law focused on fixing unreliable jailhouse informants, unfair police station lineups and coerced confessions. Full Story
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A new Texas law gives financial institutions greater authority to stop transactions that they suspect are aimed at defrauding elderly or disabled clients. Full Story
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Lawmakers and advocates say "David's Law," which Gov. Greg Abbott signed in June, will allow school districts and prosecutors to fight cyberbullying on multiple fronts. Full Story
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House Bill 3287 requires craft brewers that produce more than 225,000 barrels a year to pay a distributor to deliver their beer — even if the destination is inside their own facility. Full Story
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A new state law eliminates the category of "illegal knives," effectively expanding knife owners' freedom to carry blades almost anywhere in the state. Full Story
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Newly purchased school buses in Texas must have three-point seat belts for all riders under a new state law. Full Story
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