The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
Mike Rawlings says he's trying to protect taxpayers as he opposes bill aimed at fixing shortfall. But first responders say he could exacerbate a shortage of police officers and firefighters. Full Story
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Senate Bill 693 cleared the chamber in a 25-6 vote following strong pushback from one Republican who argued seat belts make buses less safe. Full Story
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Five community organizers tell us how they rally people around issues like school funding, abortion and the environment. Full Story
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Help The Texas Tribune — and your fellow Texans — learn more about the groups organizing around Texas policy issues. Full Story
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Some Texas lawmakers want to kill the franchise tax that so many businesses hate. So far, so good. But it might leave a hole in the state's pocket when it inevitably comes time to rebalance the state's financing for public schools. Full Story
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The House Public Education Committee heard a bill that would pare back the number of required standardized tests, in line with the wave of legislation limiting high-stakes testing in public schools. Full Story
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The company behind the only EPA-approved pesticide for feral hogs has withdrawn its request for registration in Texas. But that doesn’t mean the battle over the warfarin-based poison’s safety is finished. Full Story
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The lower chamber tentatively approved a measure that would let lottery winners of $1 million or more remain anonymous. Full Story
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Representatives for Uber and Lyft say an amendment to a statewide ride-hailing bill that defines "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female" is disappointing and unnecessary. Full Story
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Listen to what a 7-year-old transgender girl had planned to say last week during a Texas House State Affairs Committee hearing on a bill that would regulate bathroom use for transgender Texans. Full Story
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Conservative activists are pushing back against the so-called “Buffett Bill,” which would let billionaire Warren Buffett hang onto his car dealerships in Texas but keep the market closed to Tesla and other manufacturers. Full Story
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Texas property owners could face new hurdles when they try to sue their insurer over storm claims under controversial legislation being cheered by groups seeking curbs on lawsuits but jeered by consumer advocates and some businesses. Full Story
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Attorney General Ken Paxton sided with the Texas Senate Friday in a dispute among legislative budget-writers over a $2.5 billion accounting trick using state transportation funds. Full Story
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The effort to slow down the revolving door between the Legislature and the special-interest lobby has hit a major snag: a "cooling-off period" for legislators is gone from the bill. Full Story
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Some Texas lawmakers have complained that universities seem to be taking on ambitious projects that don't serve the needs of the state. Lawmakers gave them that power back in 2013. Full Story
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If you're in favor, Texas lawmakers will meet with you and put your legislation on the fast track. Others have to wait, sometimes for weeks, for a chance to talk for a few minutes in a committee hearing room in the middle of the night. Full Story
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The "Raise the Age" bill, would move 17-year-old offenders from the adult criminal justice system to its juvenile justice counterpart beginning 2021. Full Story
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The Texas Senate could soon debate the "Buffett Bill," a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled. Full Story
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A group of House members removed their names as co-authors of a bill that would regulate ride-hailing companies because of an amendment that defines “sex” as the “physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
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Full video of Evan Smith's conversation on foster care and CPS reform with state Reps. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, and Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
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