The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
If the hours of testimony against the measure are any indication, the House's version of the "bathroom bill" will continue to face fierce opposition from LGBT advocates and the Texas business community. Full Story
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No child is supposed to sleep or spend more than a few hours at the Harris County Youth Services Center's Point of Entry in Houston. But Texas' foster care placement crisis has forced some of the state's most troubled teens to sleep in a place that isn't equipped to care for them. Full Story
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A House committee on Wednesday will debate a measure that could serve as an alternative to the Senate's "bathroom bill." Full Story
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In a preliminary vote, the House approved Rep. Dan Huberty's bill to inject $1.6 billion into public schools and simplify complicated funding formulas. Legislators must still take a final vote on the bill. Full Story
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After a lengthy debate among lawmakers over the best way to regulate services like Uber and Lyft, the Texas House backed a proposal that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies. Full Story
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We're livestreaming as the Texas House debates legislation aimed at boosting per-student funding for almost every school district and charter in the state. Full Story
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A proposal to substantially weaken the Top 10 Percent Rule took an important step forward Wednesday. Full Story
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Lawmakers get uncomfortable when their voters and their business supporters are out of sync. And the "bathroom bill" isn't the only legislation where there's daylight between those groups. Full Story
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Amid a legislative session that aims to fix massive pension shortfalls in two of Texas' biggest cities, Dallas officials argue it's state law that created some of their current problems in the first place. Full Story
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In a letter sent Tuesday, an attorney for two House leaders urges Attorney General Ken Paxton to side against a $2.5 billion accounting trick proposed in the Texas Senate's version of the state budget. Full Story
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The Senate Education Committee discussed a bill that would radically simplify the state's school finance formula, stripping it of some antiquated provisions. Parents and educators who testified wanted a few new provisions added in. Full Story
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A bill that would allow Texans to carry a firearm without a permit could be headed to the full Texas House. Full Story
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Under Senate Bill 451 by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, Texas cities would be prevented from banning short-term rentals and their ability to write ordinances restricting the practice would be narrowed. Full Story
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Texas hospitals and abortion clinics would have to bury or cremate fetal remains under a measure that passed out of a House committee on Tuesday. Full Story
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The Senate Education Committee is considering extending a decade-old state aid program for small, vulnerable school districts that depend on it for vital operations. The program is set to expire in September. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott is signaling support for House legislation that some hope will serve as an alternative to the Senate's "bathroom bill." Full Story
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More than 90 percent of Texans believe that local police should be allowed to ask about immigration status if a person is arrested for a crime, according to the results of a poll released Tuesday. Full Story
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The Texas House preliminarily approved the requirement that the personal financial statements of state politicians and bureaucrats be posted online. Full Story
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Five death penalty bills were heard in a seven-hour-long meeting at the Capitol Monday night. Full Story
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As lawmakers debate possible reforms to the school finance system this week, they might decide whether to continue offering extra funds to districts like Texas City ISD, which last year was forced to annex a struggling district next to it. Full Story
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