With proposal to penalize men for masturbating, legislator aims to shake up health debate
State Rep. Jessica Farrar, a Houston Democrat, has filed House Bill 4260, which would fine men $100 for masturbating. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jessica Farrar, D-Houston, questions representatives of the Texas Department of State Health Services about state contracts for specific health clinics during an interim hearing on Aug. 15, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Tesla tries a new, ambitious approach at Texas Capitol
A pair of bills filed Friday would allow any vehicle manufacturer to sell directly to Texans — bypassing the middleman dealers — in the biggest challenge yet to a longstanding state ban on the practice. Full Story
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![Tesla vehicle on display outside the Texas Capitol on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House proposal could claw back billions Texas voters approved for roads
The Texas House’s chief budget writer filed legislation Friday that would pave the way for lawmakers to claw back billions of dollars that voters approved for state highways, freeing them up for other budget needs. Full Story
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Public charters fight uphill battle for facilities funding
Charter schools, seeking more state money, want the public to know that they're public schools, too. Full Story
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![Children from charter and private schools all over Texas turned out for the 85th legislative session's National School Choice Rally on Jan. 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The party in power in Texas acts more like two parties at war
The leadership battles in the Texas Legislature are often attributed to personalities — or to traditional House-Senate rivalries. But there's another factor: The Republicans in power are from different factions of their party. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at a Texas Legislative Budget Board meeting on December 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for the Texas Tribune -
GOP lawmaker wants Texas law to catch up to driverless cars
State Rep. Charlie Geren filed a bill this week that aims to overcome the car industry opposition that crushed an autonomous vehicle bill two years ago. But he says there's lots of work left to do on it. Full Story
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![The Alliance for Transportation Innovation in February 2016 offered Texans trips in a driverless shuttle that maneuvered along a pre-programmed route in parking lots near Globe Life Park in Arlington.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby -
Lawmakers to take another look at cutting back free tuition program for veterans' kids
The state is set for another debate about the cost of a program that provides free tuition to children of military veterans. Full Story
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Ted Cruz sends school choice letter to every Republican in Texas Legislature
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz sent a letter to state lawmakers Thursday urging them to make Texas the next state that gives parents taxpayer dollars to send their children to private or religious schools, or educate them at home. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talks with Sen. John Cornyn and Brooke Rollins, president and CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, during a TPPF Orientation conference on Jan. 13, 2017 at the Sheraton Hotel in Austin.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Should "made in Texas" mean 100 percent Texas grapes? Texas grape growers split on wine bill
A bill in the state Legislature would require that Texas-labeled wines be made from 100 percent Texas-grown grapes, rather than 75 percent under current law. Full Story
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![Barrels of wine at William Chris Vineyards in Hye, Texas, on Feb. 22, 2017.]()
Credit: Erika Rich for The Texas Tribune -
Advocates urge Texas House panel to amend fetal remains bill by outlawing abortion
What started as a state House committee hearing hearing on a bill that would require Texas hospitals to bury or cremate fetal remains turned into a heated debate over whether the proposal should be amended to abolish abortion completely. Full Story
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![House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, at a hearing on the disposal of fetal remains on March 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes bill on inappropriate teacher-student relationships
Senate Bill 7 would punish school principals and superintendents who fail to report teachers with a history of inappropriate romantic or sexual relationships with students. Full Story
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![Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas poised to spend $2.5 billion on urban highway projects
As budget writers and lawmakers eye billions in voter-approved highway money for other matters, transportation officials are touting high-profile projects that will benefit from those funds. Full Story
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![Cars back up during afternoon weekday traffic on southbound Interstate 45 in Houston north of downtown.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby -
Committee sends Texas "bathroom bill" to full Senate
After 13-plus hours of emotional testimony, largely in opposition, the Senate State Affairs Committee voted 7-1 early Wednesday morning to advance the so-called Texas “bathroom bill" — a legislative priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Full Story
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![Transgender activists protest on the Capitol Extension Rotunda prior to a press event opposing passage of SB 6 the bathroom bill on March 7, 2017. Several hundred people have signed up to support and oppose the bill, one of Governor Abbott's emergency items in the 85th Legislature.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The Texas Legislature giveth — and taketh away
Local governments and school districts battling the Texas Legislature over property taxes have a couple of things in common: They want local control over taxes and a more reliable partner in the state government. Full Story
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![State Rep. and Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty, R-Houston, speaks at a press conference unveiling the school finance bill on March 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Judge to rule next month on dismissing some charges against Rep. Dawnna Dukes
Citing the statute of limitations, the Austin Democrat seeks to have four of 13 felony counts against her dismissed. Full Story
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![Texas State Representative Dawnna Dukes is honored at the unveiling of the African American Portrait Project at the African American Cultural and heritage Facility in Austin, Texas. June 9, 2014.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce -
It cost $9 million to attract a top engineer to A&M. Was that worth it?
The state spent big to recruit professor Thomas Overbye to Texas A&M University. But lawmakers are questioning whether it should devote millions to make similar hires in the future. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott discusses the Governor's University Research Initiative grant program at the Governor's Mansion during a reception on March 6, 2017. Renowned electrical engineering professor Tom Overbye (third from the right), who recently joined Texas A&M University, is shown standing behind Abbott.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
School leaders ask House not to cut state aid program in finance fix
School districts urged House lawmakers on Tuesday not to create winners and losers as they work to revamp the state's public school funding system. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, at a House Education Committee meeting on March 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Lucio's bathroom bill support is the latest example of aisle-crossing by Valley Democrat
At a news conference with senators supporting the so-called bathroom bill, Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. was the lone Democrat. It's not the first time Lucio has bucked his own party to vote with the GOP on controversial issues. Full Story
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![Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, speaking in favor of SB6, the so-called "bathroom bill," on March 6, 2017. Behind him are Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, Republican of North Carolina, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
"Bathroom bill" testimony runs late into Tuesday evening
The legislation, Senate Bill 6, would require transgender individuals to use the multi-stall bathrooms and locker rooms in schools and other government buildings that match their “biological sex," as well as nix some local anti-discrimination laws. Full Story
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![Witnesses signed up for the Senate State Affairs hearing on SB 6 pack the Extension hearing overflow rooms prior to testimony on March 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Straus on Abbott, bathroom bill: "I never give up on anyone"
Asked if he had given up hope that Gov. Greg Abbott would weigh in on the so-called "bathroom bill," House Speaker Joe Straus responded: “I never give up on anyone.” Full Story
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![Rep. Joe Straus makes remarks after being being sworn in for his fifth term as speaker of the Texas House on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune