Businesses oppose legislation limiting public information exemptions
Businesses opposed SB 407 and SB 408 at a public hearing, arguing that open records requests could put them at a competitive disadvantage. Full Story
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![Sen. Kirk Watson D-Austin during a February 15, 2017 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Senate approves convention of states legislation
The Texas Senate approved a resolution Tuesday calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution, one of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, listens during a debate over Senate Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Top Republican counsels against secret taping
After unconfirmed reports that House members were recording private conversations with colleagues, the Republican who oversees internal affairs in the chamber said he's asked members to refrain from any surreptitious taping. Full Story
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![State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Ft. Worth, chairman of the House Administration Committee, looks toward the gallery while House members watch severe weather during debate on May 25, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
School choice already dead in Texas House, says public education chair (video)
State Rep. Dan Huberty, a Houston Republican and chairman of the House Public Education Committee, said Tuesday morning that school choice legislation has no path forward in the House during the current legislative session. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Humble, chairman of the House Education Committee, at at Texas Tribune event on Feb. 28, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Rise in Texas maternal deaths absent from legislative agenda
Texas’ maternal deaths have been sparingly mentioned during the legislative session, overshadowed by issues such as child welfare, the so-called “bathroom bill” and sanctuary cities. Full Story
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"Wrongful births" bill heads to Texas Senate floor
Abortion opponents say the bill protects children living with disabilities and prevents doctors from potentially encouraging abortions to avoid lawsuits. Full Story
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![State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, at a Texas Tribune event in 2014.]()
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Analysis: In bathroom bill, politics disguised as policy
As policy, the proposed regulations for transgender Texan's restroom choices have some gaping holes. The politics, however, are easy to understand. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht -
Unlikely allies: some homeschoolers fighting to kill school choice bill
Rural conservatives and homeschoolers are joining forces with public education advocates against Senate Bill 3, which pushes private school choice. Their state senators are not all on the same page. Full Story
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![School board member Corinne French and homeschooling advocate Nicki Truesdell were surprised to find themselves on the same side of the debate around private school choice in Texas.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
Trump impact felt in legislative districts, new election data shows
Newly released data from the Texas Legislative Council shows 10 state House districts and one Senate district where Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton received more votes, despite those districts being represented by Republicans. Full Story
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![Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.]()
Credit: Trump: Carlo Allegri/Clinton: Carlos Barria -
Zerwas on Texas budget, school choice and bathroom bill (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 2/23 conversation with Texas House Appropriations Chair John Zerwas, R-Richmond. Full Story
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Texas House's chief budget writer: State shouldn't cut border security funding
The Texas’ House’s chief budget writer said that President Trump’s emergence in Washington shouldn’t give state lawmakers license to slice hefty appropriations for border security — at least not yet. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, answers questions regarding a lean Texas budget with an appearance at a Texas Tribune event on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
With bullet train, state's rural roots and urban future on collision course
A private firm's proposed Houston-Dallas bullet train would connect two of America's biggest metropolitan areas. But the 240-mile line would require a lot of country land that many Texans don't want to give up. Full Story
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![John Stoneham walks in a field with his cows at his ranch on Wednesday, January 18, 2017 in Grimes County. The roughly 1,000-acre ranch is in the proposed path of a high speed rail line. If the rail is built, Stoneham could lose about 50 acres of land in the middle of his property, limiting his access to grazing pastures.]()
Credit: Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News -
"Come and take it": Eminent domain dispute at heart of bullet train battles
In both courthouses and at the Capitol, opponents of a private company’s plans to build a Dallas-Houston bullet train have zeroed on in the firm's claim that it has the authority to take land by condemnation if necessary. Full Story
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![Texans Against High Speed Rail Chairman Ben Leman, who is also Grimes County judge, stands for a portrait in the Grimes County Courthouse in Anderson on Feb. 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Child welfare bill heads to Senate floor
Senate Health and Human Services Committee members voted unanimously Wednesday morning to send a bill aimed at overhauling the state's child welfare system to the full Senate for a vote. Full Story
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![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown listens to questions asked by Sen. Kirk Watson D-Austin during a February 15, 2017 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate panel takes step toward repealing college financial aid law
The Texas Senate Education Committee took an early step in the Senate's efforts to eliminate a rule that forces universities to set aside a portion of tuition revenue to fund scholarships for the needy. Full Story
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![Senate Higher Education Committee chair Kel Seliger listens to a witness during a hearing April 26, 2016 on higher education tuition rates at the Texas Capitol.]()
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House member marks one-year anniversary of filing zero campaign finance reports
Houston-area Rep. Ron Reynolds, who's been sued by the state after not filing a campaign finance report in a year, says he's started a payment plan. Full Story
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![Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, during a House Environmental Regulations Committee meeting on April 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas counties see price tags on both sides of "sanctuary" debate
Texas counties are facing financial pressures on both sides of a highly politicized debate over their role in enforcing federal immigration laws. Just look at Dallas County. Full Story
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Judge rules Texas can't kick Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks ruled that Texas clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood can continue to care for patients under the state’s Medicaid program. Full Story
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Texas leaders won't commit to more resources for sex-trafficking victims
The state’s top leaders have remained silent on whether they'll provide more resources for sex-trafficking victims — or more funding for the crippled child welfare system that’s supposed to protect vulnerable kids. Full Story
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House committee hears bills on child welfare
Advocates and families testified all day in front of House Human Services members as legislators buckled down to look at key bills that would overhaul how the state takes care of endangered children. Full Story
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![Mercedes Bristol, 62, of San Antonio, at the Capitol with her five grandchildren after testifying to the House Human Services Committee on Feb. 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Marissa Evans