The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
Standing in front of the Capitol in 80-degree heat, attendees gathered at a rally sponsored by Child Protection Roundtable of Texas and the Texas Home Visiting Coalition urging legislators to make long awaited changes to how the state handles abused and neglected children. Full Story
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The Texas Senate passed a bill that would take pensions away from officials convicted of felonies and require lobbyists to disclose more of their wining and dining of lawmakers. Full Story
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton attempted to ease concerns over whether a measure that would punish "sanctuary cities" and campuses could be successfully challenged in court. Full Story
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The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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Full video of Evan Smith's 2/7 conversation with first-term state Reps. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, Justin Holland, R-Rockwall, and Victoria Neave, D-Dallas. Full Story
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Rising tuition is making it hard for parents and students to pay for college in Texas. But state funding is strained, too. So where will the money come from to grow enrollment and elevate Texas universities? Full Story
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Legislation to stop automatic payroll deductions for most public employee unions is back after failing two years ago. Supporters say the state shouldn't be involved in collecting union dues; opponents say the GOP is trying to cripple certain unions. Full Story
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Advocates for state employees hope that lawmakers approve substantial pay raises — including for state workers who don't work at an agency that's facing a high-profile crisis. Full Story
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The Sandra Bland Act would address race, poverty, mental health and accountability in law enforcement and corrections, its author says. Full Story
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The Texas governor delivered his State of the State address to legislators this week, and he also made good on his pledge to cut funding to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Full Story
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The Senate State Affairs Committee approved legislation Thursday that would require lawmakers to reveal more of their private business dealings. Full Story
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The Senate State Affairs committee meets Thursday beginning at 8:30 a.m., CST, to hear state Sen. Charles Perry's bill banning sanctuary cities and sanctuary college campuses in Texas. Hundreds are expected to testify. Full Story
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Senate Republicans have updated their bill banning sanctuary cities in Texas to cover college campuses and expand potential punishments for local entities that choose to not enforce immigration laws. Full Story
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In his State of the Judiciary address Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discussed bail reform, the cost of legal expenses, mental health issues and a host of other topics. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature is primed to go, but this is going to be a session outside the limelight. The Texans are busy, but the spotlight is on the new administration in Washington, D.C. Full Story
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At least two Texas Democrats and one Republican are pushing to reform the death penalty under the law of parties, which holds those involved in a murder equally responsible, even if they weren't directly involved in the actual killing. Full Story
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Parents brought their special needs children to a Senate hearing room to ask lawmakers to stop cutting services for their kids Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday imposed an immediate hiring freeze on state agencies through the end of August. His office said Tuesday that the Department of Family and Protective Services is among those exempted from it. Full Story
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Participants in Tuesday's Texas Muslim Capitol Day were protected by a massive human circle made up of at least 1,000 supporters. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked lawmakers to immediately take on so-called "sanctuary cities," the state's broken child welfare system and a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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