The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
At a "National School Choice Week" rally Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott urged the Legislature to take a vote on school choice legislation this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/24/Dan_Patrick_School_Choice_LS_TT.jpg)
Schools say they rely heavily on "special item" appropriations for higher education. The Senate hasn't appropriated any so far, but it could add them later. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/University_Tuition_Money.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will headline Tuesday's rally, marking the start of a protracted battle this session over whether Texas should allow parents to pay for private school with taxpayer money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/30/_W1A8234.JPG)
The Senate has tasked a new budget working group with coming up with ways to overhaul the state's school finance system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/03/7C2A0450.jpg)
In our six-part "State of Mind" series, we looked at various issues being discussed across Texas as state lawmakers debate bills during the 85th Legislative Session. Watch all of the videos here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/27/TT-state-of-mind-landing-pointer.jpg)
Texas' top criminal justice lawmakers are considering sending community leaders into public schools to teach ninth graders how to interact with police. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-SchoolSecurity003.JPG)
For lessons in how to speak positively about bad news — without telling lies — you might consider studying at the feet of the people who write the Texas budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BudgetTexas.jpg)
In the Roundup: Former Gov. Rick Perry has confirmation hearing for energy secretary, State Rep. Dawnna Dukes is indicted and the Texas House and Senate are billions of dollars apart on the state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/012017_Still.jpg)
Full video of Evan Smith's 1/19 conversation with state Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, on the campus of Howard College in San Angelo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_MG_1642.jpg)
Two weeks after the high-profile legislation was unveiled in the Texas Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott maintained his largely neutral stance on the "bathroom bill" Thursday as pressure builds on him to weigh in. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/19/EduWorkForce157TT.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Sen. Kel Seliger, chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, unveiled legislation Thursday that they said aims to lower costs for college students. Full Story
Texas House and Senate leaders unveiled dueling budget proposals this week that are billions of dollars apart. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/OilPumpSunset-2.jpg)
Freshman state Rep. Kyle Biedermann sent a letter to mosque leaders and Muslim student associations in order to poll them about their beliefs ahead of Texas Muslim Capitol Day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/15/3_3.jpg)
The state’s top leaders have vowed to address the woeful shortcomings of the child welfare system. State lawmakers know that even in a tight budget cycle, they're going to have to spend money to address the problems. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Child_Welfare_Thumbnails-.jpg)
Showing multiple clips from a video released in 2015 by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, state attorneys and witnesses said the footage was grounds for dismissing Planned Parenthood from Medicaid. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Planned-Parenthood-Sticker.jpg)
Only one committee received a new committee chair in the Texas Senate. Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, will chair the Senate Administration Committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Senate-Chamber.jpg)
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus told the Texas Association of Business that the "bathroom bill," a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was not his most urgent concern for the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/10/Straus_SpeaksTT.jpg)
A grand jury has indicted State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, the Travis County District Attorney's office said Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/18/Dawnna_Dukes_thumbs_up_TT.jpg)
A new bill would mandate that people use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on “biological sex.” A business group and families with transgender members are working to oppose it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/12/Bathroom_Thumbnail.jpg)
Planned Parenthood lawyers and witnesses said in front of a packed courtroom that ending the organization’s reimbursements for Medicaid could endanger access to family planning services for Texas’ most vulnerable populations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/16/Planned_Parenthood_E_AustinTT.jpg)