The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
Some Texas lawmakers were in a hurry to require transgender Texans to use the restrooms that match the genders listed on their birth certificates. But the policy and politics are complicated enough to prompt the governor to tap the brakes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/13/3U2A5077-001.jpg)
For all their condemnations of illegal immigration, Texas lawmakers — Republican and Democratic — have shown little interest in cracking down on businesses that employ undocumented workers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/07/fenceSatRPT714cms.jpg)
Rising property values in Texas should have lowered school property tax rates. But they didn't, and you can thank the folks who write the state budget for that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/13/House-Taxes.jpg)
Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/12/06/__BDD5202TT.JPG)
Supporters of legal marijuana say it would help ease problems with drug smuggling at the southern border, but experts say drug cartels would probably just switch to other products. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/04/20/MHN_BP_057.JPG)
An incoming state senator suggested Thursday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will focus on schools, not businesses or sporting venues, with his "bathroom bill." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/04/21/6F6A8160.jpg)
Watch video of our conversation with state Sen.-elect Dawn Buckingham and state Rep.-elect Hugh Shine, at Temple College. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ShelbyKnowles-December_08_2016-5.jpg)
Full video of the latest installment of our San Antonio and the Legislature series: a conversation about the 85th session with state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_JER1071.jpg)
A board of lawmakers has given final approval for $150 million in funding to help pull the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services out of its crisis mode — but there are strings attached. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/12/__BDE4516Whitman.jpg)
Full video of my conversation with Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, at our 11/29 symposium previewing the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_BD54299_Straus.jpg)
Full video of my 11/14 conversation with state Reps. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, and Andrew Murr, R-Junction, on the campus of Schreiner University in Kerrville. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/IMG_5536.jpg)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an aggressive conservative agenda for the senate with his priority list, while House Democrats promised to focus on "kitchen table" issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/12/RPTThuEve228TT.JPG)
A workgroup of the Texas Senate Finance Committee was willing to give Child Protective Services caseworkers $12,000 raises but balked at hiring all the new workers Commissioner Hank Whitman requested. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/12/__BDE4513Whitman3.jpg)
The long-awaited report comes almost a year after U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ruled that Texas’ long-term foster care system violated children's civil rights. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/12/_BDE4567Whitman4.jpg)
Full video of the latest installment of our San Antonio and the Legislature series: a conversation about the 85th session with state Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, and state Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/LegePreviewEvent-SA.jpg)
Full video of our 5/26 conversation with state Sen Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, and state Senator Kirk Watson, D-Austin, a member of the committtee and its former vice chairman. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Seliger304Watson.jpg)