The latest 86th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Commission on Public School Finance — created last year to scrutinize the way the state funds K-12 education — finalized a report on Wednesday that includes more than 30 recommended improvements. Full Story
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Twenty-two years after joining the Texas House as its youngest member, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen is poised to take over the chamber's reins on Jan. 8. Full Story
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On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the pre-session school finance scuttlebutt, a big Obamacare ruling out of Texas and a state senator facing allegations he sent lewd texts. Full Story
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Watch the first episode of our mini-documentary series, “Under the Dome,” chronicling the cast of characters passing laws in the Texas State Capitol. Full Story
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Tuberculosis is a rare disease, but public health experts are urging Texas legislators to invest in expensive medication, nurses who can help patients and supporting local health departments to test and treat people who may have been exposed. Full Story
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Changing the way public schools are funded is hard even when everyone agrees on the problem. But Texas lawmakers will first have to figure out if they're aiming to lower property taxes, increase spending on public education — or just change how the money is distributed. Full Story
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We're livestreaming our conversation in El Paso on the health care agenda heading into the 86th legislative session. Full Story
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State lawmakers are loath to raise taxes, but they need to find money somewhere if they want to give local school property taxpayers a break — a primary goal for many of the state's top leaders. Full Story
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The Plano Republican told members of the Tea Party-aligned caucus that he was leaving the group because he thinks that his "time, talent and treasure is best devoted to fighting for those things within the Republican Caucus." Full Story
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A report released Friday by the Texas Senate's budget-writing committee laid out past and future costs related to recovery from "the most costly disaster ever to hit the Texas coast." Full Story
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The decision means Texas can invest more of its massive rainy day fund — and signals lawmakers' confidence that the current balance is healthy. Full Story
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The general election two years ago set Texas Republicans on a red-meat sprint in the 2017 legislative session. This year, the tone is quieter, and the agenda is laden with bread-and-butter issues. Full Story
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We livestreamed our symposium in Austin previewing the upcoming legislative session. Watch the discussions here. Full Story
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The Longhorns and the Aggies haven't played since 2011. Full Story
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The elections are behind the state's politicians. The 86th legislative session is ahead. In between, it's time to raise money. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus said the unusual decision was meant to ensure lawmakers didn't rush to a decision they might "regret." Full Story
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The Republican from Angleton wasn't even a candidate a month ago. Now he says he has north of 100 votes — more than enough to win the gavel. Full Story
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Bonnen made the announcement at a press conference at the Capitol. Full Story
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State Rep. Dennis Bonnen appears to have secured the votes needed to become speaker. Now, the hardest political challenges begin. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature's 86th session doesn't start until Jan. 8, but lawmakers got a head start on filing legislation Monday. Full Story
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