budget

UT/TT Poll: Voters in Sync With Lawmakers — Sometimes

By Ross Ramsey June 25, 2015

Texas voters are all for tax cuts, but not necessarily the same ones legislators prefer, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht
Toll Road Projects in Limbo Following Session

By Aman Batheja June 24, 2015

Texas' network of tolled highways stretches for more than 500 miles, but its growth was curtailed this session as lawmakers passed several measures that make it tougher for toll projects to move forward. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Catch Up on Budget & Tax Issues From This Session

By Aman Batheja and Ross Ramsey June 19, 2015

By the end of the 84th legislative session, state lawmakers reached many compromises on the 2016-17 budget and tax cuts. See what lawmakers decided — and how they got there — with our Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Emily Albracht
Video: Grieder and Ratcliffe on Jane Nelson

By Evan Smith June 18, 2015

At our 6/18 conversation, Erica Grieder and R.G. Ratcliffe of Texas Monthly explained why they named state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, one of the 84th session's ten worst legislators. Full Story
Signing Tax Cut Bills, Abbott Predicts "New Era of Job Growth"

By Aman Batheja June 15, 2015

Declaring “a new era of job growth in the state of Texas,” Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed a $2.56 billion bill cutting the franchise tax rate paid by businesses by 25 percent. Full Story

Credit: Aman Batheja
State Budget Includes $500,000 to Subsidize Texas Almanac

By Aman Batheja June 12, 2015

Tucked in the $209 billion budget lawmakers passed last month is a budget rider allocating $500,000 for a nonprofit to publish the Texas Almanac, a reference guide that had gotten by for over a century as a for-profit publication. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Deconstructing the Session: A Look at the Leaders

By Aman Batheja June 10, 2015

As the Legislature took up the budget and other important issues, the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus were put to the test multiple times. Listen to our discussion of the three leaders in a special episode of Texas Standard. Full Story

Credit: Office of the Governor
A Closer Look at the Final 2016-17 State Budget

By Aman Batheja and Becca Aaronson June 2, 2015

Here’s a look at how the Texas House and Senate budget proposals compared and what the two chambers ultimately settled on, using information from the Legislative Budget Board. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Roundup: Budget, Gun Bills Crowd Abbott's Desk

By Alana Rocha and Justin Dehn May 31, 2015

In the Roundup: With the budget passed, lawmakers shifted their attention in the final weekend of the 84th Legislature to guns – sending bills to Gov. Greg Abbott that change how and where you can carry a handgun. Full Story

Credit: Chris Daemmrich
Effort to Tighten Spending Cap Dies With House, Senate Far Apart

By Aman Batheja May 31, 2015

The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure. Full Story

Credit: Office of the Governor
Texans to Vote on Plan to Boost Road Funding

By Aman Batheja May 30, 2015

The Texas Legislature voted Saturday to ask the state's voters in November to approve a plan to boost annual transportation funding by billions of dollars. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
On Most Visible Budget Disputes, Senate Fared Better Than House

By Aman Batheja May 30, 2015

The $209.4 billion budget sent to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk includes hundreds of concessions made by the House and Senate. Yet on most of the high-profile disputes, the Senate won out. Full Story

Credit: Erika Rich / Bob Daemmrich
Final Bill in $3.8 Billion Tax Cut Deal Sent to Abbott's Desk

By Aman Batheja May 29, 2015

The Texas House sent the last part of a $3.8 billion tax cut deal to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk Friday. Senate Bill 1 will increase the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Legislature Sends $209.4 Billion Budget to Abbott

By Aman Batheja and Julián Aguilar May 29, 2015

Texas lawmakers in both chambers on Friday overwhelmingly approved a $209.4 billion two-year budget, a 3.6 percent increase over the current one. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
House Sends Franchise Tax Cut to Abbott, Defusing Veto Threat

By Aman Batheja May 28, 2015

Defusing Gov. Greg Abbott’s first public veto threat, lawmakers sent a bill cutting the business franchise tax to his desk Thursday. The House also sent Abbott a bill plugging holes in the 2014-15 budget. Full Story

Credit: Office of the Governor
Budget Deal Includes $25 Million Boost for Alamo

By Aman Batheja May 28, 2015

Budget writers have added some last-minute cash for the Alamo, in large part to ensure the state holds on to a collection of Alamo artifacts from British music legend Phil Collins. Full Story

Credit: Texas General Land Office
Supplemental Budget Bill Addresses Health Care for Retired Teachers

By Aman Batheja May 26, 2015

The Texas Senate voted unanimously Tuesday to pass a $564.6 million bill that plugs holes in the current budget and shores up the health care plan for retired teachers. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
House, Senate Leaders Confirm Transportation Funding Deal

By Aman Batheja May 26, 2015

House and Senate leaders have come to an agreement on a deal to significantly boost the Texas Department of Transportation’s funding. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
House Enlarged Tax Relief Proposal's Price Tag by $400 Million

By Aman Batheja May 25, 2015

The ball is in the Senate's court on a major tax relief deal after the House unexpectedly increased the price tag by $400 million. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
House, Senate Negotiators Reach Deal on Budget

By Aman Batheja May 21, 2015

Top House and Senate negotiators sealed up the final unresolved issues on a two-year budget deal on Thursday evening, including removing controversial language that would have killed a proposed Dallas-Houston bullet train. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman