The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Legislation that would keep the names of execution drug providers secret is headed to the governor’s office after the Texas House gave final approval on Tuesday to a Senate measure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Lethal-Injection_Split.jpg)
When the Texas Senate changed requirements on bringing legislation up for debate, Democrats said a process intended to encourage compromise would suffer. Several bills have been unblocked, but the conservative steamroller that Democrats feared hasn't emerged. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/21/_S3R9444GAVELCMS.jpg)
With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, the Texas House is all that is keeping a stalled measure requiring public universities and colleges to allow concealed handguns on their campuses from reaching the governor's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ConcealedCarry_1.jpg)
A Lone Star-studded audience including Land Commissioner George P. Bush and Cecilia Abbott, the first lady of Texas, got a sneak preview of the new miniseries Texas Rising at a red-carpet fundraising event Monday night at the Alamo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/18/UP9A4129.jpg)
In this episode of Budgetline, Aman and Ross explore riders — descriptive items in the state budget meant to direct agencies how to spend state money. Often, they're a place where budget writers sneak policy and legislative instructions into state law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/10/Budgetline-podcast-lead-art-final.jpg)
In his first veto, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday killed a seemingly routine resolution honoring mental health workers after finding a surprise hiding in the text. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/21/UP9A8642.jpg)
A measure to enact several restrictions on minors seeking abortions without parental consent was met with legal concerns on Monday when a Senate panel considered the proposal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/22/Protesters-Split.jpg)
In February, Gov. Greg Abbott asked lawmakers to dedicate this legislative session to ethics reform. With only two weeks left, he's still waiting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/17/BDS_4051CMS.jpg)
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, talk turns to the final two weeks of the 84th Texas Legislature: Will lawmakers be able to get together, or will they be back for a special session? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/17/Inside_May_17.jpg)
In the Roundup: The end of the week marked the death of scores of bills in the Texas House, including school finance reform legislation. Lawmakers were strategically long-winded when considering bills, leaving little time to take up legislation before a key deadline. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/051515_Still.jpg)
Top state leaders were negotiating intensely — and optimistically — Thursday afternoon on a master settlement on tax cuts, restraints on local property tax increases, border security, prosecutions of state ethics cases and open carry of handguns. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/IMG_9754.jpg)
Texas politicians convicted of major public corruption crimes would lose their lucrative pensions under a bill that the Texas House tentatively passed Thursday in a unanimous vote. Full Story
Facing a midnight deadline in the House to take initial votes on that chamber's bills, Democrats dragged their feet, working to delay a vote on a bill forbidding the use of state or local funds to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/_BDA2017Milam.jpg)
There are generic Texas-themed emoji on the way, but they won’t do the trick. What we really need — what you really want — are ones specially designed with the 84th Legislature in mind. Here are the 14 we came up with. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/TXLege-Emoji-full-set1024x680v3.png)
State Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton, was taken to an Austin hospital Thursday morning, House Administration Chairman Charlie Geren announced on the floor of the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/14/phil-stephenson.jpg)
Minors seeking to obtain abortions without parental consent would face more restrictions under a bill that received preliminary approval Wednesday from the Texas House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/13/_BDB3106cms.jpg)
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, took issue with the Senate's stated intent to cut property taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ABonnen9cms.jpg)
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, explained why the spending cap is, in his words, "sacred." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ABonnen4cms.jpg)
The already tortuous path for ethics reform at the Texas Capitol took another sharp turn Wednesday when a powerful House leader criticized the package passed by the Senate and praised by Gov. Greg Abbott two weeks ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/08/IMG_0095.jpg)
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, talked about his relationship with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — and the prospect of compromise with the Senate on taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ABonnen5CMS.jpg)