The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
A key Republican lawmaker and a Democratic candidate for railroad commissioner are among those expressing concerns about the Railroad Commission of Texas' practice of preventing staffers from talking to members of the media. Full Story
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Texas ranks third-worst in the nation on quality of long-term care for elderly and disabled people, according to a new AARP report released Thursday. Full Story
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UPDATED: The Texas Water Development Board’s release of draft rules Tuesday afternoon offered Texans a clearer sense of how the board will prioritize and fund competing water supply projects. Full Story
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The state of Texas does not levy a property tax, but state lawmakers would like to lower property tax bills anyway — a quest that could take them into school finance or into relief for some taxpayers at the expense of others. Full Story
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After a state Senate committee hearing Thursday in which veterans and others talked about excessive wait times at VA clinics, lawmakers said a plan expanding the Texas Veterans Commission's "strike force" was moving forward. Full Story
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The Texas Racing Commission voted Tuesday to take steps toward allowing state racetracks to tap into a controversial technology known as historical racing. Full Story
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Following the revelation that the University of North Texas has received up to $84 million in excess state funds over roughly the last decade, Gov. Rick Perry has instructed the state's public universities to review their accounting. Full Story
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In a letter sent to all House members on Monday, state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, shared his criticism of and questions for the House Select Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations. Full Story
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A recommendation from the state's Sunset Advisory Commission to shutter six of Texas' 13 state-supported living centers has reopened a giant divide in the disability community that had seemed to narrow in recent years. Full Story
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Full video of my 5/29 TribLive conversation with State Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, a candidate for Texas comptroller in 2014. Full Story
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Republican primary voters have already decided one thing for the rest of the state's citizens: The Texas Senate that takes office in January will be more conservative than its predecessor. Full Story
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The conciliatory tone that marked Dan Patrick's victory speech was unlike the fiery immigration rhetoric voters were accustomed to. But it's an approach he will have to take in a general election battle against Leticia Van de Putte. Full Story
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The day after the elections, both the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House were talking about getting ready for the legislative session in January. But Joe Straus will be there, and David Dewhurst won't. Full Story
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State Sen. Dan Patrick celebrated with supporters on Tuesday upon winning the Republican primary runoff for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's full remarks to supporters following his loss to state Sen. Dan Patrick Tuesday. Full Story
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A new treatment for hepatitis C is considered a breakthrough for people with the liver disease. But the high cost of the drug has complicated efforts to get the medication to Texans who receive government-subsidized health care. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, enters the next legislative session as a clear favorite for re-election, but the issues raised in the conservative wave in this year's elections could dominate the Legislature's calendar. Full Story
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Local prosecutors are now responsible for pursuing cases targeting fuel tax theft after the public integrity unit's motor fuels tax fraud division shuttered last summer, a move that followed state funding cuts. Some are concerned that criminals will see less of a deterrent to fuel tax fraud schemes. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and his challenger Dan Patrick went head to head Tuesday night in a debate hosted by the Central Texas Tea Party. The debate followed last week's release of Patrick's medical records and the ensuing political firestorm over it. Full Story
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The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted Tuesday to keep tuition stable for in-state students at all of the system's academic institutions. Full Story
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