The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, talked about the possibility of withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature's lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills. Here's his list. Full Story
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As lawmakers look for a way to fix infrastructure crumbling under the weight of a drilling boom, talk of reducing the tax money that feeds the state's Rainy Day Fund is drawing attention. Full Story
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Texas budget writers got a briefing on the state’s health care programs Wednesday, and the biggest questions focused on how the state can reduce fraud and what to do about ever-increasing health care costs. Full Story
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Lawmakers are still in the “fixin’ to” stage of the session taking a week off after a week on the job — not unusual in the years when presidents are being inaugurated — but the wheels are turning. Full Story
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Texas prisons are running low on hygiene products that are not considered necessities for inmates, including toothpaste and deodorant. Family members and inmates are frustrated as state officials try to find a contractor. Full Story
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The members of the Texas Senate have been placed in their committees, but where in the state do the committee members come from? Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Senate. Full Story
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At a briefing Tuesday, lawmakers and relatives of people killed while texting and driving renewed a push to make the practice illegal. A proposal passed during the last session but was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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This Storify presentation reveals the instant reactions on social media by legislators, staffers, guests and journalists to Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State address. Full Story
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Texas Democratic legislators respond to Gov. Rick Perry's seventh State of the State address on Tuesday. Full Story
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Full video of Gov. Rick Perry's seventh State of the State address. Full Story
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In his seventh State of the State address, Gov. Rick Perry ignored controversial issues and urged state lawmakers to do the nitty gritty work of government: fund water projects, build more roads and improve education. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry delivers his seventh State of the State address today, telling the 83rd Legislature — and the rest of us — what's on his mind and what he hopes state lawmakers will accomplish before the end of the regular session. Watch live starting at 11 a.m. Full Story
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The Texas Ethics Commission’s board convenes Thursday to choose new leadership for 2013. But before that happens, its commissioners will review an ethics opinion they did not agree on two months ago. Full Story
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For the seventh time since he became governor in 2000, Gov. Rick Perry will appear before a joint session of the Texas Senate and House on Tuesday to deliver his biennial State of the State speech. Full Story
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The Texas Association of Business, the state's largest business lobby, is adding criminal justice reform to its agenda for the first time. The association says reducing the prison population and increasing the workforce makes business sense. Full Story
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Living close to the capital city, Central Texans have relatively easy access to state lawmakers during the biennial legislative session. But in a state as big as Texas, most of the state's population must follow the action from up to hundreds of miles away. Full Story
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Police and educators were among those who testified before senators on Monday about how to ensure school safety and whether school employees should carry concealed handguns on campus. Full Story
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At last Friday's Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas at Arlington, state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, and state Rep. Diane Patrick, R-Arlington, talked about public education, health care, the state budget and other issues in play in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Under Texas law, same-sex parents cannot both appear on an adoptive child's supplemental birth certificate. A bill authored by Rep. Rafael Anchia would change that, but opponents argue the proposal is an "attack on mothers and fathers." Full Story
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