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.

This week on the soon-to-be-award-winning TribCast (it could happen): Ben, Evan, Ross and Aman dive into the Tribune's new Bidness as Usual data app and ongoing series. The group also goes over the House's and Senate's base budgets.

After Texas lawmakers were told they’d be working with a budget surplus this session, some immediately began calling for tax cuts. Now, one prominent business lobbying group has unveiled a plan for what those cuts could look like.

Every other year, Texas legislators race to get the state's business done in just 140 days — an exhaustive process known for taking a toll on lawmakers' health. But efforts are under way to get the Capitol community to rethink how to stay healthy during the session.

In light of the improved economic forecast announced recently by the state comptroller, education advocates are asking for more money to go to Texas' public education system — the state's preschools included.

Texas lawmakers may have $29 billion more to spend on the state budget this session than they did in 2011. Now, Gov. Rick Perry is floating the idea of tax cuts.

With the 83rd Texas legislative session beginning Tuesday, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at the priorities and challenges facing legislators as they head into the 140-day lawmaking scramble. 

State officials are optimistic about the new Texas Women’s Health Program, which launched this week amid a long-running legislative fight. But at least one state lawmaker thinks there’s a problem with the program’s list of providers.

The state this week launched its own version of the Women’s Health Program, which provides some health services to low-income women. Texas is funding the program on its own after the federal government pulled money following a long-running dispute over Planned Parenthood.

With more car makers adding electric and natural gas vehicles to their offerings, the need for alternative fueling stations is increasing — and the state is grappling with how to respond.

After the Legislature cut billions of dollars from the state budget in 2011, some hoped to see at least some of the funding restored in 2013. But with the next legislative session quickly approaching, others are pushing to limit that spending.

Texas lawmakers are once again heading into a legislative session facing concerns over the fiscal health of the state’s major pension systems, and changes to retirees’ health insurance may play a role.

A relatively quiet race has helped mask the stark differences between Democrat Paul Sadler and Republican Ted Cruz in the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Lawmakers will take up Medicaid funding when the Legislature convenes next year. But the first test comes on Election Day, when who becomes president could determine the fate of the program.

In the last installment of a three-part series on Texas Republicans' lock on state government over the past decade, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at the evolution of the GOP in Texas — and what the party might look like 10 years from now.