Saying "It's time," former Gov. Rick Perry formally kicked off his second campaign for president on Thursday in an airplane hangar in Addison. Flanked by a pair of Navy SEALs and speaking in front of a military cargo plane of the type he flew in the Air Force, Perry emphasized his military service that promises to be a calling card of his next campaign for the White House.

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, and Reps. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston; Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen; Joe Farias, D-San Antonio; and Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, all announced they are not returning for the next legislative session.

Mayor Ivy Taylor and former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte held their last candidate forum in the San Antonio mayoral runoff election, which has become more and more dominated by personal attacks in recent days. Early voting in the contest finishes Tuesday with the runoff election scheduled for Saturday, June 13.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called for expansive reforms to election laws, including the expansion of early voting periods and automatic voter registration, during an address at Texas Southern University in Houston on Thursday.

A group of Dallas-area lawmakers have announced the formation of the IH-635 East Legislative Caucus, which will work to help with continued development of the highway, running from U.S. 75 to I-30. The caucus members are Sens. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood; Don Huffines, R-Dallas; Van Taylor, R-Plano; Reps. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale; Angie Chen Button, R-Garland; Linda Koop, R-Dallas; Kenneth Sheets, R-Dallas; and Jason Villalba, R-Dallas.