Jeb Bush expresses cautious hope for Trump presidency
The former Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful wished the president-elect success during remarks at Texas A&M University on Tuesday evening. Full Story
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![Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks at Texas A&M University on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Slideshow: 85th Texas Legislature kicks off
The Texas Tribune's photographers were on hand at the state Capitol on Tuesday to capture scenes from the opening day of the 85th Legislative Session. Full Story
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![Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos gavels in the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes' case headed to grand jury next week
Travis County prosecutors will ask a grand jury to indict State Rep. Dawnna Dukes next Tuesday, KXAN reported Tuesday. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, on the House floor for opening day of the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Speaker Straus breaking a trend seen with his predecessors
House Speaker Joe Straus won a fifth term in that post on the first day of the legislative session. And unlike his predecessors, he's more secure politically now than when he started in 2009. Full Story
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![State Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is sworn in as speaker of the Texas House on opening day of the 85th Legislature on January 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas lawmakers focus on friendship on legislative session's first day
With pomp and circumstance inside the Capitol and protests and prayer rallies outside it, the Texas Legislature kicked off its 85th session on Tuesday. Full Story
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![A man preaches in the Capitol rotunda before the start of the 85th Texas Legislature on Jan. 10, 2017]()
Credit: Marjorie Cotera for the Texas Tribune -
In 150-0 vote, Texas House backs Speaker Joe Straus for record-tying fifth term
San Antonio Republican Joe Straus was re-elected unanimously by House members Tuesday for a fifth term, joining former House Speakers Pete Laney and Gib Lewis for the longest tenures presiding over the House. Full Story
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![Rep. Joe Straus makes remarks after being being sworn in for his fifth term as speaker of the Texas House on Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Joaquin Castro questions whether Americans cooperated in Russian hack
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, raised questions on Tuesday as to whether any Americans cooperated with Russian intelligence in the hack that hobbled the Hillary Clinton campaign last year. Full Story
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![Former Texas House member and current Congressman Joaquin Castro at TTEvents with Evan Smith on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Hear from Texans at the Capitol on the 85th legislative session's first day
Texans from across the state swarmed the Capitol to watch. Here's what some are hoping to see lawmakers accomplish this session. Full Story
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![Tourists gather around the Lone Star in the Capitol rotunda Jan. 10, 2017 about an hour before the 85th Texas Legislature kicks off.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Legislature faces tight budget to start 2017 session
As lawmakers meet in Austin today for the start of the 85th Legislative Session, The Texas Tribune will be there with the biggest state capital bureau in the country to give you everything you need to know during the next 140 days. Full Story
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![Tourists wander through the state Capitol rotunda in Austin on Jan. 9, 2017, the eve of the 85th Texas Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Tighter Texas budget looms as lawmakers return for another session
State lawmakers will descend on Austin today for the 85th Legislative Session, facing a tight fiscal picture, varying priorities from their leaders and all the politics that naturally accompany the last regular session before statewide elections. Full Story
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Border residents worry about being divided by Trump's wall
After a concrete and steel border fence went up between McAllen, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico, residents of both cities say it's been tough for people who've spent most of their lives seeing the borderlands as a single entity. Full Story
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Credit: Rhonda Fanning/Texas Standard -
Rogue Texas elector explains decision to back Ron Paul
Texas elector Bill Greene added one final twist to a wild presidential race when he voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, on Dec. 19. Full Story
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![Electoral College members pose in front of the Capitol Christmas tree after completing their business at the Texas Capitol on Dec. 19, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Get all your 85th Texas legislative news in one place
As state lawmakers kick off the 85th Legislative Session on Tuesday, you can use our session page to watch livestreams of the floor action and stay caught up on all the news from the session. Full Story
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After announcing resignation, Dawnna Dukes confirms plans to serve another term
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes confirmed to the Texas Tribune in an email Monday that she is not resigning, months after announcing plans to resign in January. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin.]()
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Dan Patrick announces he's running for re-election
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick formally announced Monday he's running for re-election, looking to finally quell speculation he's interested in higher office. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a press conference in Austin on Monday to announce he's running for re-election.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Hegar gives lawmakers dour revenue estimate for 2017 session
Facing sluggish economic forecasts, Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Monday that lawmakers will have $104.87 billion in state funds at their disposal in crafting the next two-year budget, a 2.7 percent decrease from the last session two years ago. Full Story
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![Ahead of the start of the 85th Legislature, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar offers lawmakers the revenue estimate for the biennial budget.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Dan Patrick uncertain if "votes are there" for constitutional carry gun bill
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday he was uncertain whether support exists in the Legislature for so-called "constitutional carry," which would give all Texans the right to openly carry a firearm — with or without a permit. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: Rhetoric already heating up in "bathroom bill" fight
While announcing Senate Bill 6 — the so-called "bathroom bill" — on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick admitted he was in for a "tough fight." The final weekend before the Legislature convenes for its 2017 regular session has already seen the first skirmishes. Full Story
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![Protesters of Senate Bill 6, which would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and universities based on “biological sex,” in the Texas Capitol on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The will of the voters — when the Legislature agrees
The so-called "bathroom bill" unveiled by Republican leaders last week is the latest piece of legislation that would overwrite local laws with state regulations cooked up in Austin. Full Story
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![State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discuss details of a so-called "bathroom bill" on Jan. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Once again, the Texas Legislature is mostly white, male, middle-aged
Here’s a look at the demographics of the 85th Legislature by lawmakers’ race, gender, age, education and religion. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman