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Throughout the month of August, The Texas Tribune featured 31 ways Texans' lives changed as of Sept. 1, the date when most bills passed by the Legislature — including the dramatically reduced state budget — became law. We explained the changes and introduced you to some of the people who will have to enforce or live with these new statutes. We know this is just a sampling. In all, lawmakers passed more than 5,000 pieces of legislation. The governor signed 1,458 bills. By the numbers, 607 bills took effect immediately, 673 become law on Sept. 1, and 21 are scheduled to be enforced on the first day of the new year. Gov. Rick Perry vetoed 24 bills.

As part of the Tribune's ongoing effort to explain the continuing effects of the 2011 regular and special sessions, we encourage you to engage with us and be part of our future coverage. Are you a state worker? A student or parent? A Medicaid recipient? A taxpayer? Tell us how the decisions made by lawmakers this session will affect you or someone else you know. We've created a few ways for you to share your story. We may contact you for a follow-up report.

31 Days, 31 Ways

How Texans' Lives Changed on Sept. 1

  • Sun
  • Mon
  • Tue
  • Wed
  • Thu
  • Fri
  • Sat
  1. 31
  2. 1

    Thousands of Texas Teachers Losing Jobs

  3. 2

    Feral Hog Hunting Takes Flight In Texas

  4. 3

    Exonerated Texans Receive Compensation

  5. 4

    Less Financial Aid for Texas Students

  6. 5

    Budget Cuts Final Straw for Air Ambulance

  7. 6

    Some Lose Developmental Disabilities Funding

  8. 7

    East Texas Hospital Will Downgrade Its Trauma Center

  9. 8

    Texas Students Switch to STAAR Testing

  10. 9

    Protective Orders Expanded to Cover More Texans

  11. 10

    UT SW Loses $31 M in State Support

  12. 11

    Texas Abortion Sonogram Law Takes Effect

  13. 12

    Driver's License Policies Become Law

  14. 13

    Textbook Affordability Measures Kick In

  15. 14

    Texas Lawmakers Give Extra Support to Anti-Abortion Clinics

  16. 15

    Texas Family Planning Funding Slashed

  17. 16

    Guns and Ammo Allowed In Vehicles on Company Parking Lots

  18. 17

    TWIA's Claims Process Gets a Makeover

  19. 18

    Noodling for Catfish Now Legal in Texas

  20. 19

    Central Unit Closing Marks Sugar Land's Transformation

  21. 20

    Lawmakers Help Charter Schools Build, Expand Facilities

  22. 21

    Lawmakers Refuse to Lift Cap for New Charters

  23. 22

    State Cuts Mean Fewer Residency Slots in Texas

  24. 23

    Prison Schools Lose Classes, Teachers

  25. 24

    Stringent Voter ID Law Means Changes at Texas Polls

  26. 25

    Texas Requires Online Retailers to Collect Sales Taxes

  27. 26

    Hours, Services at Texas State Parks Cut Back

  28. 27

    State Won't Fund Growing Demand for HIV Medicine

  29. 28

    Tort Reform Bill Gives High Court New Powers

  30. 29

    State Cuts Nursing Education Funding

  31. 30

    Border Security Funding Will Increase Over the Next Biennium

  32. 31

    Texas Nursing Homes Brace for Higher Costs, Sicker Patients

  33. Sep 1
  34. 2
  35. 3

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