Members of the Texas House and Senate wasted little time touting the never-ending "kumbaya" feeling that enabled them to reform school finance and property taxes. For those who covered the Capitol, a substantive, successful session meant a "boring" one.

While lawmakers in the 86th Texas Legislature advanced measures on some controversial issues, they know it often takes several sessions to pass bills and say they intend to refile them next time.

In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Ina Minjarez and Matt Krause about the issues that have divided an otherwise unified House in the last weeks of the session, including abortion and religious liberty.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the Texas House's resident bomb-thrower, the most controversial bills still moving in the Legislature and Beto O'Rourke's attempted presidential reboot.

Behind the 181 members of the Texas Legislature, thousands of people work to keep the Capitol humming during legislative sessions. The work isn't always glamorous, but many view their small roles in helping state government function as an honor.

In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what’s likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die.

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ayan, Aman and Matthew about the Legislature's progress on property taxes and school finance reform, the state’s decision to end a botched voter citizenship review and the fate of marijuana decriminalization in the Texas Senate.

Is paid sick leave on life support? Did "constitutional carry" advocates shoot themselves in the foot? With just weeks to go in the session, lawmakers are handling the pressure to get their bills across the finish line in different ways.

This is the first legislative session since the storm devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017. Several measures are afoot to aid in recovery and mitigate the effects of future disasters.

Almost a year after the massacre at Santa Fe High School, state lawmakers are considering ways to make students and teachers feel safe in the classroom again.

During the Texas legislative session, the Capitol sees a rush of advocates. Our latest "Under the Dome" episode features two people lobbying on issues they are all too familiar with.

This freshman class of female legislators is young, diverse and — thanks to the women who came before them — treated as equals in the traditionally male-dominated chambers.

Not everyone in the Texas Legislature gets deals done under the dome. Some lawmakers are drawn to bars, clubs and restaurants around the state Capitol for the quiet or the queso.

The governor has laid out his legislative priorities. In our latest "Under the Dome" episode, we look at the challenges lawmakers face in addressing the issues of property taxes and school finance.

In this episode of our documentary series "Under the Dome," House and Senate leaders make their highly anticipated committee assignments — and one longtime lawmaker ends up in the doghouse.