House Sends Animal Cruelty Registry Bill to Conference
The debate over whether to set up an animal cruelty registry continues. In a close vote, 63 to 78, the House sent HB 1103 to conference. Full Story
The debate over whether to set up an animal cruelty registry continues. In a close vote, 63 to 78, the House sent HB 1103 to conference. Full Story
Payday lending could soon become much more transparent for borrowers looking for a quick money fix. The House concurred with the Senate version of a bill today that would require payday lenders to disclose interest rates and fees associated with the loans. The bill now moves to the governor for final approval. Full Story
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas, and state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, expressed confidence that the House and Senate will agree to a school finance deal before the end of the regular session. Full Story
Budget negotiators adopted a report Thursday that cuts state spending by $15 billion. The measure is scheduled for a vote on the House and Senate floors as early as Saturday afternoon. Full Story
Tense budget negotiations continued Wednesday, but it didn't take long for an airport "groping" ban, an ensuing rowdy protest and vicious political sniping to steal some of the spotlight. Full Story
State Sen. Dan Patrick says he knows why the federal government has intervened on two key bills facing Texas lawmakers in the final days of the legislative session: “retribution.” But is it that simple? Full Story
Texans think it's more important to elect people who think like them than to elect people who look like them, and a small plurality believes redistricting should be turned over to an independent panel, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
On Fox News' On the Record with Greta van Susteren, Gov. Rick Perry admitted that running for president is tempting but said it isn't something he wants to do. Full Story
After hitting a brief snag, the bill that creates a mechanism for the leaders in the race to become the state's next tier-one university passed the state Senate today. Full Story
Lawmakers made progress today on solving the current budget deficit but still haven't solved the major problem in the 2012-13 budget: school finance. Full Story
The Texas Senate approved a measure this evening that would ban texting and sending e-mails and instant messages while driving. Full Story
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst threw herself a life raft tonight, attaching her Health Care Compact bill — a measure that would seek to give Texas control of the purse strings for Medicare and Medicaid — onto a Senate health care bill that the House passed on third reading. Full Story
A border congressman today lashed out at Texas Gov. Rick Perry after Perry's appearance Tuesday on Fox News, where he proclaimed that the southern border is under siege while the federal government stands idly by. Full Story
After a lengthy discussion, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would require drilling companies using hydraulic fracturing techniques to disclose on a public website the chemicals they use in the process. Full Story
On the eve of an important meeting of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, chairman Richard Box issued a systemwide, tone-setting memo. Full Story
Though lawmakers have run out of time to draw congressional redistricting map, Gov. Rick Perry says the responsibility lies with the Legislature, not the courts. Full Story
With less than a week left in the regular session, it's the question everyone's asking: Will the Legislature finish its business, or will Gov. Rick Perry call a special session? Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that "sanctuary cities" legislation is still important to him but is in the hands of the Texas Senate. Full Story
The federal government's effort to secure the border is "puny," Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday, adding, "Texas is being forced to do things that aren't our responsibility." Full Story
Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol Wednesday over the Legislature's failure to pass a bill criminalizing invasive airport pat downs. "Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!" he bellowed. Full Story