The day after lawmakers ended their legislative session, Gov. Greg Abbott touted a successful session for transportation funding and issues, as he signed three bills on a heliport in Dallas.
Aman Batheja
Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Posted in
Politics
A Closer Look at the Final 2016-17 State Budget
Here’s a look at how the Texas House and Senate budget proposals compared and what the two chambers ultimately settled on, using information from the Legislative Budget Board.
Posted in
Health care
Contracting Measure Goes to Abbott; Another Made It Into Budget
Lawmakers sent a bill aimed at beefing up contracting oversight to Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, while another died but will still largely be implemented through a budget rider.
Posted in
Health care
Abbott Signals He’ll Sign Cannabis Oil Bill
Gov. Greg Abbott is signaling that he will sign into law a bill allowing epilepsy patients to use medicinal oils containing a therapeutic component found in marijuana.
Posted in
Economy
Effort to Tighten Spending Cap Dies With House, Senate Far Apart
The state’s constitutional spending cap will remain untouched this session, and House and Senate leaders are blaming each other for the lack of action on the arcane but politically important measure.
Posted in
Transportation
Texans to Vote on Plan to Boost Road Funding
The Texas Legislature voted Saturday to ask the state’s voters in November to approve a plan to boost annual transportation funding by billions of dollars.
Posted inState Government
On Most Visible Budget Disputes, Senate Fared Better Than House
The $209.4 billion budget sent to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk includes hundreds of concessions made by the House and Senate. Yet on most of the high-profile disputes, the Senate won out.
Posted in
Economy
Final Bill in $3.8 Billion Tax Cut Deal Sent to Abbott’s Desk
The Texas House sent the last part of a $3.8 billion tax cut deal to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk Friday. Senate Bill 1 will increase the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution.
Posted in
Economy
Legislature Sends $209.4 Billion Budget to Abbott
Texas lawmakers in both chambers on Friday overwhelmingly approved a $209.4 billion two-year budget, a 3.6 percent increase over the current one. It now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Posted in
Economy
House Sends Franchise Tax Cut to Abbott, Defusing Veto Threat
Defusing Gov. Greg Abbott’s first public veto threat, lawmakers sent a bill cutting the business franchise tax to his desk Thursday. The House also sent Abbott a bill plugging holes in the 2014-15 budget.
