Texas Legislature

The campaigns were long and hard, and now we know the winners. Let's look at what they're in for once they take office in 2019.

Full Story 

Researchers reviewed prison data and surveyed more than 4,000 adults this summer to determine how incarceration affects family members of prisoners.

Full Story 

To stem the exodus of students to private and charter schools, San Antonio ISD is redesigning dozens of schools that now offer popular educational programs. Families and educators at those schools are thrilled, but people at other schools feel left out.

Full Story 

The Plano Republican told members of the Tea Party-aligned caucus that he was leaving the group because he thinks that his "time, talent and treasure is best devoted to fighting for those things within the Republican Caucus."

Full Story 

The general election two years ago set Texas Republicans on a red-meat sprint in the 2017 legislative session. This year, the tone is quieter, and the agenda is laden with bread-and-butter issues.

Full Story 

Though students of color in Longview ISD still don’t have the same educational opportunities as white students, a federal judge dismissed a longstanding desegregation court order. Will the district succeed without it?

Full Story 

A bill aiming to detach the ombudsman from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice died in 2017. But news from the past year makes advocates hopeful that 2019 will be different.

Full Story 

Texas Democrats and Republicans are already gearing up for an action-packed election cycle.

Full Story 

Winning an election by just a little bit can make a candidate a target in the next election. And this year's ballots in Texas were full of close finishes.

Full Story 

The deadline was 5 p.m. Friday.

Full Story 

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Matthew and Cassi about the likely next speaker of the Texas House, the start of bill filing for the 2019 legislative session and an incoming Texas congressman's stint on Saturday Night Live.

Full Story 

State Rep. Dennis Bonnen appears to have secured the votes needed to become speaker. Now, the hardest political challenges begin.

Full Story 

In the pilot episode of his new podcast, Point of Order, Evan Smith sits down with Speaker Straus the morning after the midterms to talk everything from the balance of power in the Texas House to President Trump's tweets.

Full Story 

The investment by Forward Majority reflects Democratic optimism about significantly expanding their ranks in the Texas House come Tuesday.

Full Story 

Watch the latest version of our "Split Decision" series, which includes Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Mike Collier, his Democratic challenger.

Full Story 

Austin's paid sick leave ordinance was supposed to go into effect Oct. 1, but was blocked in August after business groups filed a lawsuit saying the ordinance violated state law.

Full Story 

The Democrats running against Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and Attorney General Ken Paxton outraised the incumbents in the most recent fundraising period.

Full Story 

A fresh update of a single budget chart shows who's paying for public education in Texas: More than half of the money comes from local property taxpayers, just over a third comes from the state, and the federal government spends about a dime of every dollar schools cost.

Full Story 

The Texas Tribune hosted a conversation with Travis Clardy, Republican candidate for Speaker of the Texas House. The talk was moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith.

Full Story 

The head of the little-known Texas Legislative Budget Board retired this week, adding a coda to years of differences between the agency's two masters — the Texas House and the Texas Senate.

Full Story