The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
A new sticker for the state's gas pumps comes with a few additional flourishes: Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller's name emblazoned across the top and a disclaimer blaming gas taxes on Congress and the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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The Texas state auditor's office has referred its investigation into possible misuse of state workers by state Rep. Dawnna Dukes to Travis County prosecutors, the Austin American-Statesman reported late Friday. Full Story
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Anyone trying to influence public policy will move where the public’s attention takes them, into the edges of the spotlight around events that might make their arguments for them. Full Story
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Full video of our 4/13 conversation at Sul Ross State University in Alpine with state Rep. Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass, and state Sen. Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has decided that prison inmates should not be allowed to have active social media accounts, even if friends or family on the outside run them. Full Story
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Texas A&M University's proposed new campus carry rules include few major restrictions for handguns and will allow the weapons in classrooms and dormitories. Full Story
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Before meeting with state and higher ed leaders, UT-Austin President Greg Fenves and former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Monday that universities, state governments and the private sector need to take action to preserve public colleges' strengths. Full Story
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An Austin hospital is contradicting a couple's account that the state’s ban on abortion after 20 weeks kept them from ending an ill-fated pregnancy. Full Story
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The criminal case against former Gov. Rick Perry was officially dismissed on Wednesday, weeks after the Texas' highest criminal court ordered that it be dropped. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Ross talks to Ayan, Alexa and Edgar about the aftermath of Wisconsin's presidential primaries, a tragic instance of confusion over the state's abortion laws, and the state's efforts to clean up problems with child protection in Texas. Full Story
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Nearly five years after issuing a ruling cheered by property rights advocates, the Texas Supreme Court is set to rehear a case pitting two Texas brothers against a pipeline company that seized their land through eminent domain. Full Story
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State revenue could easily take some big hits this year — from a sliding oil and gas industry and from a series of potentially adverse court rulings. The message from the top to lawmakers: Don't get too spendy. Full Story
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An Austin couple sought medical help when their almost-20-week old son began emerging early, but were told doctors could do little to help because of restrictions on abortion in Texas. Full Story
A state tax that imposes a 55-cent fee on each pack of cigarettes produced by small tobacco manufacturers is constitutional, even though Big Tobacco manufacturers do not pay the tax, the Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday. Full Story
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Cutting prices can be expensive. The Texas Department of Transportation offered up the most recent example of that, answering the Legislature’s question about the price of making the state’s toll roads free. Spoiler alert: It's high. Full Story
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Full video of our 3/31 conversation about the Top 10 Percent Rule with Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, former UT-Austin President Larry Faulkner, and state Reps. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and John Zerwas, R-Richmond. Full Story
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Full video of my 3/29 conversation with three members the Texas House who represent Fort Worth: Republicans Craig Goldman and Stephanie Klick and Democrat Ramon Romero Jr. Full Story
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The chairman of the Texas House of Representatives' Higher Education Committee said Thursday that he "would not have any concern" if the Top 10 Percent Rule governing college admissions in the state were eliminated. Full Story
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As many UT-Austin administrators say the Top 10 Percent Rule hurts the university's national prestige, the college is focused on helping UT-Austin students who might not have otherwise been admitted. This is part of the Tribune's "The Price of Admission" series. Full Story
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If Texas decided to pay off construction debt on nearly all of its toll roads tomorrow, the price tag would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $30 billion, according to a preliminary report. Full Story
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