The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
In the second week of the 31 Days, 31 Ways series, we explained the new rules on truancy penalties, showed the potential impact of the state's decision to oust Planned Parenthood from a cancer screening program, and covered much more. Revisit the stories here. Full Story
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A man arrested in Iowa is suspected of setting fire to a car last week at the Capitol, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced Thursday evening. Full Story
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In the time it has taken the state and federal governments to hold a Koch Industries affiliate responsible for a South Texas oil spill, 17 different quarterbacks started games for the Dallas Cowboys. Full Story
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A federal judge has given the state an Aug. 24 deadline to recognize same-sex marriages on death and birth certificates. Full Story
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More than a decade after the power market was deregulated for 85 percent of the state, some Texans are finding better deals on electricity. But most have paid thousands more than customers still served by monopoly utilities, a new report says. Full Story
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It’s a service that makes a bride’s big day less stressful. But getting hair and makeup done on location can cause a stylist to worry about the consequences of working outside of the salon. Those fears will disappear starting Sept. 1. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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It’s a service that makes a bride’s big day less stressful. But getting hair and makeup done by a stylist on location is actually illegal in Texas. On Sept. 1, that changes. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Nearly two years before the murder of six Houston siblings, a state district judge denied a request by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to keep them in foster care, according to a memo sent to members of the Legislature on Tuesday. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Criminal Justice said last week that its new beard policy for inmates would cost taxpayers $500,000. Now, the agency says there will actually be no cost to taxpayers. Full Story
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A new law will allow more consumers to challenge surprise medical bills they get from out-of-network doctors, but only if the charge is more than $500. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Months after he was put on paid administrative leave amid an investigation into the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's contracting procedures, Cody Cazares has left the agency. Full Story
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With its funds dwindling, the Texas Racing Commission plans to meet Aug. 25 and reverse its earlier decision allowing historical racing at Texas tracks, hoping to placate angry lawmakers and free up its funding. Full Story
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A man involved in "suspicious activity" near the Texas House speaker's office is also being sought for questioning about a car fire outside the Capitol, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman said Monday. Full Story
Poor, uninsured women in Texas will no longer be able to obtain government-subsidized breast and cervical cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics starting Sept. 1. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Greg Abbott called on the 2015 Legislature to reform itself with new ethics laws, and reform it did: It created one set of procedures for politicians and another for everybody else. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Before the state finalizes a decision next week that would slash payments for a therapy program for the poor, speech and physical therapists are fighting back, saying the impending budget cuts will harm thousands of children. Full Story
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Texas’ strict voter identification requirements kept many would-be voters in a Latino-majority congressional district from going to the polls last November — including many who had proper IDs — a new survey shows. Full Story
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Pope Francis has called on people of faith and science to come together and address the perils of climate change, and President Obama has finalized his ambitious carbon-cutting Clean Power Plan. But Texas Republicans aren't signing on, Catholic or not. Full Story
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Texas’ four-year-old voter ID law violates the Voting Rights Act but is not a “poll tax” barred under the U.S. Constitution, a federal appeals court has ruled. Full Story
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A loophole in state law allowed some developers to block solar installations on homes in new neighborhoods. Now it's been plugged. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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