The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas has officially asked Congress to lift its 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports. Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday signed a resolution that calls the federal ban a “relic from an era of scarcity and flawed price control policies.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Industry-1.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/29/7C2A6469.jpg)
A bill designed to protect western Hays County residents' water wells received a surprising, last-minute reprieve Thursday night — after a procedural error killed the legislation the day before. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/28/IsaacJason1_TT_crop.jpg)
In the Roundup: Measures related to guns and border security all got one step closer to becoming law in these final days of the 84th Legislature, and Democrats succeeded in knocking a key bill for conservatives off the calendar. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/capitol.jpg)
With the death of a bill that would have created a statewide texting-while-driving ban, the measure’s author said Thursday that legislators “have not done our job as lawmakers to protect the life and safety of all Texans.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/16/TextDriver.jpg)
An end-of-session deal on open carry of handguns and limits on police in Texas rescued Gov. Greg Abbott from political crossfire between law enforcement officials and an unusual coalition of liberal and conservative lawmakers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/12/CapitolGuns-2a.jpg)
Surrounded by the aftermath of recent flooding, the Texas Senate has revived a measure that would make it easier for local officials to plan ahead for rebuilding after disasters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/27/7C2A4963.JPG)
After fears of a massive, unregulated groundwater pumping project sparked a passionate display of political activism by Texas Hill Country residents earlier this year, the resulting legislative efforts appear to have failed. Full Story
Now that the massive overhaul contained in Senate Bill 19 has gone on life support, a few targeted efforts to shine the light on conflicts of interest and enhance transparency remain. Here's a guide to what's moving and what's not. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/472e19d6b10e83020ce5bbec967eb0fb/BD%20INC%20Davis%20HOuse%20313%202013)
State Sen. José Rodríguez said Thursday that if the opportunity arises, he plans to filibuster a bill allowing the open carry of handguns in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/28/4_S3R7545.jpg)
At our 5/28 conversation, state Sens. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, were pessimistic about the possibility of a compromise on the Hazlewood Act. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/3_S3R7529.jpg)
At our 5/28 conversation, state Sens. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, discussed whether meaningful ethics reform will pass this session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/5_S3R7573.jpg)
At our 5/28 conversation, state Sens. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and José Rodríguez, D-El Paso, talked about the fate of the open carry bill — and the prospect of a filibuster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/4_S3R7545.jpg)
Full video of my 5/28 conversation with state Sens. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and José Rodríguez, D-El Paso. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/1_F5U2768.jpg)
We're livestreaming our discussion on the 84th legislative session with state Sens. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills; Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham; and José Rodríguez, D-El Paso. Full Story
Following an emotional floor debate, the Senate passed a resolution Wednesday reaffirming the state's opposition to same-sex marriage, an action taken as it became clear a bill to prevent such marriages in Texas was dead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/19/LadyJustice-GayMarriage-2a.jpg)
At the end of the legislative session, votes still count and majorities are important. But the rules come into play as well, and so do the political minorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/05/UP9A8399A.jpg)
After a night of dramatic maneuvers in the Texas House, lawmakers were back at it on Wednesday morning, with a handful of irked conservatives using parliamentary tactics to kill previously uncontested Senate bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/15/IMG_9805.jpg)
A measure to ban the trade of shark fins in Texas is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk after clearing the Texas Senate on Wednesday. The fins are collected by a brutal fishing process: cutting off a live shark's fin and leaving the shark to die. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/15/Shark_Fin_SoupTT.jpg)
With the death of all legislation specifically aiming to re-regulate tuition costs at Texas' public universities, proponents of the idea see few avenues for implementing the idea this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/University_Tuition_Money.jpg)