Video: Sharp on Reregulating Tuition
At our 5/7 conversation, John Sharp, the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, talked about the various legislative proposals to constrain the ability of public universities to raise tuition. Full Story
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The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
At our 5/7 conversation, John Sharp, the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, talked about the various legislative proposals to constrain the ability of public universities to raise tuition. Full Story
Full video of my 5/7 conversation with John Sharp, the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Full Story
A measure to provide workplace protections for female teachers who need to pump breast milk while at work is picking up opposition in the Senate. Full Story
Texas lawmakers Wednesday considered extending hate crime protections to transgender people and repealing the state’s anti-sodomy law, which remains on the books even though it's been found unconstitutional. Full Story
State Rep. David Simpson's proposal to legalize marijuana in Texas moved closer to a full House after it was approved by a House committee Wednesday evening. Full Story
A tax case started by a chain of movie theaters could cut billions from the state's franchise tax, and could affect the sales tax, too, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Wednesday. The 3rd Court of Appeals ruled against the state late last week. Full Story
After an unsuccessful attempt to include an exception for rape and incest, a measure to ban abortion coverage from health insurance plans cleared the Texas Senate on Wednesday. Full Story
Legislation passed by the House on Wednesday will prohibit payday lenders and auto title loan businesses from placing telemarketing calls to Texans on the "do not call" list. The measure now heads to the Senate. Full Story
Lawmakers have soundly rejected a bill to cap the state sales tax on certain boat purchases worth more than $250,000. State Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, said his measure was about helping the struggling recreational marine industry. Full Story
Despite warning that powdered alcohol could lead to a spike in underage drinking that would “make the darkest days of the Four Loko era look tame,” a lawmaker on Wednesday pulled back his measure to outlaw the product in Texas. Full Story
The unfolding story about surreptitious taping of officeholders at the Texas Capitol is going to end predictably: You'll know who did the filming — but not who paid for it. Full Story
A state lawmaker is pushing to make all financial disclosure statements filed with the Texas Ethics Commission available online so the public can easily find them. In that spirit, the Tribune presents the disclosures filed by scores of state agency heads, regents and others that you can't get online now. Full Story
If state budget writers can't get a deal on the budget during the regular session, they'll have to come back to finish. And with the state economy slowing down, going into overtime could mean less money for tax breaks and state programs. Full Story
An activist group with ties to conservative causes claims it will unveil secretly captured footage of Texas lawmakers behaving badly, confessing to a variety of indiscretions, engaging in inappropriate relationships with special interest lobbyists and possibly admitting to criminal behavior. Full Story
The criminal records of one-time offenders who stay out of trouble would be sealed and hidden from the public under a bill that cleared the Senate Tuesday. Supporters call it a second chance, but critics fear unknowing employers will pay the price. Full Story
The Texas Senate on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a measure that would prohibit health insurers from covering abortion. Full Story
Dallas and Houston leaders may want a super-fast train connecting their cities, but folks in between aren't as sold on the idea. Some have formed Texans Against High-Speed Rail, and they're hiring lobbyists and courting allies in a bid to kill the plan. Full Story
The sharper the speech — the harder it pokes at something dear to someone else — the greater the chance of a strong reaction. Full Story
At our 5/4 symposium on health care, state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, the chairman of the House Public Health Committee, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, the chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, talked about how the issue is playing out in the 84th session. Full Story
For some gay rights advocates, a bill in the Texas Legislature that would allow clergy to refuse to marry same-sex couples would be acceptable if it just included four more words. Full Story