Senators Share Concerns About A-F Grades for Schools
During a Senate Education Committee hearing Thursday, lawmakers questioned whether A-through-F ratings for schools would provide a clear picture of a school's performance. Full Story
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![A reading assistant reads on the classroom floor with a small group of fourth graders at Wanke Elementary School in San Antonio on March 9, 2012.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Isaac Jumping Into Hays County Water Fight
With a four-bill cocktail, state Rep. Jason Isaac hopes to stop, or at last slow, a Houston-based company's plans to pump huge amounts of water from beneath Hays County. Full Story
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![Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, on the House floor, February 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Competing Bills Filed Over End-of-Life Care for Pregnant Women
Lawmakers have filed two competing bills about who should have the authority to decide whether to terminate a brain-dead pregnant woman's life — a preview of what promises to be a fiery legislative battle over end-of-life medical care in Texas. Full Story
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![Erick Muñoz, widow of Marlise Muñoz, speaks at the Texas Capitol after "Marlise's Law" was introduced during a press conference on March 12, 2015. A picture of his late wife and her family sits on the table.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Price and Rawlings on Local Control
At our 3/12 conversation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings addressed the prevailing conflict in the 84th session: liberty vs. local control. Full Story
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Video: Price and Rawlings on Fort Worth vs. Dallas
At our 3/12 conversation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings discussed the perceived rivalry between their cities — and how cooperation can benefit them. Full Story
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How Are Abbott's Emergency Items Doing?
Gov. Greg Abbott declared five emergency items in his State of the State speech, clearing the way for lawmakers to act quickly on them if they so choose. Here's a guide to the five items, related bills and where things stand. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott announces five emergency items for Texas legislators to consider during his State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: A Conversation with Brian McCall
Full video of my 3/10 conversation with Texas State University System Chancellor Brian McCall. Among the topics discussed: in-state tuition for undocumented students, campus carry, graduation rates, and state funding of higher ed. Full Story
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Senators Worry State Contracting is Too Decentralized
Senators learned at a hearing Wednesday that the current state contracting system is so fragmented that no one knows the total value of the state's current contracts. Full Story
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![Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, confers with Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, during a March 11, 2015, committee hearing on state contracting issues.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: A Distinctive Push for Business Tax Repeal
As lawmakers debate what kinds of tax cuts they like best, and voters point at property taxes as their favorite, a national conservative group is starting a grassroots campaign to promote repeal of the state's business margins tax. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers Vying to Bring More Transparency to State Contracting
Texas lawmakers consider different approaches to transforming the state's unwieldy, loophole-ridden system of contract oversight into something that can be properly tracked, analyzed and, when needed, restrained. Full Story
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Talk Turns to Standards as Lawmakers Weigh Pre-K Bills
As legislators considered several early education bills Tuesday afternoon, testimony was dominated by a debate over what standards school districts should meet to get additional state funding for pre-kindergarten programs. Full Story
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![Students in Pre-K teacher Josefina Pineda's class sing to practice their language skills at the Dallas Independent School District Cesar Chavez Learning Center in Dallas, Texas.]()
Credit: Robert W. Hart -
Video: Life After Proposition 6
At our 3/10 symposium on water, I talked about life after Proposition 6 with Chairman Jim Keffer of the House Natural Resources Committee, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller; and Chairman Carlos Rubinstein of the Texas Water Development Board. Full Story
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Issues of the Texas Legislature: Groundwater Management
As we follow bills on environmental issues during the 84th legislative session, we'll keep you updated on legislation addressing reforms on how groundwater is managed. Stay caught up on the session with our Texas Legislative Guide. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht -
Analysis: Making the Worst of a Good Situation
Texas legislators have an unfamiliar problem: They have more money available to spend than their self-imposed limits will allow. And it's enough to start debates even where there is broad agreement. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Antony Vance Clicks -
House Panel Endorses Texting-While-Driving Ban
A bill that would ban texting while driving passed its first legislative hurdle Tuesday when lawmakers voted it out of the House Transportation Committee. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Patrick, Hancock Propose Spending Cap Changes
Senate leaders on Tuesday rolled out more legislation that would change how the state sets its limit on spending for each budget biennium, and let lawmakers pass tax cuts that don't count toward the cap. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces the filing of SB1 with a series of property and business tax cuts for Texans on Feb. 24, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Housing Legislation Puts Local Control Debate Front and Center
A bill before a Texas Senate committee is bringing into focus the simmering debate over local control in the state. It's a charge that has been backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and state legislators who see cities overstepping their authority. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaking at TPPF closing luncheon on Jan. 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Double-Dipping Ban is on the Move
Efforts to ban longtime politicians from double-dipping their salaries and their pensions — as former Gov. Rick Perry started doing in 2011 — went nowhere two years ago. But this year the idea is picking up steam. Full Story
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UT Regents Have Hurdles to Jump to Hire Hamilton
Two of the three candidates on the short list to be president of the University of Texas at Austin remain in the hunt, sources say. The front-runner comes with a very good pedigree — and a very large price tag. Full Story
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![UT System Board of Regents Chairman Paul Foster during a meeting on Dec. 12, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Legislative Guide: Environment
Use our Texas Legislative Guide to stay updated on the issues that lawmakers are debating this legislative session. This week, our featured section is Environment. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Emily Albracht