The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
A Texas State University System Board of Regents nominee said Monday at a Senate committee hearing that his job as owner of the state's largest alternative teacher certification program would not conflict with his duties as a regent. Full Story
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Charity fundraisers give lobbyists and political donors a way to show their support to officeholders during legislative sessions — when the law prohibits direct contributions. Full Story
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Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia is headed for the Texas Senate after beating state Rep. Carol Alvarado in a Saturday special election runoff to succeed the late Mario Gallegos, D-Houston. Full Story
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In this week's Newsreel: The Supreme Court heard arguments in a voting rights case that could have a big impact on Texas, Republican legislators side with Gov. Rick Perry on Medicaid expansion, and voters will decide on Saturday who will represent Senate District 6. Full Story
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Republican legislators have proposed adding $100 million to a state-run primary care program specifically for women’s health services, which could avert a political fight over subsidizing specialty family planning clinics. Full Story
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A bill in the Texas Senate would make the penalty for failing to stop and render aid in certain hit-and-run cases equal to that of intoxication manslaughter. It's a move lawmakers and law enforcement hope causes more drivers to do the right thing and stay put. Full Story
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Full video of Emily Ramshaw's 2/27 TribLive conversation about health care with state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. Full Story
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Rep. Giovanni Capriglione got a rude awakening in his transparency bill's hearing before the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday when members suggested his legislation was a political "vendetta." Full Story
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Proponents and critics weighed in Wednesday on a bill that would allow the sale of raw milk at farmer’s markets and other sites like fairs and flea markets. Full Story
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At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, talked to Emily Ramshaw about the state's role in providing access to preventative health care for women. Full Story
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At Wednesday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, told Emily Ramshaw they back Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to expand Medicaid. Full Story
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Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told Texas senators on Wednesday "to go big or go home" when it comes to pushing changes to public education policy. Full Story
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Two key Republicans legislators — both of them doctors — say they're sticking with Gov. Rick Perry’s position that Texas will reject the Medicaid expansion provision of federal health reform. Full Story
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Widely variable discovery practices in Texas makes access to justice dependent upon where a defendant is charged, according to a report released Wednesday, giving weight to bills that would create uniform discovery procedures. Full Story
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Ambulance drivers, nurses and trauma surgeons lobbied lawmakers on Tuesday to allocate more funds to emergency services. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday voiced his support for revamping the state's newly implemented student assessment system. Full Story
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UPDATED: Looking to save Texas millions of Medicaid dollars, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard four hours of testimony on a proposed redesign of long-term care services for disabled Texans. Full Story
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At last Friday's Hot Seat conversation at Baylor University, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and state Reps. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, and Kyle Kacal, R-College Station, talked about public ed, health care and other issues in play in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act appears to be in danger of being overturned, according to various news outlets covering oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. Full Story
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At a news conference leading up to Wednesday’s oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court, some Democratic lawmakers said the issue at hand — whether to uphold Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act — deals with a statute that has helped propel minorities to more equal ground in a state with a history of racial discrimination. Full Story
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