The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Texans will close out 2011 with more questions than answers, from the outcomes of redistricting and Gov. Rick Perry's presidential bid to the effects of lawmakers' multibillion-dollar budget cuts. Here’s hoping 2012 brings some resolution. Full Story
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In the spirit of TribWeek and TribMonth, we present TribYear. Ten of our best stories of 2011. Full Story
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Our annual must-listen, year-in-review spectacular featuring some of the TribCast's most memorable intros, guests, topics, and outtakes from 2011. Full Story
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With 2011 winding down, we take a look back at the stories our readers liked best, judging by the number of pageviews they received. Full Story
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For some candidates, the 2012 elections will be decided in court. Full Story
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In papers filed in federal court today, officials who administer the state's elections said the April 3 primaries — agreed to by the Democratic and Republican parties and ordered by a panel of federal judges — create an impossible situation. Full Story
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The election experts in the room were a beehive of nonverbal communication. Their reaction was on their faces: “Is this a drill? They’re kidding, right?” Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of governmental and political insiders, we asked about the mess with the Texas primaries — whether split primaries are a good idea and who might benefit. Full Story
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Texas Democrats and Republicans agreed to hold unified primary elections on April 3, avoiding the costs and confusion brought on by litigation over new political maps for congressional and legislative districts. Full Story
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The attorney general is in the happy position of defending redistricting maps that benefit his allies and punish his foes — all in the name of official state business. Full Story
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Animal welfare activists are hoping for a renewed crackdown on illegal cockfighting now that laws passed last legislative session are in effect. Forcing the birds to fight was already illegal; now, it's also against the law to breed the birds or attend a fight. Full Story
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When is a filing deadline not a filing deadline? When you don't have maps. Full Story
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If you can't hold congressional and legislative primaries on March 6 — because you don't have maps in time — what happens next? Full Story
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The state doesn't have maps for its congressional and legislative districts, throwing the date what was going to be a March 6 primary into question. It seemed like a good time to ask the insiders about this. Full Story
When will the elections be held? Sometime next year. The dates for the congressional and legislative elections won't be certain until maps have been approved. But candidates are filing, and endorsements haven't stopped. Full Story
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The warning from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was polite but firm: The U.S. Department of Justice will not stand idly by if it feels Texas intends to halt or reverse gains for minority voting rights. Full Story
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The Texas primary elections are still set — precariously — for March 6 but a panel of three federal judges extended the filing deadlines for candidates to Monday. Full Story
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has turned down Texas’ request to run a family planning program that excludes some providers — namely Planned Parenthood. But it approved Texas' request for a waiver to expand Medicaid managed care. Full Story
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Forget everything. The candidate announcements, the relocations, the decisions not to run again, the who vs. who and the campaign finance. With a Friday night order, the U.S. Supreme Court turned Texas election season into chaos. Full Story
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One question has dominated education conversations in Texas since even before the 2011 legislative session and budget slashing began: How will public schools be affected? The answers are many and varied. Full Story
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