The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Talk of lifting the state's student-teacher class-size ratio has returned after a bill on the matter died in May. As Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, though some say debate on the issue has downplayed the potential harm for students, others call the worries overblown. Full Story
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A bill recently signed into law gives law enforcement agencies and lawyers more power to fight wage theft, to which illegal immigrants often fall victim. As Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, even in a session dominated by efforts to enact strict immigration legislation, the bill met little resistance. Full Story
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The Legislature passed a handful of energy-saving measures this session, ranging from allowing churches access to an energy-efficiency loan program to recalibrating a statewide efficiency program. Full Story
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Former Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, who has been running a GOP primary campaign to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate, has begun actively soliciting endorsements for the congressional seat he intends to seek instead, according to an email obtained Monday night by the Tribune. Full Story
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A new redistricting map, drawn to promote and protect Republican interests in the U.S. Congress, sailed out of the GOP-led state Senate Monday. The map, approved along strict party lines, would give Republicans a decent chance of retaining every congressional seat they now hold plus a new one they don't. Full Story
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Teachers and parents gathered today at the state Capitol to protest budget cuts to education funding. Full Story
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If you wanted to know where the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House would stand at the end of the legislative session, you could have seen it all months ago. Full Story
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For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked some questions about the special session, who benefits, how long it will last and whether a certain Fort Worth senator has helped or hurt her political future. Full Story
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The Legislature finished on Monday and came back on Tuesday to do in a few days what they could not accomplish in 140 Full Story
State Sen. Wendy Davis' controversial decision to torpedo the 82nd Legislative session with a filibuster has catapulted the Fort Worth Democrat into the spotlight, which she has seized to try to mobilize the state’s downtrodden and outnumbered Democrats. Full Story
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Texans for Accountable Government and their coalition partners rallied on the front steps of the Texas Capitol Saturday, urging Gov. Rick Perry to support HB 1937. The so-called "TSA groping" bill, by state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, would restrict instrusive screening practices by security personnel. Full Story
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Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story
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State GOP leaders want quick action on a new congressional map that would transform the district of Tea Party godfather Ron Paul. Paul says he doesn't feel "targeted" by the proposal. Full Story
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Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
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Many Texas lawmakers have the resources to stay in Austin a few extra weeks — or even months — for special sessions. But others take a big fiscal hit. And it takes a personal toll on all of them. Full Story
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Rep. David Simpson, a conservative Tea Party freshman from Longview, stood out in the Texas 82nd legislative session for his principled stance on limited government. His actions stirred criticism, laughs and curiosity from fellow lawmakers. Check out this interactive timeline with links to stories, videos and documents to take a look back at the waves Simpson made in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers are back for a special session that started the day after their 140-day regular session. That’s something like sprinting to the finish of a long race and having your coach yell, just as you break the tape, “One more lap.” Full Story
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In the just-ended legislative session, freshman state Rep. David Simpson made a name for himself — and not always a nice one — with his passionate push for the “anti-groping” airport bill and his outspoken stance against proposals he believed represented government intrusion into personal freedoms. Full Story
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Renewable energy companies are looking to this big, sunny state as the next frontier for solar power. But solar is expensive, and once again the Legislature did not pass a statewide solar incentive. Some companies and communities are forging ahead nonetheless. Full Story
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The “anti-groping” bill may not be dead just yet. State Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, who authored the original bill, is renewing his quest to uphold the Fourth Amendment in the special session. Full Story
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