The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
The lower chamber erupted into a gender war of sorts Thursday afternoon, with Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, accusing a special interest group of sexism, and Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, suggesting some lawmakers have pornography on the House floor. Full Story
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The Women's Health Program — long believed to require legislative renewal — lives on, at least for now, in the form of a budget rider. Full Story
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The debate over whether to set up an animal cruelty registry continues. In a close vote, 63 to 78, the House sent HB 1103 to conference. Full Story
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Payday lending could soon become much more transparent for borrowers looking for a quick money fix. The House concurred with the Senate version of a bill today that would require payday lenders to disclose interest rates and fees associated with the loans. The bill now moves to the governor for final approval. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Lake Dallas, and state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, expressed confidence that the House and Senate will agree to a school finance deal before the end of the regular session. Full Story
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Budget negotiators adopted a report Thursday that cuts state spending by $15 billion. The measure is scheduled for a vote on the House and Senate floors as early as Saturday afternoon. Full Story
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Texans think it's more important to elect people who think like them than to elect people who look like them, and a small plurality believes redistricting should be turned over to an independent panel, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
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On Fox News' On the Record with Greta van Susteren, Gov. Rick Perry admitted that running for president is tempting but said it isn't something he wants to do. Full Story
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Lawmakers made progress today on solving the current budget deficit but still haven't solved the major problem in the 2012-13 budget: school finance. Full Story
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The Texas Senate approved a measure this evening that would ban texting and sending e-mails and instant messages while driving. Full Story
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Though lawmakers have run out of time to draw congressional redistricting map, Gov. Rick Perry says the responsibility lies with the Legislature, not the courts. Full Story
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With less than a week left in the regular session, it's the question everyone's asking: Will the Legislature finish its business, or will Gov. Rick Perry call a special session? Full Story
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Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol Wednesday over the Legislature's failure to pass a bill criminalizing invasive airport pat downs. "Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!" he bellowed. Full Story
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Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol over the Legislature's failure to criminalize invasive airport pat downs. "Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!" he bellowed. Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: Can Texas really stop the TSA from touching my privates when I go through airport security? Short answer: No. Full Story
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Could a brown, beady-eyed, two-and-a-half-inch lizard really threaten millions of barrels of Texas oil? West Texas lawmakers are worried that adding the sagebrush lizard to the endangered species list would do just that. Full Story
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On this week's episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben talk about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune polls, continuing speculation about Gov. Rick Perry's presidential plans and the end of the legislative session. Full Story
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The most important problems facing the country are economic, while immigration and border security are the most important problems facing the state, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry has delivered his fiscal message loud and clear: Balance the cash-strapped state budget with cuts, not with the Rainy Day Fund or new taxes. Yet some of his most loyal advisers, past and future, are representing clients beating a very different drum. Full Story
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The state’s contentious sanctuary cities bill failed to move out of the Senate late Tuesday — a move some senators said effectively killed one of the most controversial measures the Texas Legislature has considered this session. Full Story
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