The latest Texas Legislature news from The Texas Tribune.
Not many school districts are partnering with charter schools, in some cases because they know it wouldn't be politically palatable in their communities. Full Story
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A memo obtained by The Texas Tribune instructs DPS officers to cite and release suspects in misdemeanor marijuana cases "as appropriate." Officials said the goal is to continue enforcement even though some prosecutors aren't taking new pot cases. Full Story
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The Richmond Republican was first elected in 2006 and resigns as chairman of the powerful budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. He will serve until Sept. 30. Full Story
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Crime labs repeatedly told lawmakers and budget officials that they couldn't distinguish between hemp and marijuana without new testing resources. The issue got almost no attention. Full Story
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Prosecutors and crime lab scientists were scrambling to find a solution after a change in the state's definition of marijuana imperiled criminal cases. Full Story
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A law legalizing hemp changed the definition of marijuana, causing district attorneys across the state to drop low-level possession cases and stop accepting new ones. Full Story
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The new Criminal Justice Reform Caucus in the Texas House will set its sights on changes in 2021. Full Story
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Many prosecutors say the way Gov. Greg Abbott and lawmakers redefined marijuana requires new lab testing to prove it’s different from recently legalized hemp. The situation has created a patchwork of consequences for people caught with pot. Full Story
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It's the most the Republican governor has raked in during the post-session fundraising sprint. Full Story
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The new law changed the definition of marijuana, and prosecutors and crime labs say they don't have the resources to test if a substance is legal hemp or marijuana. Full Story
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Starting in September, government agencies will no longer be able to provide anything of value to abortion providers or their affiliates. Opponents of the law fear it could mean the end of some public health and education programs across the state. Full Story
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Texas made it easy for rent-to-own companies to press criminal charges against people who fell behind on their payments for household goods. A new law, passed after a Texas Tribune and NerdWallet investigation, gives broad new protections to their customers. Full Story
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In a special edition of the TribCast, Ross talks to Josh Blank, Jim Henson and Daron Shaw from the University of Texas about the findings of the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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The state's two-year budget provided $84 million to increase salaries for correctional officers and other prison employees as the Texas Department of Criminal Justice faces nearly 4,000 empty guard positions. Full Story
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More than half of the state's voters think President Donald Trump is doing a good job, but they're not as pleased with some of his character traits, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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The high-priority bill boosts per-student funding and reduces property taxes across the state. Full Story
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Greg Abbott is done vetoing and signing bills for the 2019 Texas session. Here are the big bills that passed — and the ones that failed. Full Story
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The conservative groups who made a feast of former House Speaker Joe Straus for 10 years have a new target: Straus successor Dennis Bonnen. Full Story
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Advocates say recent court rulings created loopholes in laws meant to make government transparent. Lawmakers sought to close those this year — but may have created a loophole for themselves. Full Story
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"We've got this," the governor tells plumbers worried as their profession faces deregulation next year in Texas. Full Story
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