Senate committee advances proposal to gut the Top 10 Percent Rule
A proposal to substantially weaken the Top 10 Percent Rule took an important step forward Wednesday. Full Story
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![Students on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texplainer: How do you navigate the Senate intent calendar?
At this point in the session, there are a lot of bills on the Senate’s “intent calendar.” How can you tell which bills will be considered on a given day? Full Story
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Senate approves two-year tuition freeze, 1% cap on increases after that
The Texas Senate voted 29-2 to freeze tuition for two years, and then cap tuition increases at 1 percent plus inflation after that. The idea will now go to the House, where leaders are skeptical of tuition freezes. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bills to plug public information "loopholes" breeze through Senate
The legislation pushes back against two 2015 Texas Supreme Court rulings that have enabled private companies involved with government contracts to keep parts of those contracts secret. Full Story
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![Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, talks about open records efforts on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Phillip Huffines files to run for Texas Senate
Phillip Huffines, whose twin brother Don already serves in the Senate, submitted paperwork to begin raising money for a campaign for Senate District 8. Full Story
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![Phillip Huffines is the twin brother and business partner of state Sen. Don Huffines, R-Dallas.]()
Credit: Huffines Communities Website -
Analysis: Don’t fret — it’s too early to say Texas lawmakers will blow this
The denizens of the Texas Capitol are already talking about the possibility of a special session if lawmakers haven't finished the budget and other bills by Memorial Day. They might be worried, but you shouldn't be. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Straus agrees with Patrick on their different audiences
In a radio interview Thursday, House Speaker Joe Straus said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a different audience than he does. "He’s an entertainer, a talk show guy. And a statewide elected official. I’m not," Straus said. Full Story
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![House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick at a Texas Legislative Budget Board meeting on December 1, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate accounting maneuver finds $2.5B in budget; Straus calls it “cooking the books”
By delaying a diversion of sales tax money for transportation projects, Texas Senate leaders said they had an additional $2.5 billion to spend on needs such as health care and schools. Full Story
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![State Sens. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and John Whitmire, D-Houston, at a hearing on Senate Bill 2 on March 14, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Senate passes property tax bill state leaders love, local officials oppose
The Senate voted 18-12 in favor of bill that would require an election if a local government entity wanted to increase some of its tax collections by 5 percent or more. Full Story
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Credit: The Texas Tribune -
Universities face funding cuts of 6 percent to 10 percent in Senate plan
In an attempt to make major changes in how higher education is funded, the Senate Finance Committee is proposing major cuts to each state university. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas bullet train firm calls provision added to budget a "job killer"
Officials with Texas Central Partners, the private firm developing the Houston-Dallas high-speed rail line, said the rider added to the state senate's proposed budget Wednesday would put their project at risk. Full Story
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![A high-speed Texas train is planned to run near railroad tracks along Hempstead Road in northwest Houston.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby for The Texas Tribune -
Watch as Texas Senate debates "bathroom bill"
A week after a marathon hearing, the Texas Senate debated the "bathroom bill" on the floor Tuesday afternoon. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick looks around the Senate Chamber on Feb. 7, 2017 prior to bringing up SB 4 sanctuary city bill for debate.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves convention of states legislation
The Texas Senate approved a resolution Tuesday calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution, one of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, listens during a debate over Senate Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Convention of states resolution is on its way to full Texas Senate
The Senate State Affairs Committee addressed one of Gov. Greg Abbott's four emergency items Thursday: passing a resolution showing the state backs an Article V convention. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Lawmakers can turn to a bag of tricks to balance state budget
With an official forecast that less money will be available, the next state budget is tight. The finance folks are looking for money to make it balance, but don't fret: They've got plenty of tax-avoiding, budget-balancing tricks in their bags. Full Story
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Trump target or not, Burton has carved unorthodox path
Sen. Konni Burton's Senate career has been marked by a willingness to go her own way. Full Story
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![New Texas Sen. Konni Burton, c, stands with other incoming Senators during the swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Capitol Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Like the Texas Legislature at large, committee chairs are mostly white men
Most of the members of the Texas Legislature are white men — and so are the committee chairs. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus have assigned committee chairs for the 2017 Legislature.]()
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Texas Senate passes ethics reform and "sanctuary" cities bills (video)
Two of Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency items are already moving swiftly through the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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Senate approves new UT System regents 29-0
The Texas Senate approved three new University of Texas System regents, even though some Democrats complained about the board's lack of diversity. Full Story
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At the Texas Capitol, the union dues bill is back
Legislation to stop automatic payroll deductions for most public employee unions is back after failing two years ago. Supporters say the state shouldn't be involved in collecting union dues; opponents say the GOP is trying to cripple certain unions. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, the chairwoman of the Senate State Affairs Committee, listened to testimony during a Sept. 14, 2016, committee meeting.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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