Texas state government is run by top leaders who promised to model their operations on business. They didn’t say it would be an error-prone business.
budget
Posted in
Politics
Capitol insiders: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is letting the state’s budget agency fall apart
The Texas Legislative Budget Board is hemorrhaging staff and has been without an executive director for a year.
Posted inState Government
Texas on pace to collect more tax revenues than predicted, but state comptroller has a few words of caution
Glenn Hegar told lawmakers they’ll end the current budget with more money on hand than expected, and with a large balance in the state’s rainy day fund.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Property tax relief in Texas, perhaps — but not right away
A new state law limits the ability of local governments to raise property taxes without voter approval — but not yet. And some are rushing to get one last big increase.
Posted inState Government
Analysis: State Rep. John Zerwas, a rare mix of politics and calm, moves on
The Texas House is a rambunctious place, known for big personalities and tough politics. It’s about to lose one of its real experts — and a calm voice, too.
Posted in
Health care
Texas doubled funding for an anti-abortion program. Now lawmakers want to award the money without competitive bidding.
The Texas Pregnancy Care Network, the largest recipient of funding under the state’s controversial Alternatives to Abortion program, is poised to receive millions more under the proposal.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs $250 billion budget with no line-item vetoes
In addition to signing the 2020-21 budget, Abbott vetoed several dozen bills that the Legislature had passed.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Some Texas gun rights groups oppose a state-funded gun storage safety campaign. But not the NRA.
Some gun rights groups want Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a line item in the Texas budget that puts $1 million toward a public safety campaign on gun storage. But one powerful bloc isn’t actively opposing the measure: the National Rifle Association.
Posted in
Guides
Are the billions Texas lawmakers committed for schools and lower property taxes sustainable?
An attempt to raise the sales tax to pay for state leaders’ ambitious goals failed, raising questions about long-term effects of the property tax limitations in the school finance bill.
Posted in
Graphics and data reporting
From property taxes to teacher pay, here’s how the Texas Legislature handled spending priorities
Take a look at how Texas lawmakers reconciled major differences in their proposed two-year budgets, including funding for public schools, teacher salaries, women’s health, prison guard salaries and more.
