The House and Senate each named their budget conferees this week. The 10-member group now sets to work reconciling the differences between the two chambers' approaches to setting the state's spending priorities for the next two years. Among the sticking points are differing approaches to more than $4 billion in tax relief.

The chairman of the House General Investigating and Ethics Committee launched an official inquiry Monday into contracting practices at 11 state agencies. The action is aimed at finding out if contracting irregularities found at HHSC are more widespread in state government than currently thought.

The House this week passed legislation that would move investigation of corruption cases against public officials from an investigative unit in the Travis County DA's office to the official's home counties. In addition, Texas Rangers would be tasked with taking the criminal complaint.

Ina Minjarez captured the runoff special election on Tuesday to fill the vacant Bexar County-based House District 124 seat. The former prosecutor could be sworn in next week. She takes over for José Menéndez, who won election to the Texas Senate in February.

Two Houston attorneys will replace Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis as the Texas Rangers look into his friend and business partner Attorney General Ken Paxton. That relationship has figured into questions as to how an investigation into Paxton's failure to register with the state securities board would proceed.