Senators grilled Gov. Greg Abbott's appointees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents for more than five hours on Thursday, in what was a rough reception for the picks of the newly elected governor from the conservative wing of his party. A committee vote to recommend their nomination will come at a later date.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and fellow senators announced a slate of three bills designed to provide $4.6 billion in tax relief to businesses and homeowners in Texas. The residential component would rework the homeowner exemption to tie it to the state median home price while, on the business side, more businesses would be exempted from the franchise tax.

After 24 years in the Legislature — 16 of them in the Texas Senate — state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte bid an emotional farewell to her colleagues on Tuesday. She now faces a crowded field in the race to be San Antonio mayor, which includes current Mayor Ivy Taylor, former state Rep. Mike Villarreal and former County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson.

Rick Perry's lawyers have asked a state appeals court to dismiss the indictment against the former governor, saying he lawfully used his power to veto funds to the Travis County district attorney's office and his right to do so is protected by free speech. Earlier in the week, his lawyers argued an amended indictment against Perry was "woefully deficient" and should be rejected.

Retired state District Judge John Dietz, who found the Texas school finance system unconstitutional last year, told a training event hosted by the Association of Texas Professional Educators on Sunday that Texas is "dooming a generation" of children. The Legislature, not the courts, should fix the problems, he said.

Disclosure: The Association of Texas Professional Educators is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.