Analysis: In Texas government, the buck stops ... somewhere
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. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, hold the first meeting of the Texas Safety Commission at the Texas Capitol August 22, 2019.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the dais on the Senate floor on May 25, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![From left: Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston; Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick; Gov. Greg Abbott; House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton; and Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, speak at a Jan 31, 2019, news conference addressing property tax reform.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, speaks to pages on the House floor on April 4, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Austin Life Care in Austin, Texas July 18, 2019]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
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. Full Story
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![Senate Bill 2 and the pens Gov. Greg Abbott used to sign it, in Austin on June 12, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Rifles on display at McBride's Gun Inc. in Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
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. Full Story
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![Entrance to the House Floor.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Do as they say, not as they do
The Texas Legislature did a lot in the 86th regular session, especially if you judge by their spending. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate approve budget deal with agreements on school finance, property taxes, Hurricane Harvey recovery
Completing negotiations that have taken place over the last few months, Texas House and Senate lawmakers accepted a compromise on a state spending plan for 2020-21. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, and state Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, during a budget conference at the Capitol on May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Behind closed doors, budget writers add $100 million for border surge
The money would come from the state savings account, and Texas officials anticipate getting reimbursed by the federal government. Full Story
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![A section of border fence in Hidalgo, which runs between a national wildlife refuge and a local nature center, ends abruptly when federal land stops. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife started buying land along the U.S.-Mexico border more than 70 years ago to preserve habitat for threatened species. Now, much of that same land is bisected by the border fence.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas high-speed rail plans dodge bullet after lawmakers strike provision aiming to delay the project
Legal battles over whether the developer can use eminent domain still loom over the project. Full Story
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![The Japanese Shinkansen is a high-speed train used by JR Central in Japan. A private company is planning to build a rail line between Dallas and Houston using the same trains.]()
Credit: Norihiro Kataoka -
Texas tax collectors predict another $500 million for the state budget
The announcement Tuesday from Comptroller Glenn Hegar came amid lawmakers' closed-door haggling over the two-year budget, which includes funds for public schools and property tax relief. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar discusses the Biennial Revenue Estimate for the 2020-21 biennium at the state Capitol on Jan. 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Appraising the House
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what’s likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die. Full Story
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Analysis: Legislators have a deadline, and so do Texas schools
Lawmakers are in their last month of a regular session, with their priority issues — public education and property taxes — still incomplete. If they can't finish without a special session, they'll run into someone else's deadlines; school districts write budgets and set tax rates in June. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott with House members on the House Floor on April 30, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
A Texas sales tax increase would hit poor people the hardest
Top Republican leaders have proposed raising the sales tax and using the money to lower local property tax rates. Wealthier Texans and businesses would likely benefit, while poorer Texans would likely pay more. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott addresses state officials at the State of the State address in the House Chambers at the State Capitol on Feb. 5, 2019. He's accompanied by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes two-year budget with money for property tax cuts — but no plan for how to spend it
The Senate budget also includes a $6.3 billion boost for public schools, about $4 billion of which would increase teachers’ and librarians’ annual salaries by $5,000. Full Story
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![State Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas reports on state government efficiency were kept secret. We're publishing them.
Since 2005, state lawmakers have received the agency's biennial report detailing inefficiencies in government, but this year the report was not made public. Full Story
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![Left to right: Outgoing House Speaker Joe Straus, presumptive House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at a Legislative Budget Board meeting in Austin on Nov. 16, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune