State employee health care fix could hurt Texas medical schools, critics say
Senators believe they have found a way to save $80 million on health care for state employees. But medical schools say the savings would come at their expense. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MedicalStudentsAtWork.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
-
A lawmaker might have lost his fight to address West Dallas gentrification
State Rep. Eric Johnson's bill aimed at providing relief for the epicenter of Dallas' affordable housing crisis is among legislation expected to be blocked from a House vote on Friday. That would likely kill his bill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/11/WestDallas_08.jpg)
![The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, which opened in 2012, looms over West Dallas where a street divides the new Trinity Groves cluster of restaurants and a decades-old neighborhood of mostly wood frame houses.]()
Credit: Brandon Formby/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House passes measure to increase “Buy America” provisions
Senate Bill 1289 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would increase “Buy America” provisions already in effect for the Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Water Development Board to all state agencies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/19/__BDB0231_Paddle.jpg)
![State Reps. Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie (left), and Chris Paddie, R-Marshall on April 19, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senator strips “sex” amendment from bill backed by Uber and Lyft
The Senate sponsor of a bill meant to create statewide regulations for ride-hailing companies said Thursday he had stripped a controversial amendment that would define "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/15/RideHailApp-Lege.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Ståle Grut / Flickr -
Hot or not, bill would simplify sales tax on baked goods (video)
A measure advancing in the Texas Legislature would make baked goods, regardless of their temperature when served, exempt from sales tax. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Cookies_Still.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas House backs Rainy Day Fund overhaul
The Texas House approved legislation Wednesday that would overhaul the way the state stows away money for tough economic times, advancing a proposal championed by Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/03/31/BudgetCapitolScales.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Pension fights raise fears of crippling police, firefighter shortages
Amid efforts by the Legislature to address immediate pension crises in Houston and Dallas, some see an opportunity to push for a sea change in how cities fund pensions. Critics predict such a move could drive first responders away in droves. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/26/DallasPolicePensionProtest_001_LB_TT.jpg)
![Dallas police officers and firefighters march in protest of their failing pension fund in Dallas on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
House panel considers bill requiring parental consent for minors to join unions
A House committee Thursday considered a proposal that would require parental consent for minors to join a labor union. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/27/UFCW_1000_TT.jpg)
![United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1000 in Grapevine.]()
-
Texas House to debate franchise tax cut that would hit public schools
Businesses dislike the franchise tax because they say it’s overly complicated and can punish them in less-prosperous years. But critics warn the tax cut would harm public schools and other government programs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/13/IMG_9993.jpg)
![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, on the House floor on May 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Bills would undo cities' efforts to rein in payday lenders, advocates warn
Dozens of Texas cities have passed ordinances regulating payday and auto title lenders that are stricter than current state and federal rules. Some state lawmakers are hoping to eliminate them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/25/ShelbyKnowles_-_Loans_-43.jpg)
![The storefront of a payday lender in Austin on April 25, 2017. Antipoverty advocates are warning that a pair of proposals in the Legislature could perpetuate a cycle of debt for millions of Texans.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Trump agrees not to terminate NAFTA
After a trial balloon went over poorly with Congress, Trump told foreign leaders he won't end the trade agreement just yet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/04/NAFTA-flags.jpg)
![Texas has a front row seat to NAFTA, one of the campaign's most contentious policies.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Dallas police officers, firefighters rail against mayor's handling of pension crisis
Mike Rawlings says he's trying to protect taxpayers as he opposes bill aimed at fixing shortfall. But first responders say he could exacerbate a shortage of police officers and firefighters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/26/DallasPolicePensionProtest_018_LB_TT.jpg)
![Dallas police officers and firefighters protest their failing pension fund outside City Hall in Dallas on April 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Uber picks Dallas, Fort Worth as test cities for flying vehicle network
The company also tapped a Dallas real estate development firm and Fort Worth's Bell Helicopter to develop pick-up and drop-off sites for electric vehicles that would take-off and land vertically. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/25/DALLAS_flying_cars_TT.jpg)
![Artist's visualization of a Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft in Dallas.]()
Credit: Uber Technologies, Inc. -
Texas leaders to Trump: Houston needs billions for hurricane protection
Dozens of Texas politicians and business leaders are urging President Donald Trump to commit $15 billion toward protecting the Houston area from a devastating hurricane. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/10/George_P_Bush_RPT.jpg)
![Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush (l.) and President Donald Trump.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Shelby Tauber -
Uber and Lyft call "sex" amendment disappointing, unnecessary
Representatives for Uber and Lyft say an amendment to a statewide ride-hailing bill that defines "sex" as "the physical condition of being male or female" is disappointing and unnecessary. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Ståle Grut / Flickr -
Warren Buffett visits Capitol and "Buffett Bill" is born
The Texas Senate could soon debate the "Buffett Bill," a special interest carve-out aimed at giving billionaire Warren Buffett a little relief from protectionist state laws. And the bill that would help electric car maker Tesla Motors? Stalled. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/19/Warren_Buffett_in_2010_TT.jpg)
![Warren Buffett in 2010.]()
Credit: White House -
Gender identity debate seeps into Texas House vote on ride-hailing regulations
After a lengthy debate among lawmakers over the best way to regulate services like Uber and Lyft, the Texas House backed a proposal that would override local regulations concerning ride-hailing companies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/19/__BDB0627_Paddie_3_.jpg)
![State Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, looks over his notes shortly before vote on HB 100 on April 19, 2017. The bill passed second reading on a 110-37 vote and will impose regulations on transportation network companies statewide if finally passed.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves bill curbing regulation of short-term home rentals
Under Senate Bill 451 by state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, Texas cities would be prevented from banning short-term rentals and their ability to write ordinances restricting the practice would be narrowed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/03/09/HancockTT.jpg)
![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, chairman of the Business & Commerce Committee, at a hearing on March 9, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Cosmetology licensing under scrutiny in Texas House
Three bills aimed at reducing what it takes to get licensed for certain cosmetology jobs were considered in a House committee hearing Monday evening. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/14/Eyebrow_threading_TT.jpg)
![Bri Liu, a client at Wink Threading Salon in Austin.]()
Credit: Jennifer Carlson/Wink Threading Salon -
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar pitches overhaul of Rainy Day Fund
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar wants to reshape the state's Rainy Day Fund, aiming to get more bang for those stowed-away bucks. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/_S3R7679HegarCU.jpg)
![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich