The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
A day after Gov. Rick Perry bid farewell to the statehouse, he spoke to Republicans at a national party gathering in San Diego, where he offered no specifics on his expected run for president — but alluded to the burgeoning campaign. Full Story
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The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Friday to hear four cases with the potential to legalize gay marriage nationwide could delay a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas' own legal fight over same-sex unions. Full Story
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The massive field of possible 2016 presidential contenders includes a baker's dozen of governors, both current and former. The clear winners from a job creation standpoint are Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry's formal farewell Thursday afternoon to the state Legislature dominated headlines with writers trying to discern from his speech what the future holds for him. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry delivered a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Thursday. Our reporters read between the lines for you — using the online annotation tool Genius. Full Story
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Entrepreneur Elon Musk said Thursday that Texas is in the driver's seat for a test track for a transportation system known as the Hyperloop. He also said that a SpaceX facility wouldn't have been built in Texas without economic incentives. Full Story
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Gun rights groups lined up at a press conference on Thursday to voice support for legislation that would allow Texans to openly carry handguns without a license. Full Story
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Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick said Thursday he had appointed a 55-member special council made up of business and industry leaders in the state to provide recommendations to lawmakers throughout the legislative session. Full Story
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UPDATED: A judge heard arguments Thursday on a request to halt a White House immigration policy that could affect hundreds of thousands of Texans living in the country illegally. The judge did not indicate when he would make a ruling. Full Story
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Prospects for Democrats in Texas might seem grim at the moment, but from his Washington perch, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey thinks things will turn his party's way. Eventually. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry will close the door on 30 years of state government work with a farewell address Thursday afternoon to the Legislature. Full Story
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At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about what the Lege is likely to do on health care. Full Story
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When Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller granted amnesty to cupcakes on Monday, he pointed out that state rules that once banned such treats from classrooms were repealed last summer. But cupcakes have been allowed for a decade. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/14 conversation with three new members of the Texas House: Celia Israel, D-Austin; Linda Koop, R-Dallas; and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving. Full Story
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When members debate the proposed rules for the House on Thursday, they'll discuss a plan from House Speaker Joe Straus to expand one committee's jurisdiction in investigating state agencies and practices. Full Story
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As excited as we are about the start of the 84th session, we’re equally pumped to roll out our brand new 84th Lege page — a comprehensive and convenient portal to all of your Texas legislative needs. Full Story
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Adding to our robust suite of Texas legislative tools, we've rolled out our Texas Legislative Guide — complete with an upgraded bill tracker and curated lists of the must-watch issues of the session across nearly a dozen different policy areas. Full Story
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UPDATED: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the creation of an independent "strike force" to review the state's largest health agency, specifically how it awards contracts to private vendors. Full Story
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On the first day of the 84th Legislature, state lawmakers were sworn into office amidst family and friends. Afterwards, the House re-elected Joe Straus speaker, while the Senate made Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa president pro tempore. Full Story
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A video of a confrontation between open-carry activists and a lawmaker drew attention to the group's tactics on Tuesday. Full Story
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