State government

Gov. Greg Abbott is set to announce several staffing changes in his office. Among those changes: He's getting a new chief of staff and some new advisers.

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Driver's license applications will soon ask Texans whether they'd like to donate $1 or more for sexual assault kit testing. It's the state's latest effort to reduce a backlog that has swelled for years. 

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Here are highlights from The Texas Tribune's conversation with Phillip Huffines, a Republican candidate for Texas Senate District 8. 

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A new state law eliminates the category of "illegal knives," effectively expanding knife owners' freedom to carry blades almost anywhere in the state. 

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In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, an exploding chemical plant and spikes in cancer-causing emissions are highlighting how little the public knows about potential dangers from the oil and chemical industries. Critics say one reason for the darkness: tons of campaign money.

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The floodwaters are beginning to recede, and Houstonians are preparing for a long road to recovery. Here's the latest. 

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Hundreds of new state laws go into effect Friday including a statewide texting-while-driving ban. But two other high-profile measures – one dealing with abortion, the other immigration – are currently blocked by federal injunctions.

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Tapping the Rainy Day Fund has always been a political hot potato, but a debate has already started over how much of the $10 billion fund the state should use for Harvey disaster relief.

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It’s been one week since Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast. While the rainfall may be in decline, the floodwaters are only beginning to recede. Here’s what you need to know. 

 

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A federal district judge on Wednesday ruled against the state of Texas and halted a controversial state-based immigration enforcement law just days before it was scheduled to go into effect.

 

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Stephanie Goodman, the Texas Department of Insurance’s deputy commissioner for public affairs, talks about what policyholders need to know about filing property damage claims before a new insurance law takes effect Friday.

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Hurricane Harvey may be on its last days in Texas, but the state — particularly Houston — has a long road to recovery ahead.

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A decision on whether Texas' state-based immigration enforcement, Senate Bill 4, will be put on hold could come later this week. But even if it's temporarily halted, the matter is far from over. 

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President Donald Trump was in Texas Tuesday to see the recovery efforts underway in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

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Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas Coast and left Houston — the nation's fourth-largest city — grappling with unprecedented flooding. Do you need help? Or do you want to help those in need? Check out these resources.

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A new law, set to take effect Friday, aims to crack down on frivolous insurance lawsuits. But House Bill 1774 also reduces the penalty fees that insurance companies face for late payments if the policyholder files a lawsuit.

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"I do not want you to run the risk of losing your life or [that of] a family member because you’re concerned about SB 4 or anything else,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Monday amid concerns a new immigration law will deter rescue efforts.

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In the hours before Hurricane Harvey hits Texas, some local leaders told residents to flee their homes, while others urged them to stay in place and wait out the storm. 

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You can request anything under the state’s Public Information Act. Whether that information is up for grabs, however, is a different story.

 

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Amid significant pressure to rein in spending at the University of Texas System, UT Chancellor Bill McRaven announced on Thursday that the system — which oversees UT-Austin and 13 other campuses across the state — is about to get a little bit smaller. 

 

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