The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Starting Tuesday, community colleges across the state will permit licensed gun owners to carry concealed firearms in certain campus buildings. They've had a year to learn from the example of four-year schools — but they still face challenges all their own. Full Story
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The Travis County District Attorney's office has told state Rep. Dawnna Dukes it would drop corruption charges against her if she agrees to resign from office and agree to a drug and alcohol assessment by the end of business Tuesday. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Department of Public Safety Friday to retract its plans to begin charging local agencies for forensic testing. Full Story
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The Texas Senate is just about done passing bills on Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda, including the controversial "bathroom bill." Full Story
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When it comes to this summer's "bathroom bill," Texans with disabilities say they — like many transgender men and women — believe the Legislature is further complicating something that’s already difficult to navigate. Full Story
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State Rep. Sarah Davis will ask Gov. Greg Abbott to put ethics reform on the agenda of the ongoing special session and said focusing on ethics would restore trust in the Legislature at time when it's diminishing. Full Story
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The Texas House has given early approval to a bill that would allow property owners to plant new trees to offset municipal fees for tree removal on their land. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott has given the Texas Legislature 20 issues to tackle over a 30-day session, everything from bathroom regulations to local tree ordinances. We're tracking how lawmakers are progressing on each of those issues. Full Story
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The governor held the first of three scheduled meetings with Texas mayors on Wednesday — but there's no word yet on whether he'll meet with mayors from the state's five largest cities. Full Story
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A tweet by President Donald Trump asserting that transgender people would no longer be able to serve in the U.S. military garnered the support of at least one Texas official: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. Full Story
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The measure would allow citizens targeted by annexation to vote on city proposals. A similar bill died in the final moments of regular session debate. Full Story
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The Senate on Wednesday gave initial approval to legislation that would roll back local mobile phone ordinances that go beyond the recent statewide ban on texting while driving. Full Story
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Texas women would have to pay a separate health insurance premium to get coverage for non-emergency abortions under a bill passed by the Texas Senate. Full Story
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The Texas Senate has passed legislation that would end the state's practice of collecting membership dues for certain public employees who are members of labor unions and associations. Full Story
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The Texas Senate backed a bill that would bar some transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in schools and buildings overseen by local governments. The bill would also nix parts of local nondiscrimination ordinances. Full Story
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The House Ways and Means Committee spent hours discussing dozens of bills that collectively go far beyond the upper chamber’s major property tax bill poised to pass this week. Full Story
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In a news conference Tuesday, big-city police chiefs called on lawmakers to reject the “bathroom bill,” saying the measure is discriminatory and does not keep the public safe. Full Story
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The Texas Senate endorsed a bill allowing for property tax rate elections if revenues would exceed 4 percent of what what was taken in the year before. The House is slated to take up that matter and nearly three dozen other property tax and appraisal bills. Full Story
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Texas senators tentatively approved bills that would require physicians and facilities to do more detailed reporting on abortions — and fine those who do not comply. Full Story
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This summer's special session is a little like this spring's regular session, only in miniature. The Senate has big plans and is in a hurry. The House? Not so much. Full Story
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