The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas Senate took up its first two bills of the session on Tuesday: a wide-ranging ethics reform measure and a bill to punish local cities, counties and college campuses that act as sanctuary jurisdictions. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Tuesday decried as "bogus" a report indicating the potential economic impact that could result from the proposed "bathroom bill." Full Story
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With his calls to “drain the swamp,” President Trump has cast his election victory as a rebuke against career politicians. Now two Texas Republican leaders suggest that the timing is right to impose term limits on members of Congress. Full Story
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State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, announced plans Friday to raise public funds for Travis County after Gov. Greg Abbott canceled criminal justice grants over the county's new "sanctuary" policy. Full Story
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The Sandra Bland Act would address race, poverty, mental health and accountability in law enforcement and corrections, its author says. Full Story
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The Texas governor delivered his State of the State address to legislators this week, and he also made good on his pledge to cut funding to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott told Donald Trump's new Homeland Security secretary Wednesday that border security should be balanced with Texas' economic interests. Full Story
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A day after hearing from scientists begging them to remove controversial language from science standards that some say opens the door to creationism, State Board of Education members took a preliminary vote Wednesday to do the opposite. Full Story
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In his State of the Judiciary address Wednesday, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht discussed bail reform, the cost of legal expenses, mental health issues and a host of other topics. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature is primed to go, but this is going to be a session outside the limelight. The Texans are busy, but the spotlight is on the new administration in Washington, D.C. Full Story
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Participants in Tuesday's Texas Muslim Capitol Day were protected by a massive human circle made up of at least 1,000 supporters. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked lawmakers to immediately take on so-called "sanctuary cities," the state's broken child welfare system and a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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Before a joint session of the Texas House and Senate, Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to lay out his agenda for the session and designate some issues as emergency items. Watch our livestream beginning at 11 a.m. CST. Full Story
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Seventeen-year-olds can't vote, join the military or buy cigarettes or alcohol, but they're treated as adults in criminal cases in Texas. About 200 people rallied at the Capitol on Monday to change that. Full Story
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On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee scrutinized Department of Family and Protective Services budget requests while the House Workgroup on Child Protective Services floated a proposal to make the department a standalone agency. Full Story
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Sen. Larry Taylor on Monday filed Senate Bill 3, which pushes education savings accounts and tax credit scholarships to subsidize private school tuition and other education expenses. Full Story
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A Republican in the Texas House is pitching an alternative to the “bathroom bill,” saying he wants to focus more on local control than bathrooms. Full Story
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State Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, has been placed under the protection of the Texas Department of Public Safety after getting death threats following his filing of a bill to criminalize abortion in Texas. Full Story
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The debate over education savings accounts and other voucher programs is only peripherally about educating kids. It's really a debate about money. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's second State of the State speech is set for Tuesday — a chance for the governor to make his priorities known to a Legislature that has already made plans of its own. Full Story
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