For Dawnna Dukes, a lukewarm welcome from Travis County delegation
Dukes’ presence in the House is a sensitive topic for her colleagues in the Travis County delegation because of the 12-term Democrat’s legal issues. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, outside the Travis County Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center before being arraigned on Jan. 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Lawmakers can turn to a bag of tricks to balance state budget
With an official forecast that less money will be available, the next state budget is tight. The finance folks are looking for money to make it balance, but don't fret: They've got plenty of tax-avoiding, budget-balancing tricks in their bags. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Juvenile justice agency pushes back on claims of ineffectiveness
A Senate Finance committee workgroup has been tasked with exploring ways to improve the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as the agency defends itself from claims of inefficiency. Full Story
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![Detainees are moved from location to location within the Travis County Juvenile Detention Center in Austin, Texas, Monday, June 24, 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott blasts NFL for wading into "bathroom bill" debate
"The NFL needs to concentrate on playing football and get the heck out of politics," Gov. Greg Abbott told conservative radio host Glenn Beck. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott and the official NFL logo.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune/The National Football League -
Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys among artists speaking out against Texas bathroom bill
Singers and actors including Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper and Alicia Keys have signed onto an open letter asking Texas lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 6 and other anti-LGBT legislation recently filed at the state legislature. Full Story
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![Singer Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl LI between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons in Houston on Feb. 5, 2017.]()
Credit: Robert Seale/REUTERS -
Rainy Day Fund takes center stage at first House budget hearing
Budget writers in the Texas House are considering tapping the state's savings account because they have a lot less money at their discretion this session. Full Story
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![Longtime state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Katy, in the House Chamber on Feb. 9, 2017. Zerwas was named chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Trump target or not, Burton has carved unorthodox path
Sen. Konni Burton's Senate career has been marked by a willingness to go her own way. Full Story
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![New Texas Sen. Konni Burton, c, stands with other incoming Senators during the swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Capitol Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas House bills lay out some initial plans to overhaul CPS
Texas representatives have filed legislation to start an overhaul of the the state’s Child Protective Services, following a crisis that has left thousands of kids at risk. Full Story
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Credit: Chan Lone -
After Super Bowl, NFL raises prospect of Texas "bathroom bill" impacting future games
An NFL spokesman on Friday said "discriminatory" proposals signed into law would be taken into consideration in awarding future events. Full Story
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![New England Patriots' James White (R) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas, U.S., February 5, 2017.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Adrees Latif -
Texas parents: Help us understand your school choices
As we examine school choice proposals before the Legislature, The Texas Tribune wants to hear directly from families who would be affected by changing state and national policies. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Like the Texas Legislature at large, committee chairs are mostly white men
Most of the members of the Texas Legislature are white men — and so are the committee chairs. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus have assigned committee chairs for the 2017 Legislature.]()
Credit: Illustration by Tim Park / Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: Abbott and the $200 million bully pulpit
Talking — the bully pulpit, as Teddy Roosevelt called it — is one of the biggest powers available to a Texas governor. Greg Abbott is trying to trim the state budget with a speech. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes ethics reform and "sanctuary" cities bills (video)
Two of Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency items are already moving swiftly through the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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Nurse practitioners again push for independence
Multiple bills filed in the Texas Legislature are seeking to give certain Texas nurses independence from costly contracts with supervising physicians. Full Story
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![State Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-North Richland Hills, with State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, announcing the Coalition for Health Care Access that will work toward expanding access to health care in Texas this legislative session. Klick is introducing HB 1415 and SB 681 to remove outdated and costly regulatory barriers for APRN nurses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers mull their strategies as another abortion battle looms
Texas Democrats and abortion rights advocates are strategizing amid mounting worries over what the GOP-led Legislature and federal lawmakers may do in the coming months to further restrict access to the procedure. Full Story
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![State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, stands with House colleagues to announce the "Trust. Respect. Access." campaign for reproductive rights on Feb. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Rep. John Zerwas to head House Appropriations Committee
State Rep. John Zerwas is the Texas House's new Appropriations Committee chairman, and Rep. Dan Huberty is the new chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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![With less than a week before lawmakers convene, preparations are underway to welcome members of the state House of Representatives for the 85th session of the Texas Legislature.]()
Credit: John Jordan -
Analysis: Playing chicken with the “bathroom bill” in the Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature is having a hard time with the "bathroom bill." The Senate is trying to pull together the votes, and the House is trying to find some motivation. Both are waiting to see what the governor thinks. Full Story
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![Gov. Abbott delivers the State of the State address at the Capitol on Jan. 31, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Senate approves new UT System regents 29-0
The Texas Senate approved three new University of Texas System regents, even though some Democrats complained about the board's lack of diversity. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas legislators urged to "get it right" on child welfare at rally
Standing in front of the Capitol in 80-degree heat, attendees gathered at a rally sponsored by Child Protection Roundtable of Texas and the Texas Home Visiting Coalition urging legislators to make long awaited changes to how the state handles abused and neglected children. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, speaks at a rally in support of overhauling Texas' child welfare system in front of the state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 7, 2016.]()
Credit: Marissa Evans/Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate passes ethics reform
The Texas Senate passed a bill that would take pensions away from officials convicted of felonies and require lobbyists to disclose more of their wining and dining of lawmakers. Full Story
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![State Sen. Van Taylor, R-Plano, lays out SB 14, the Ethics Reform and Anti-Corruption Act, in the Texas Senate on Feb. 7, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
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