The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
State health officials appear to have taken up Republicans’ ongoing fight against Planned Parenthood by adopting guidelines that prohibit abortion-affiliated groups from getting state contracts to run abstinence education programs. Full Story
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Far more money is extracted from Texans in the form of state and local sales taxes, but property taxes are the source of more complaints. School taxes lead the list but account for a smaller share of the overall tax bill than 10 years ago. Full Story
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Following a legislative session in which lawmakers debated whether to cut property taxes, business taxes, sales taxes or a combination of the three, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an interest Wednesday in continuing the conversation. Full Story
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Fifty-seven years after his death, Lt. General Claire Lee Chennault, who oversaw the "Flying Tigers," will be honored at his Commerce birthplace with Texas' first state historical marker in Mandarin Chinese. Full Story
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A recent high-profile battle over funding therapy services for poor and disabled kids has been cast as budget-ax-wielding lawmakers against suffering children. But there's plenty at stake for some for-profit companies as well. Full Story
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Seeking to fight scandal-plagued Volkswagen alone, Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking two Texas counties to halt their lawsuits against the automaker. Full Story
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In Austin on Monday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn promoted federal legislation that would require mental health checks before denying anyone the ability to purchase firearms. Full Story
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Legislation that would have blocked public employees from paying union or association dues with paycheck deductions failed last session. But the Senate is reopening the issue, and it could play against a powerful House chairman up for reelection next year. Full Story
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Tune in to "God & Education" — the final part of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' personal religious beliefs played into abstinence education and school voucher debates in the 2015 Texas legislative session. Full Story
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Check out "God & Marriage" — part 4 of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' personal religious beliefs drove the same-sex marriage battle during the 2015 Texas legislative session. Full Story
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Check out "God & Life" — part 3 of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' personal faith guides the abortion fight in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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State leaders are sending a signal that lawmakers are going to continue walking the margins between church and state, and religion and politics, through another election and legislative cycle. Full Story
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In the Roundup: A textbook publisher agrees to change a caption related to the history of slavery, several Texas lawmakers explain how God guides their governance and a court will determine whether Rick Perry’s indictment should be dismissed. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Thursday began to detail interim charges for the Texas Senate, signaling he would like members to revisit some unfinished business from the most recent legislative session. Full Story
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Tune in to "God & Guns" — part 2 of our "God & Governing" documentary-style series — to see how lawmakers' religious beliefs played into the gun rights debate during the 2015 Texas Legislature. Full Story
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On 10/6, I talked about the future of criminal justice policy in Texas with Derek Cohen of the Center for Effective Justice; state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso; Douglas Smith of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition; and State Rep. James White, R-Woodville. Full Story
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A Texas A&M University study reveals just how closely petroleum activity appears to be linked to collisions on crowded, crumbling roads in rural South and West Texas. Full Story
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In the 2015 Texas legislative session, state lawmakers weren't shy about using their religious beliefs to defend their policymaking. Check out "God & Governing," our documentary series on the role lawmakers' personal faith played in their legislating. Full Story
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By the numbers, there are some federal and state legislative districts in Texas that can be considered competitive in November general elections. There just aren't many of them. Full Story
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a request from a coalition of abortion providers to take up their legal challenge to the state’s strict abortion restrictions. Full Story
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