The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
We've relaunched our Ethics Explorer on day one of the 84th legislative session to show you how elected officials' personal interests might conflict with the public interest. Take a look at incoming lawmakers, judges and members of the SBOE. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/EthicsExplorerUPdate2015.jpg)
Got your popcorn ready? The Texas Legislature opens its 84th 140-day regular session today at noon, with ceremonies, a little pomp and a skirmish or two. Here's a look at what's happening today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/25/capitolbuilding5.jpg)
A deputy from former Attorney General Greg Abbott's office will be running the Texas Department of Insurance, Gov. Rick Perry's office announced Monday. But he appears to just be a temporary replacement for outgoing Commissioner Julia Rathgeber. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/25/capitolbuilding7.jpg)
In his first official act as Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller granted full amnesty to cupcakes. Miller was seeking to reassure Texas parents that it's legal to bring cupcakes and other treats to school — and that he'll protect that right. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/UP9A0065.jpg)
State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, says Texas lawmakers shouldn't wait for the outcome of a sprawling school finance lawsuit to discuss changes to the state's public education funding system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/30/Jimmie-Don-Aycock.jpg)
At our 1/12 conversation, state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin — the chairs of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses — talked about what kind of lieutenant governor Dan Patrick will be. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/7C2A9917.jpg)
At our 1/12 conversation, state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin — the chairs of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses — talked about proposed gun legislation in the 84th session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/7C2A9889.jpg)
At our 1/12 conversation, state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin — the chairs of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses — talked about the likely fate of the two-thirds rule. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/7C2A9881.jpg)
Full video of my 1/12 conversation with state Sens. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, and Kirk Watson, D-Austin — the chairs of the Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/UP9A9903.jpg)
Here's video of Comptroller Glenn Hegar speaking Monday about the Biennial Revenue Estimate, the amount of revenue available for the Legislature to spend in the 2016-17 state budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_S3R7679HegarCU.jpg)
Another legislative session is starting, with a twist. Texans, accustomed to the same players in the same offices for years and years, will see something new as this unfolds: change. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/25/Capitolbuilding1_1.jpg)
With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/09/Brand_New_Day_copy.jpg)
The embattled agency on Friday promised reforms, after confirming a Tribune finding that an employee with ties to Commissioner Kyle Janek and ousted chief counsel Jack Stick has been pursuing his MBA at taxpayers' expense. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/D54H5618.jpg)
Two of three federal appeals judges hearing arguments on Texas' ban on same-sex marriages had tough questions for a state attorney's argument that marriage is a “subsidy” that the state has the right to grant and withhold. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/07/5thCircuit_copy.jpg)
This week in the Roundup: The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals weighs in on two Texas cases — one on the state's same-sex marriage ban and another on a provision of the state's new abortion law. Also, three special legislative elections result in runoffs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/010915_Roundup_Still.jpg)
If fans of Dr Pepper and the Fort Worth Zoo don't get it in gear, their chance to buy specialty license plates might soon be gone. The Houston Rockets are hanging by a thread. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/12/Four_Plates_Under_200_copy.jpg)
UPDATED: State or local government employees giving out same-sex marriage licenses would stop receiving their salaries under a bill filed Wednesday for the 84th legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/11/GayMarriage-Court.jpg)
A few days before the start of the 84th Legislature, Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick laid out a long list of issues he wants to see addressed in the coming session. Among those: maintaining an increased security presence at the Texas-Mexico border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DanPatrick.jpg)
The state Senate will start the next session by cutting as many as one third of its committees — and the members of those panels could be named weeks earlier than usual. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/07/2015ATPP131F.jpg)
Since the Texas Music Office was established a quarter-century ago, the division housed in the Texas governor's office has been run by Casey Monahan, a former music writer. But Gov.-elect Greg Abbott is letting him go. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/07/hqdefault.jpg)