The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Budget negotiators will likely adopt the House's 2012-13 family planning budget, or something close to it. The House proposed $37 million for family planning funding, while the Senate proposed $99 million. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/garnet-christian.png)
The lead budget writers from the House and Senate answered questions about the budget they've agreed upon, admitting they don't have all of the details yet and saying they could vote on the final plan this coming weekend. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB9236.jpg)
State health officials can no longer use infant blood samples for non-approved purposes without parental consent, under a measure Senate lawmakers approved today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/030810babyfoot.jpg)
The state's family planning budget is getting increasingly thin. Budget conferees appear poised to go with the cheapest possible option for offering minimal family planning services, and a Medicaid program that provides screenings and contraception is circling the drain. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PlannedParenthood.jpg)
As the parents of Asher Brown watched, the Senate today unanimously approved a bill meant to prevent bullying in schools. If the House, as expected, approves some changes the Senate made to the measure, it will go to Gov. Rick Perry's desk for a final signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Asher_Photo_jpg_800x1000_q100.png)
Legislation on football helmet safety is one step closer to crossing the goal line after passing the Senate today nearly unanimously. Helmets are “the first line of defense” for football players, said Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, the senate sponsor of HB 675. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Helmets-5.jpg)
House and Senate negotiators agreed on spending on education, state salaries and benefits this morning and hope to have the final vote on the 2012-13 budget sometime this weekend. Full Story
A homeland security bill that was a major factor in whether the state’s sanctuary cities legislation — one of Gov. Rick Perry's emergency items — would be signed into law failed to get placed on a House calendar for this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/No-Arizona-Hate-In-Texas.jpg)
When it comes to congressional redistricting in Texas, inaction is louder than words. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2bf9f0df85a6287cbff6ba32b54e4b60/BD%20INC%20Brady%2001%202011)
Voters still want lawmakers to cut the budget, but they still oppose the major cuts in education and health and human services that cutting the budget requires, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RainyDayFundSpend.032.png)
For the latest installment of our unscientific survey of political and policy insiders, we asked some questions about the political atmosphere in Texas, about the job performance of leaders and institutions and about whether immigration is good or bad for the country right now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1.png){kind=logo}
The ideological partnership of the raucous Tea Party movement and fiscally conservative Texas Republicans has dominated the agenda of the state lawmaking session that is sputtering to an end. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fccf0fd7fb307e2fd89b2db787d18600/BD%20INC%20Tea%20Party%202010)
The media (and we do include ourselves, thanks) loves the sort of legislative or political story line that goes like a cliffhanger episode of a TV show. And the Lege always seems to provide at least one during the session. Will they finish in time? Will they fail and go into overtime? Full Story
Thousands of Texas students have been forced to put their college plans on hold as the Legislature, working on the state budget, determines what level of funding there will be for TEXAS Grants, the state's principal financial aid program for financially needy college students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_CollegeFunding_MS_1.jpg)
Where did the time go? Texas legislators are a mere nine days away from the end of the session and still have to finish work on several bills to finish up their budget for the two-year period that starts September 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2102a8c043d1024306a24f24dee84f94/BD%20INC%20Dewhurst%20Ogden%2006%202011)
Late Friday night, the Texas House tentatively approved a statewide ban on smoking in public places by a vote of 73-66. State Rep. Bryan Hughes, R-Marshall, explains why he voted against the measure. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Bryan_Hughes_R-Marshall.png)
Lawmakers may be getting to the congressional maps a little late, but state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chair of the Senate redistricting committee, says they're going to do everything they can until the very last minute to get as far as they can. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Kel_Seliger_R-Amarillo.png)
After days of debate, the House finally passed a key fiscal matters bill — Senate Bill 1811 — that raises necessary funds to balance the proposed budget. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1dca8436635fa7e8162403f8399301c0/BD%20INC%20PItts%2012%202011)
Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Capsized4_1.jpg)
Root and Galbraith on a Dallas billionaire's radioactive waste dump victory, Grissom on the passage of eyewitness ID reform, Hamilton on the old grudges bedeviling the debate over higher ed, Philpott on the status of congressional redistricting, Ramsey on Rick Perry's un-campaign for president, Ramshaw on why medical schools are the scorned children of the state's education budget, my session-wrap interview with three veteran Democrats, M. Smith on why Rob Eissler can't pass mandate relief for school districts and Stiles on who's giving what to which Texas candidates in 2011-12 congressional races: The best of our best content from May 16 to 20, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/052011_Tribweek.jpg)