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Meet the 86th: A conversation with new Texas state Reps. Rhetta Bowers, Jessica Gonzalez and James Talarico, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith.

In this episode of our documentary series "Under the Dome," House and Senate leaders make their highly anticipated committee assignments — and one longtime lawmaker ends up in the doghouse.

Watch our interview with University of Texas System Chancellor James B. Milliken, moderated by Texas Tribune co-founder and CEO Evan Smith.

We're livestreaming our conversation with House Speaker Dennis Bonnen in Lake Jackson.

Meet the 86th: Watch our interview with new state Sens. Carol Alvarado, Pete Flores, Nathan Johnson and Beverly Powell, moderated by Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith.

There's a lot of work that goes on at the State Capitol even before lawmakers gavel in. This "Under the Dome" episode takes you through the behind-the-scenes start of the 86th Texas Legislature.

Watch our interview with Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, at the beginning of the 86th legislative session.

In the latest installment of our mini-documentary series, "Under the Dome," we chronicle the path state Rep. Dennis Bonnen took to become the next likely speaker of the Texas House.

It can and it has. Last year, Texas lawmakers voted to override several local ordinances with new statewide measures — including relaxing regulations for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

Texas is one of a handful of states that convenes its Legislature once every two years. And in Texas, a session lasts only 140 days.

And should Texans expect to give up more of their property to the government as border wall and high-speed train projects move forward?

Most states have ended straight-ticket, or “one-punch,” voting, but Texas kept it going — as long as it helped the majority party. The state is getting rid of it starting in 2020.