The latest 85th Legislative Session news from The Texas Tribune.
Despite a new law allowing hunters to shoot feral hogs and coyotes from hot air balloons, many balloonists – citing logistical challenges – say they will not offer the activity. Full Story
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Hundreds of new state laws go into effect Friday including a statewide texting-while-driving ban. But two other high-profile measures – one dealing with abortion, the other immigration – are currently blocked by federal injunctions. Full Story
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The Collin County Republican said she is "looking forward to the next chapter of my life." Full Story
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From Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's announcement last summer that he would push for a bathroom bill to the bill's quite demise this month in the special session, this video will take you through the story of the intense political fight in 5 minutes. Full Story
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Founded in 2003 as a group of Houston-area pastors, the Texas Pastor Council has grown into a burgeoning statewide apparatus with eyes on someday becoming a nationwide force. Full Story
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In the Roundup: In the wake of the white nationalist rally in Virginia, Abbott weighs in on the removal of confederate statues, and Texas A&M blocks a similar rally from happening on campus. Full Story
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As lawmakers debated property tax reform, we asked Texans to give us their take on the state-vs.-local fight about regulating rising property tax bills. Here’s a look at the legislative debate and how some Texans feel about the proposed measures. Full Story
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Just two months after vetoing a bill aimed at restricting city rules on tree removal, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed a similar measure into law passed during a summer special session. Full Story
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After generating a heated statewide debate earlier this year, the Texas bathroom bill died in the special legislative session with little drama or fanfare. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature closed out the special session Tuesday night amid a stalemate on property tax reform, leaving unfinished Gov. Greg Abbott's top priority. Full Story
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The Texas House voted Tuesday to swallow a bitter pill and accept a version of a school finance bill that had $1.5 billion less in funding for schools than the lower chamber initially approved. Full Story
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A bill requiring doctors to obtain explicit patient permission for do-not-resuscitate orders will land on the governor's desk after the Senate voted to approve the measure Tuesday night. Full Story
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The day before the end of the special legislative session, the Tribune's Emily Ramshaw, Evan Smith, Ross Ramsey and Patrick Svitek talk to state Reps. Nicole Collier and Kevin Roberts about what got finished — and what didn't. Full Story
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Days after approving an amended version of a House bill on tree regulations, the Senate voted to reverse itself late Monday night, rolling back two amendments that House Speaker Joe Straus had rejected. Full Story
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House and Senate negotiators will have the next two days remaining in the current special legislative session to hammer out their differences on legislation tackling property taxes, school finance and other items still in play. Full Story
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Lawmakers moved closer Monday to giving some — but not all — Texans more say over the property taxes they must pay cities, counties and special-purpose districts each year. Full Story
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The Texas House and Senate tentatively passed each other’s priority school finance bills Monday, preparing to discuss potential compromises with two days left in the special session. Full Story
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The lower chamber wants to set the threshold requiring voter approval of some property tax collection increases at 6 percent. The Senate put the trigger at 4 percent. Full Story
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Legislation finally began reaching Gov. Greg Abbott's desk on Friday — with five days left in the special session — but there's still much progress to be made on Abbott's 20-item agenda. Full Story
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Legislation that would allow Texans to vote on whether cities in large counties can annex areas outside of their limits — a contentious issue that prompted a filibuster in May — got one step closer to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk Friday. Full Story
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