Next year will mark the fifth legislative session in a row where Texas lawmakers have considered a statewide ban on smoking in public places. More than 100 Texas cities haven't waited for them, despite pushback from some businesses.

The Texas House hasn't held a contested record vote for speaker since 1975, but state Rep. Scott Turner aims to change that. Turner is looking to unseat House Speaker Joe Straus, who has held the office since 2009.

Lawmakers on Thursday chose $7 billion as an appropriate minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund in a meeting that took just a few minutes but will have far-reaching consequences.

Gov.-elect Greg Abbott wants to add $4 billion each year to build and maintain Texas roads, nearly closing the annual budget shortfall at the Texas Department of Transportation.

State Rep. Scott Turner, R-Frisco, and conservative radio show host Glenn Beck took turns criticizing House Speaker Joe Straus on Monday in the latest salvo in Turner's bid to unseat Straus.

Depending on your political leanings, the spending cap state lawmakers set this week was either too low, too high or just right. Regardless, the arcane measure could effectively block lawmakers from accessing billions of dollars in state revenue.

A rule change will allow the Texas Department of Transportation to move more quickly in lowering speed limits on particularly dangerous roads in the state's drilling regions in West and South Texas. 

The Legislative Budget Board approved another $86 million to continue heightened law enforcement at the border, though some questioned whether the funds could be better used elsewhere.

State leaders including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus have voted to set the state growth rate for the next two years at 11.68 percent, a move that will impact the budget lawmakers write in next year's session.

With the support of 80 percent of Texas voters, Proposition 1 is expected to add billions to the state highway fund without raising taxes or fees. For lawmakers, state officials and local stakeholders, now the real work begins.

Allies of both House Speaker Joe Straus and challenger Scott Turner are calling for a record vote in January when House lawmakers convene to elect their leader. Such a record vote hasn't occurred since 1975.

A state audit released Friday found weak oversight and some conflicts of interests at school districts that approve large property tax breaks for businesses.

A private company's plan to spend billions of dollars to develop a bullet train connecting Dallas and Houston has drawn strong support from the two cities. But reaction from communities along the 240-mile route has been mixed.

Twelve more Republican House members publicly pledged their support for House Speaker Joe Straus on Tuesday, making the path to victory for challenger Scott Turner exceedingly difficult.

California has stopped letting companies pay consultants a commission based on the size of tax cut and incentive packages they help land. Texas has no such restriction.