State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017. 
Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune
<p>State Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo speaking about the special session with colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, during a Texas Tribune preview of the special session on July 19, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

Analysis: Texas House committee tries shock therapy on school finance

An eye-opening proposal to kill the local school property tax in order to force Texas lawmakers to build a new school finance system won unanimous approval Thursday from the House's tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. 

 
State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, announces that the Senate has agreed to a conference committee on House Bill 21, the school finance bill, on&nbsp;May 27, 2017.&nbsp;
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
<p>State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, announces that the Senate has agreed to a conference committee on House Bill 21, the school finance bill, on&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1960289258"><span class="aQJ">May 27, 2017</span></span>.&nbsp;</p>

The Brief: School finance legislation up for debate in the Texas House this morning

As the curtains on day 13 of the special legislative session close at the Texas Capitol today, the House is readying to debate a handful of proposals this morning aimed at reforming the state's school finance system. 

The Brief: School finance legislation up for debate in the Texas House this morning

State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, announces that the Senate has agreed to a conference committee on House Bill 21, the school finance bill, on&nbsp;May 27, 2017.&nbsp;
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
<p>State Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Houston, announces that the Senate has agreed to a conference committee on House Bill 21, the school finance bill, on&nbsp;<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1960289258"><span class="aQJ">May 27, 2017</span></span>.&nbsp;</p>

As the curtains on day 13 of the special legislative session close at the Texas Capitol today, the House is readying to debate a handful of proposals this morning aimed at reforming the state's school finance system. 

 

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When school’s out, rural Texas towns struggle to feed their hungry kids

Clara Crawford drives a van without air conditioning to pick up and drop off children at a summer meals program sponsored by the East Texas Food Bank. The food bank provides meals for kids at similar programs at more than 70 different sites.
<p><span>Clara Crawford drives a van without air conditioning to pick up and drop off children at a summer meals program sponsored by the East Texas Food Bank. The food bank provides meals for kids at similar programs at more than 70 different sites.</span></p>

In East Texas, 86-year-old Clara Crawford shuttles kids to a summer meal program at the local community center. In the Panhandle, Kay Calvert and a group of volunteers want to revive a similar program in tiny Quitaque. 

With retired teachers' health care at stake, legislators clash on fixes

David Hatcher is one of thousands of retired teachers poised to see large increases in state-run health care costs next January.
<p><span>David Hatcher is one of thousands of retired teachers poised to see large increases in state-run health care costs next January.</span></p>

The House and the Senate are figuring out whether they can compromise on exactly how to put $212 million into an underfunded health insurance program for retired teachers. Teachers say they'll take their frustration to the polls.

In Texas House, property tax proposals range from minor tweaks to abolishment

State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, speaks with his House colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, at a Texas Tribune events at the Austin Club on July 19, 2017.&nbsp;
<p>State Rep. Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler, speaks with his House colleagues Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston and Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, at a Texas Tribune events at the Austin Club on July 19, 2017.&nbsp;</p>

After a proposal to give a property tax exemption to Purple Heart recipients hit a snag on the House floor Monday, a committee considered a more radical idea: eliminating school district property taxes altogether.

Cornyn files bill to fund parts of wall, increase Border Patrol and ICE agents

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks at a conference hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation on Jan. 13, 2017, at the Sheraton Hotel in Austin, Texas.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn speaks at a conference hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation on Jan. 13, 2017, at the Sheraton Hotel in Austin, Texas.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday unveiled a $15 billion border-security bill. The Building America's Trust Act would fund parts of a wall or fence, add Border Patrol and ICE agents to current ranks, and punish "sanctuary" jurisdictions. 

 

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Senate speeds through the special session