CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>     <html class="no-js">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.texastribune.org:80/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/comments/","20150326155239","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1427385159"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Comments on “A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick” | The Texas Tribune</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/favicon.ico"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(e,n,t){function r(t){if(!n[t]){var o=n[t]={exports:{}};e[t][0].call(o.exports,function(n){var o=e[t][1][n];return r(o?o:n)},o,o.exports)}return n[t].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var o=0;o<t.length;o++)r(t[o]);return r}({QJf3ax:[function(e,n){function t(e){function n(n,t,a){e&&e(n,t,a),a||(a={});for(var u=c(n),f=u.length,s=i(a,o,r),p=0;f>p;p++)u[p].apply(s,t);return s}function a(e,n){f[e]=c(e).concat(n)}function c(e){return f[e]||[]}function u(){return t(n)}var f={};return{on:a,emit:n,create:u,listeners:c,_events:f}}function r(){return{}}var o="nr@context",i=e("gos");n.exports=t()},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],ee:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("QJf3ax")},{}],3:[function(e,n){function t(e){return function(){r(e,[(new Date).getTime()].concat(i(arguments)))}}var r=e("handle"),o=e(1),i=e(2);"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=window.NREUM);var a=["setPageViewName","addPageAction","setCustomAttribute","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","noticeError"];o(a,function(e,n){window.NREUM[n]=t("api-"+n)}),n.exports=window.NREUM},{1:12,2:13,handle:"D5DuLP"}],"7eSDFh":[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){if(r.call(e,n))return e[n];var o=t();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(e,n,{value:o,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),o}catch(i){}return e[n]=o,o}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],gos:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("7eSDFh")},{}],handle:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("D5DuLP")},{}],D5DuLP:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){return r.listeners(e).length?r.emit(e,n,t):(o[e]||(o[e]=[]),void o[e].push(n))}var r=e("ee").create(),o={};n.exports=t,t.ee=r,r.q=o},{ee:"QJf3ax"}],id:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("XL7HBI")},{}],XL7HBI:[function(e,n){function t(e){var n=typeof e;return!e||"object"!==n&&"function"!==n?-1:e===window?0:i(e,o,function(){return r++})}var r=1,o="nr@id",i=e("gos");n.exports=t},{gos:"7eSDFh"}],G9z0Bl:[function(e,n){function t(){var e=d.info=NREUM.info,n=f.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(e&&e.licenseKey&&e.applicationID&&n){c(p,function(n,t){n in e||(e[n]=t)});var t="https"===s.split(":")[0]||e.sslForHttp;d.proto=t?"https://":"http://",a("mark",["onload",i()]);var r=f.createElement("script");r.src=d.proto+e.agent,n.parentNode.insertBefore(r,n)}}function r(){"complete"===f.readyState&&o()}function o(){a("mark",["domContent",i()])}function i(){return(new Date).getTime()}var a=e("handle"),c=e(1),u=(e(2),window),f=u.document,s=(""+location).split("?")[0],p={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js"},d=n.exports={offset:i(),origin:s,features:{}};f.addEventListener?(f.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",o,!1),u.addEventListener("load",t,!1)):(f.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",r),u.attachEvent("onload",t)),a("mark",["firstbyte",i()])},{1:12,2:3,handle:"D5DuLP"}],loader:[function(e,n){n.exports=e("G9z0Bl")},{}],12:[function(e,n){function t(e,n){var t=[],o="",i=0;for(o in e)r.call(e,o)&&(t[i]=n(o,e[o]),i+=1);return t}var r=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;n.exports=t},{}],13:[function(e,n){function t(e,n,t){n||(n=0),"undefined"==typeof t&&(t=e?e.length:0);for(var r=-1,o=t-n||0,i=Array(0>o?0:o);++r<o;)i[r]=e[n+r];return i}n.exports=t},{}]},{},["G9z0Bl"]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","queueTime":0,"licenseKey":"8636ab2091","agent":"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-632.min.js","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUgleF1FdRRkSQl8RUFQVHhVdVkZEW3VfDU1UCEQnUUdQXg0=","applicationID":"452513","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","applicationTime":291}</script> <meta name="title" content="Comments on ?A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick? | The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="keywords" content=""/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/comments/"/> <meta property="twitter:url" content="http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/comments/"/> <meta property="og:title" content="A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick, by Aman Batheja, Morgan Smith and Becca Aaronson"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Here's a breakdown of House Bills 1-20 and Senate Bills 1-20, providing a window into where House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are placing their priorities for the 84th legislative session."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/20/StrausPatrick_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg"/>  <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://use.typekit.com/brb4jmm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <link href="https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089/" rel="publisher"/> <link rel="canonical" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/css/2c1c9bbe6a0c.css" type="text/css"/>  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239cs_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/css/story_base.css"> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-9827490-1', 'texastribune.org'); ga('require', 'displayfeatures'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <script>// var tt = tt || {}; tt.debug = false; tt.media_url = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/'; tt.facebook = {appId: '154122474650943'}; // Doubleclick integration tt.ads = { // targeting: {}, // addTarget: function(key, value) { if (typeof key === 'undefined'){ // get all attrs return tt.ads.targeting; } else { // set attr tt.ads.targeting[key] = value; } } }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jquery/1.7.2/jquery.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8.18/jquery-ui.min.js"></script> <script>window.jQuery.ui || document.write('<script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/jqueryui/jquery-ui-1.8.18.min.js"><\/script>')</script> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/vendor/modernizr/modernizr.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var tt = tt || {}; tt.currentPage = tt.currentPage || {}; var shortenedHash = '1I6FvX6'; tt.currentPage.canonicalUrl = '/2015/03/23/patrick\u002Dand\u002Dstraus\u002Dtop\u002D20\u002Dpriority\u002Dbills/'; var authorTwitterAccounts = ['']; tt.currentPage.authors = [ "Becca Aaronson" ]; tt.currentPage.authorsText = "Aman Batheja, Morgan Smith and Becca Aaronson"; tt.currentPage.sections = [ "article" ]; tt.currentPage.sections.push("FRONT PAGE"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("GOVERNMENT"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("RACE \u0026 IMMIGRATION"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("HEALTH \u0026 HUMAN SERVICES"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("LAW \u0026 ORDER"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("Legislature"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("POLITICS"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("Public Education"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("ENERGY \u0026 ENVIRONMENT"); tt.currentPage.sections.push("TRANSPORTATION"); </script> </head> <body class="story responsive"> <script type="text/javascript"> var _qevents = _qevents || []; (function() { var elem = document.createElement('script'); elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://secure" : "https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js"; elem.async = true; elem.type = "text/javascript"; var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <div class="wrapper-r"> <div id="site_roofline" style="position:relative;"> <div class="hide-for-mobile large_ad_container"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-only"> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline1_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline2_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline3_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> <div class="ad adunit mobile" data-dimensions="300x100" data-adunit="_TexasTribune_Site_Roofline4_ATF_Leaderboard_300x100"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="greeting"> <ul> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/" title="Register for your free Texas Tribune account">Register</a> </li> <li class="last"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> </li> </ul> </div> <header id="site_header"> <nav class="navbar primary"> <ul> <li class="hide-for-mobile navbar-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input id="site_search_q" name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..."> <button type="submit" aria-label="Submit"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </form> </li> <li class="active hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="dropdown-toggle" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/"> Front Page </a> <div class="mega-dropdown grid" id="sections"> <div class="cell w-3 tab_nav_cell"> <ul id="sidemenu" class="tab-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="sections-tab-container" class="cell w-9 tab_container" data-content-resource="/esi/components/megadropdown/"> <div style="padding: 1em; font-family: 'LeagueGothicRegular'; font-size:2.1em; color: #999; ">Loading...</div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/"> Data </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/"> Directory </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/events/"> Events </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a class="multimedia" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/"> Multimedia </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/subscribe/"> Subscriptions </a> <ul class="dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.tribtalk.org/"> TribTalk </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li class="hide-for-mobile"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> <li class="mobile-only active dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Menu<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/">Front Page</a> </li> <li> <a class="data" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/">Data</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://txlege.texastribune.org/" title="84th Lege Session landing page"> 84th Lege </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/multimedia/">Multimedia</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/">Livestream</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/tribpedia/the-brief/">The Brief</a></li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/texas-weekly/">Texas Weekly</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/edu/">Trib+Edu</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/health/">Trib+Health</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/plus/water/">Trib+Water</a></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.tribtalk.org/">TribTalk</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/tribinvestigates/" title="Trib Investigates"> Investigations </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2016/" title="2016 Presidential Elections"> 2016 </a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="#"> Sections<i class="icon-caret-down"></i> </a> <ul class="mobile-dropdown"> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="mobile-only dropdown-toggle"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"><i class="icon-search"></i></a> <div class="mobile-dropdown mobile-search"> <form method="get" action="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/search/"> <input name="q" type="text" value="" placeholder="SEARCH"> <button type="search" alt="Do Search"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> </div> </li> <li class="mobile-only active" id="mobi_join"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/join/"> Support Us </a> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="ad last"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/join/" title="Contribute Today" style="display: block; padding-top: .5em"> <div style="background:url(//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/membership/TT-supportus-flag.png) no-repeat; width: 120px; height:60px; background-size: 120px 60px;"></div> </a> </div> <div class="below_nav"> <h1 id="logo"><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/common/images/logo.png" width="453" height="50" alt="The Texas Tribune"></a></h1> <time datetime="2015-03-26T10:52:38.996166">Thursday, March 26, 2015</time> </div> </header> </div> <div class="wrapper content-wrapper"> <div id="site_content" class="content "> <div class="grid"> <div class="cell w-8 main_column"> <article> <header> <h1><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/">A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick</a></h1> <ul class="meta separator"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a>, <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> and <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a></li><li><time datetime="Mon, 23 Mar 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-03-23 06:00"> March 23, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/comments/"><span class="value">13</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </header> <aside> <ul class="social_links"> <li class="comment"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/comments/" title=""> <i class="icon-comments-alt"></i> <span>Comment</span> </a> </li> <li class="republish"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/content/republish/83890/"> <i class="icon-share"></i> <span>Republish</span> </a> </li> <li class="email"> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#49763a3c2b232c2a3d741d212c6c7b791d2c31283a6c7b791d3b202b3c272c736c7b79086c7b79052626226c7b79283d6c7b793d212c6c7b79193b20263b203d306cX20Bills%20for%20Straus%20and%20Patrick&body=I%20read an article%20that%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20at%20The%20Texas%20Tribune:%20A%20Look%20at%20the%20Priority%20Bills%20for%20Straus%20and%20Patrick%2C%20by%20Aman Batheja, Morgan Smith and Becca Aaronson.%20http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/%0DHere%27s%20a%20breakdown%20of%20House%20Bills%201-20%20and%20Senate%20Bills%201-20%2C%20providing%20a%20window%20into%20where%20House%20Speaker%20Joe%20Straus%20and%20Lt.%20Gov.%20Dan%20Patrick%20are%20placing%20their%20priorities%20for%20the%2084th%20legislative%20session." title="" class="email"> <i class="icon-envelope"></i> <span>Email</span> </a> </li> <li class="twitter"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://twitter.com/share?text=A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick&url=http://trib.it/1I6FvX6&via=TexasTribune&related=TexasTribune,TribData"> <i class="icon-twitter"></i> <span>Tweet</span> </a> </li> <li class="facebook"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/"> <i class="icon-facebook"></i> <span>Recommend</span> </a> </li> </ul> </aside> <div class="content"> <p>Along with their bully pulpits and control over the legislative process, Lt. Gov. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/dan-patrick/">Dan Patrick</a> and House Speaker <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/joe-straus/">Joe Straus</a> have another valuable weapon in their efforts to influence the legislative session: low bill numbers.</p> <p>While most bill numbers are assigned sequentially based on when they are filed, the speaker and the lieutenant governor traditionally award the lowest bill numbers to measures they view as priorities.</p> <p>With the first half of the legislative session in the rearview mirror, here’s a look at Senate Bills 1-20 and House Bills 1-20. This legislation provides a window into where Patrick and Straus ...</p> <p><a id="content_more" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/" class="more" title="Read full story">Full Story</a></p> </div> </article> <div id="comment_policy"> <header class="smallcaps"> <h1>Comment Policy</h1> </header> <p> The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts. </p> <p class="anonymous_message"> <strong>You must be logged in to leave a comment.</strong> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/login/?next=">Login</a> <script> (function(){ var allScripts = document.getElementsByTagName('script'), currentScript = allScripts[allScripts.length - 1], node = currentScript; while (node = node.previousSibling) { if (node.nodeName == "A"){ node.href += document.location.pathname; break; } }; })(); </script> | <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/accounts/register/">Sign-Up</a> </p> </div> <section id="comments_container" class="sidebar_block"> <header> <h1>Comments (13)</h1> </header> <ul class="comments"> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 7:35 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> John Barrera </span> </p> <p class="comment">Straus just watching out for himself and what's left of his group of thugs.<br/><br/>Sad that half of our legislature is burdened by a leadership whose two main characteristics are sloth and corruption. <br/></p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 8:16 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> T D </span> </p> <p class="comment">Saying that Patrick's bill is concerned with ethics is like calling cancer a matter of good health.<br/><br/>Yes, it relates to good health, but not in the way you'd want it to.<br/><br/>In straining for objectivity, the journalists here colluded with Patrick and his aims. </p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 8:41 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> John Barrera </span> </p> <p class="comment">TD ...<br/>You really should take your meds before writing. <br/><br/></p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 11:06 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> James Davidson </span> </p> <p class="comment">Great job on giving a comprehensive summary of what's going on in the Legislature! </p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 11:08 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> T D </span> </p> <p class="comment">My point is this, John: <br/><br/>Patrick's bill will mean that no ethics violation by a Texas politician will ever be punished.<br/><br/>Thus the Tribune reporters should have created a separate category for it. Perhaps under "Corruption"?</p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 1:42 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> Adele Roberson </span> </p> <p class="comment">http://libertyalliance.com/oba...<br/><br/>When you read the Posts.. just think what a really nice bunch of people these Christians are. NOT!</p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000764575098"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/100000764575098/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 2:08 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000764575098">Mimi Miller</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">The people are concerned why Texas is requiring the least of us to move for safe access to medical cannabis. Texas is 20 years behind in medicine this year. With the discovery of the endocannaboid system and more than 500 compounds to assist with bodily functioning @ the cellular level Texan's still do not have safe access! HB2165 addresses this issue. To heal every living creature at the cellular level! It's what we have all been waiting for all our lives! God gave us the seed!! Over 500 compounds and 4000 species and counting, nothing but perfect proteins, omega's, magnesium, fiber and other benefits. Texas the world leading transportation hub of the planet we must address Freedom of Choice issues of an international level, no longer our little piece of Texas we now belong to the planet. Texas home to International Airports Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso. We can no longer ignore our place. We must support repeal of prohibition or we will<br/>lose our international standing. Many people already avoid Texas.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1756045290"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/1756045290/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 2:32 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1756045290">Carl Fant</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Yup. We're fucked.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=798851669"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/798851669/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 4:37 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=798851669">David Theis</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Joe Strauss has no handgun legislation scheduled. I've never felt so grateful to a Republican</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 7:34 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> WUSRPH </span> </p> <p class="comment">TAX DAY COMING:<br/>A week after the committee voted them out, Sen. Nelson has finally filed the paper work to <br/>official report SJR 1 and SB 1, her "property tax relief" measures back to the House. She has placed them on the Intent Calendar. Also on the Intent Calendar are SB 7 & SB 8, the franchise tax measures that make up the rest of Lt. Gov. Patrick's tax relief package. The presence of all the measures on Intent at the same time backs up the reports that Patrick plans a "Tax Day" this week at which time he expects the Senate to pass all four measures. That cannot be Tuesday, as it is only the first time on the Intent Calendar for SJR 1, SB 1 and SB 7 and they must appear twice on the list before they are eligible for a vote. This suggests Wednesday, but I think Thursday is more likely as it will the Senate to finish out a week of work with a big splash.<br/><br/>Looking at one part of the committee substitute for SJR 1 suggests that Sen. Nelson may be discounting the likelihood that the legislature will also pass the proposed tighter spending cap found in SJR3 which is pending in Senate Finance. I say that because the language she had included in the substitute to allow spending for the property tax relief to sidestep the spending cap ONLY APPLIES to the way the cap is currently implemented. This means that either she does not expect the tighter cap to pass or that her proposal will have to be further amended to implement the cap exemption should SJR 3 also be enacted.<br/></p> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=801200222"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/801200222/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 9:23 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=801200222">Victor L. Hernandez DelaParra</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Dan Patrick is a disgusting individual.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1407112905"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/1407112905/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 23 @ 9:39 p.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1407112905">Travis McCoy</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">Dan Patrick just looks like a derp.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> <li> <div class="comment_author_image"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003151881020"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://graph.facebook.com/100003151881020/picture?type=square"/> </a> </div> <div class="comment_body"> <div class="comment_time"> March 24 @ 6:15 a.m. </div> <p class="byline"> <span class="author"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003151881020">David McPeak</a> </span> via <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837">Texas Tribune on Facebook</a> </p> <p class="comment">And tucked away in this list of bills is another attempt at voucherizing schools.</p> <ul class="actions clearfix"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/posts/10153101341320837"><span>+</span> Reply</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> </li> </ul> </section> </div> <div class=" rail cell w-4 hide-for-medium-down"> <section class="trib_newsletter"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://texastribune.us3.list-manage2.com/subscribe/post?u=3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db&id=68501b81bf" method="post" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" class="validate" target="_blank" novalidate> <header> <h2>Sign Up for The Brief</h2> </header> <p>Our daily news summary</p> <div class="mc-field-group nowrap"> <input type="email" value="" name="EMAIL" class="input_neue required email" id="mce-EMAIL" placeholder="enter your email here"> <input type="submit" value="Submit" name="subscribe" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" class="btn_neue"> </div> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"><input type="text" name="b_3d0ce87edeeb6df90043897db_68501b81bf" tabindex="-1" value=""></div> </form> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_ATF_RightRail1_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sidebar_block content_list"> <header> <h1>New on the Trib</h1> </header> <dl> <dt> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/ethics-bills-draw-ire-conservative-activists-lawye/">Ethics Bills Draw Ire of Conservative Activists' Lawyers</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 26 Mar 2015 07:37:16 -0500" title="2015-03-26 07:37"> March 26, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/ethics-bills-draw-ire-conservative-activists-lawye/comments/"><span class="value">2</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://apps.texastribune.org/blood-lessons/">Blood Lessons: An Investigation Into Refinery Deaths</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a>, <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a>, Mark Collette and Lise Olsen </li><li><time datetime="Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-03-26 06:00"> March 26, 2015 </time></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/texas-counties-cities-among-fastest-growing-us/">Texas Counties, Metros Among Fastest-Growing in U.S.</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-03-26 06:00"> March 26, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/texas-counties-cities-among-fastest-growing-us/comments/"><span class="value">1</span><span class="label">Comment</span></a></li></ul> </dd> <dt> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/senate-lawmakers-hear-private-school-voucher-bills/">Long Legislative Road for Voucher Bills Starts Thursday</a> </dt> <dd> <ul class="meta short separator relative-time"><li class="byline"> by <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a></li><li><time datetime="Thu, 26 Mar 2015 06:00:00 -0500" title="2015-03-26 06:00"> March 26, 2015 </time></li><li class="comments"><a class="comments" href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/26/senate-lawmakers-hear-private-school-voucher-bills/comments/"><span class="value">40</span><span class="label">Comments</span></a></li></ul> </dd> </dl> </section> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail2_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> <aside id="the_most" class="featurebox "> <header class="featurebox-header"> <h1><span>The</span>Most</h1> </header> <div class="featurebox-content tabs ui-tabs"> <ul class="ui-tabs-nav"> <li class="most_shared"> <a href="#most_shared">Shared</a> </li> <li class="most_viewed"> <a href="#most_viewed">Viewed</a> </li> <li class="most_commented"> <a href="#most_commented">Commented</a> </li> </ul> <div id="most_shared" class="ui-tabs-panel"> <div class="fb_like_box"> <fb:recommendations site="texastribune.org" data-action="like" width="310" height="260" header="false" border_color="#fff"></fb:recommendations> </div> </div> <div id="most_viewed" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/greg-abbott-scott-walker-tour-mexico-texas-border/">Greg Abbott, Scott Walker to Tour Texas-Mexico Border</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/daughters-republic-texas-sues-land-office/">Daughters of the Republic of Texas Sue Land Office</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/report-smarter-lawn-watering-means-big-water-savin/">Report: Smart Lawn Watering Could Save Big</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/sources-greg-fenves-next-president-ut-austin/">Sources: Regents Set to Name Fenves Head at UT-Austin</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/patricks-tax-cut-package-proves-divisive/">Patrick's Tax Cut Package Triggering Debate</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/republicans-vow-continue-fight-against-gay-marriag/">Republicans Vow to Continue Fight Against Gay Marriage</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/budget-writers-send-2098-billion-budget-house-floo/">$209.8 Billion Budget Plan Headed to House Floor</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills/">A Look at the Priority Bills for Straus and Patrick</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/directory/">Elected Officials Directory</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/republicans-call-end-toll-roads-capital-rally/">Lawmakers Call for End to Toll Roads at Capitol Rally</a> </li> </ol> </div> <div id="most_commented" class="ui-tabs-panel ui-tabs-hide"> <ol> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/republicans-vow-continue-fight-against-gay-marriag/">Republican Leaders Vow to Continue Fight Against Gay Marriage</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/25/video-kay-bailey-hutchison-endorses-jeb-bush/">Video: Kay Bailey Hutchison Will Endorse Jeb Bush for President</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/24/senate-committee-advances-denton-fracking-bill/">Senate Committee Advances "Denton Fracking Bill"</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/cruz-lays-out-vision-presidential-run/">Cruz Lays Out Vision for Presidential Run</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/23/analysis-presidential-candidate-one-race-behind-hi/">Analysis: Anonymous 3 Years Ago, Now a Presidential Candidate</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <footer class="clearfix featurebox-footer"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="200x38" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_TheMostWidget_Bottom_Text_200x38"> </div> </footer> </aside> <section class="ad_container sidebar_block"> <div class="sponsor_image_holder"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="300x250" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_BTF_RightRail3_MediumRectangle_300x250"> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wrapper-r"> <footer id="site_footer" class="wrapper-r"> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="728x90" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryLanding_BTF_Footer_Leaderboard_728x90"> </div> </div> <div id="footer" class="grid"> <dl id="staff_writers" class="cell w-3"> <dt>Writers</dt> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/becca-aaronson/">Becca Aaronson</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/julian-aguilar/">Juli谩n Aguilar</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/christine-ayala/">Christine Ayala</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/aman-batheja/">Aman Batheja</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/bobby-blanchard/">Bobby Blanchard</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/annie-daniel/">Annie Daniel</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/justin-dehn/">Justin Dehn</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rodney-gibbs/">Rodney Gibbs</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/eva-hershaw/">Eva Hershaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/john-jordan/">John Jordan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/terri-langford/">Terri Langford</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/abby-livingston/">Abby Livingston</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/corrie-maclaggan/">Corrie MacLaggan</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jim-malewitz/">Jim Malewitz</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-mccrimmon/">Ryan McCrimmon</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jolie-mccullough/">Jolie McCullough</a> </dd> </div> <div class="cell w-6"> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ayan-mittra/">Ayan Mittra</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ryan-murphy/">Ryan Murphy</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-muto/">David Muto</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/david-pasztor/">David Pasztor</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/emily-ramshaw/">Emily Ramshaw</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/reynolds-john/">John Reynolds</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/rocha-alana/">Alana Rocha</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jay-root/">Jay Root</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/neena-satija/">Neena Satija</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/evan-smith/">Evan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/morgan-smith/">Morgan Smith</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/patrick-svitek/">Patrick Svitek</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/alexa-ura/">Alexa Ura</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edgar-walters/">Edgar Walters</a> </dd> </div> </dl> <div id="footer_topics" class="cell w-3"> <h6>Sections</h6> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/economy/" data-section="economy"> Economy </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/education/" data-section="education"> Education </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/energy-and-environment/" data-section="energy-and-environment"> Energy & Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/government/" data-section="government"> Government </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/health-and-human-services/" data-section="health-and-human-services"> Health & Human Services </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/law-and-order/" data-section="law-and-order"> Law & Order </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/people/" data-section="people"> People </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/politics/" data-section="politics"> Politics </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/race-and-immigration/" data-section="race-and-immigration"> Race & Immigration </a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/transportation/" data-section="transportation"> Transportation </a></li> </ul> </div> <dl id="offsite_outlets" class="cell w-3"> <dt>TT Social Media</dt> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external"><span class="favicon facebook"></span>Facebook</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external"><span class="favicon twitter"></span>Twitter</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune" title="YouTube" class="external"><span class="favicon youtube"></span>YouTube</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external"><span class="favicon instagram"></span>Instagram</a> </dd> <dd> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external"><span class="favicon linkedin"></span>LinkedIn</a> </dd> <dd class="hidden"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://plus.google.com/116406259333166116089" class="external" rel="publisher">Google+</a> </dd> </dl> <ul id="footer_nav" class="cell w-3"> <li>© 2015 The Texas Tribune</li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/privacy/" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb92958a8e9289929e88bb8f9e839a888f8992998e959ed594899c" title="Contact Us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/feeds/" title="Feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/mobile/" title="Mobile">Mobile</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/advertise/" class="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/signup/" title="Newsletter Signup">Newsletter Signup</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20150326155239/http://www.texastribune.org/donate/" title="Donate" class="donate">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </footer> </div> <div class="hide-for-medium-down"> <div class="ad adunit tablet standard" data-dimensions="1x1" data-adunit="TexasTribune_Content_StoryPage_Invisible_1x1"> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/COMPRESSED/js/38cc1e8308b2.js"></script> <script> tt.ads.addTarget("content", "story"); tt.ads.addTarget("slug", "patrick-and-straus-top-20-priority-bills"); tt.ads.addTarget("tribpedia", ["dan-patrick", "lieutenant-governor", "texas-senate", "joe-straus", "speaker-of-the-house", "texas-legislature", "texas-house-of-representatives", "84th-legislature"]); tt.ads.addTarget("sections", ["front-page/", "government/", "race-and-immigration/", "health-and-human-services/", "law-and-order/", "government/legislature/", "politics/", "education/public-education/", "energy-and-environment/", "transportation/"]); try { tt.ads.addTarget("is_member", "no"); tt.ads.addTarget("logged_in", "no"); var tt = tt || {}; tt.username = ''; } catch(e) {} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> window._tpm = window._tpm || []; window._tpm['paywallID'] = '36783210'; window._tpm['trackPageview'] = true; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://code.tinypass.com/tpl/d1/tpm.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=ra-53beb39e1b9725fb"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://s3.amazonaws.com/scripts.hellobar.com/a0b14295d377f4052f6c446d03d05e4b4b935f91.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150326155239js_/http://bit.ly/javascript-api.js?version=latest&login=texastribune&apiKey=R_6f6057d6b4eb2cded750a1bfde821d16"></script> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _qevents.push( { qacct:"p-f74d4O38hiiiM"} ); </script> <noscript> <div style="display: none;"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-f74d4O38hiiiM.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/> </div> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_async_config={}; /** CONFIGURATION START **/ _sf_async_config.uid = 14324; _sf_async_config.domain = 'texastribune.org'; if (window.tt && tt.currentPage) { if (tt.currentPage.sections) { _sf_async_config.sections = tt.currentPage.sections.join(','); } if (tt.currentPage.authors) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authors.join(','); } else if (tt.currentPage.authorsText) { _sf_async_config.authors = tt.currentPage.authorsText; } } /** CONFIGURATION END **/ (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20150326155239/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script> (function() { jQuery.scrollDepth(); })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ (function(){try{var s,a,i,j,r,c,l=document.getElementsByTagName("a"),t=document.createElement("textarea");for(i=0;l.length-i;i++){try{a=l[i].getAttribute("href");if(a&&a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection") > -1 && (a.length > 28)){s='';j=27+ 1 + a.indexOf("/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection");if (a.length > j) {r=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16);for(j+=2;a.length>j&&a.substr(j,1)!='X';j+=2){c=parseInt(a.substr(j,2),16)^r;s+=String.fromCharCode(c);}j+=1;s+=a.substr(j,a.length-j);}t.innerHTML=s.replace(/</g,"<").replace(/>/g,">");l[i].setAttribute("href","mailto:"+t.value);}}catch(e){}}}catch(e){}})(); /* ]]> */ </script> </body> </html>