With today's approval in the House, both chambers have now passed TxDOT Sunset bills. HB 2675, the House version of the sunset legislation, has at least one thing in common with the Senate's -- it rejected the call to have a single transportation commissioner running the department.

However, the House bill now changes the way the five commissioners are selected. An amendment by Rep. Joe Pickett (D-El Paso) calls for the Governor to appoint four from a list of nominees put forth by the House Speaker, with a fifth appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

The main bone of contention this afternoon was debate over continuing CDAs -- comprehensive development agreements, which are those public-private partnerships which allow for private companies to front the money for toll roads and similar projects. ...

Though he has previously expressed opposition to using the Rainy Day Fund, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst urged support of the Senate's version of the budget in a letter to Senators this afternoon. The letter came while Senators were caucusing on how to handle a procedural disagreement regarding a higher ed administration bill. ...

We provide the letter, verbatim, below:

Dear Senators: I deeply appreciate the hard work the Senate Finance Committee has done to write a very good Senate budget, which I strongly support. ...

During an otherwise speedy debate on a key higher ed administration bill, an unexpected amendment postponed it.

Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio) put forth "what is essentially Senate Bill 354" as an amendment -- the language of his campus concealed carry bill, the focus of some lengthy public hearings last month. ...

On the heels of an election that reacted strongly to the Obama Administration's agenda, several Texas legislators filed bills early in the session to take a bold stand for state's rights.

The bills and resolutions, most of which originated in the newly formed State Sovereignty Select Committee, attempt to wrangle control from the hands of the federal government. But with a little over a month to go before sine die, the fate of many of these bills is uncertain. We take a look at the progress of three of likely candidates for ink from the Governor's pen below.

A motion from Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) pushes the big House floor redistricting debate ahead a day from what was originally suggested -- from Tuesday to Wednesday. The deadline for amendments to be filed is 5 p.m. Monday.

Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) was concerned that by having some amendments filed hours prior to debate, those traveling back from Easter obligations may be at a disadvantage. "You're limiting the ability of certain members to participate," Dutton said, noting that on Monday several Christian members of the House would likely be headed back from family and religious activities in their district.

President Barack Obama, in a White House interview with Dallas' WFAA-TV, said Texas can thank federal assistance for its (relative) financial health.

In an interview with WFAA's Brad Watson (host of "Inside Texas Politics," on which LSR Editor Will Lutz regularly appears, by the way), the President answered a series of questions pertaining to the Lone Star State.

Flying the American flag on a flagpole. You'd think that any American (or Texan for that matter) who owns property could do that without fear of repression, right?

Apparently not, according to a bill sponsored by Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-Houston), addressing the practice of some home owners' associations (HOAs) in regulating how the flag ought to be flown. The legislative remedy sounds simple enough, as the bill (HB 2779) passed the House Business and Industry Committee unanimously on April 4. It is eligible to be debated on the House floor as early as tomorrow.

It's not often we hear House Democrats quoting the Bible, let alone the King James Version. Especially when it's cited within the pages of legislation.

Prior to passage of HCR 18 (115-17), one of Gov. Rick Perry's emergency items which calls for a federal balanced budget, an unsuccessful amendment to HCR 18 cited an abridged verse from the Old Testament Book of Daniel (Daniel 5:26-27). In context, the amendment accuses Texas Republican leaders of not having their own statewide house in order before asking the federal government to balance its budget.

The House is taking a lunch break following a morning of debate over SB 18 -- the long-awaited eminent domain reform bill.

So far it's been mostly discussion on easement rights and how to avoid potential legal trapdoors. But one amendment by Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) has property rights advocates and many House conservatives cheering.

With the federal budget nearing completion a major stickling point between state leaders and a Democratic Congressman from Austin is on the way toward being settled.

The federal budget no longer contains language holding back $830 million in education stimulus from the state of Texas.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's amendment would have withheld that $830 sum million unless Texas agrees to maintain current levels of education funding through the next biennium. The problem, Republicans immediately said, is that one Legislature cannot bind the next Legislature (or the will of the voters, for that matter), and such a promise cannot constitutionally be made. Doggett countered that the Legislature made such promises to secure 2009 stimulus funds. ...