HHSC Commissioner Kyle Janek (State of Texas)

This Sunday on KXAN’s “In Session, In-depth,” Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek discusses the Women’s Health Program, the state’s Medicaid situation and lawmakers’ health care budget challenges.

Plus, Corrie MacLaggan of Reuters, Emily Ramshaw of the Texas Tribune, and Texas Medical Association President-elect Stephen Brotherton, M.D., weigh in Gov. Rick Perry’s State of the State and his legislative vision for Texans’ health.

Join us for “In Session, In-depth” this Sunday morning at 8:30 on KXAN News.

Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio (Texas House of Representatives)

On Thursday, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, released his list of committees assignments for the 83^rd Regular Legislative Session. Five Central Texas lawmakers secured leadership posts:

• Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin – Culture, Recreation & Tourism (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin – Administration (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin – Public Health (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs – Rules & Resolutions (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels – Special Purpose Districts (Vice Chair)

“These are charges that I take very seriously as the critical work of these committee will have an impact on the entire state and obviously in the Texas Hill Country, as well,” said Miller. “ I will help see to it that protecting private property rights, our state’s vital natural resources, and doing what is right for Texas will be priority components of our collective agenda.”

Central Texas members of the influential House Appropriations Committee – the budget writers – include:

• Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin
• Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin
• Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock

“I look forward to supporting (Speaker Straus’s) goals of properly and transparently funding government’s core responsibilities while meeting the challenges of robust population growth,” Howard said. “I intend to be an effective advocate on the committee for restoring funds to public education and family planning programs that were so dramatically cut last session.

This list shows Central Texas lawmakers increased their power in the House this session. Last regular session, the delegation filled one less leadership role:

• Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin – Administration (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin – Joint Committee on Aging (Chair)
• Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin – Public Health (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Doug Miller, R-New Braunfels – Joint Committee on Oversight of Edwards Aquifer (Co-chair)

Inside the State of the State address Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 (Josh Hinkle/KXAN)

Tuesday’s State of the State could determine the state of Rick Perry’s political future for years to come. The speech will launch his seventh legislative session as governor and indicate how likely it would be to make another run for this office or possibly another stab at leading the nation as president.

The address is at 11 a.m. Tuesday during a joint session of the House and Senate. This is a chance for Perry to lay out the issues he wants state lawmakers to tackle in the current legislative session. So far, he has mentioned:

• Tax relief, based on billions in the state’s surplus
• Infrastructure and energy improvements, possibly using the rainy day fund for water supplies
• Making the small business tax exemption permanent
• Controlling college tuition, in an effort to bolster the state’s workforce
• Drug screening welfare applicants
• Expanding the ban on abortion, based on the pain felt by the fetus

Perry has not ruled out running for either office, though he has indicated he would wait to make any announcement until after the session. But after a year of very public campaign stumbles, people will be watching closely to see if he has the ability to bounce back.

Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin (Courtesy: Texas Senate)

This Sunday on KXAN’s “In Session, In-depth,” State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin talks about the need for transportation funding and Democrats’ statewide chances for the future.

Plus, Ben Wear of the Austin-American Statesman, Brandi Grissom of the Texas Tribune, and Robert Garrett of the Dallas Morning News weigh in on gun legislation and infrastructure challenges in the budget.

Join us for “In Session, In-depth” this Sunday morning at 8:30 on KXAN News.

In case you’re keeping count this Texas Legislative Session, here’s a look at the total number of filed legislation, so far. By Day 14 of 140, it’s definitely adding up, but lawmakers still have a long way to go to hit their final tally last session.

83^rd Regular Session To-date – 949

• Bills – 748
• Resolutions – 201

82^nd Regular Session Final Total – 10,315

• Bills – 5,796
• Resolutions – 4,519

Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples

This Sunday on KXAN’s “In Session, In-depth,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples talks about legislative proposals to address the state’s water infrastructure concerns, plus his take on the future of border security in Texas.

Plus, Peggy Ficak of the San Antonio Express-News, Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune, and Karen Brooks of the Dallas Morning News/Community Impact take part in our roundtable, weighing in on lawmakers’ budget proposals.

Join us for “In Session, In-depth” this Sunday morning at 8:30 on KXAN News.

Gov. Rick Perry speaks with KXAN about 83rd Texas Legislative Session (Mark Batchelder/KXAN)

This Sunday on KXAN’s “In Session, In-depth,” Gov. Rick Perry talks about his proposed tax relief for some Texans and what lawmakers should do with the state’s Rainy Day Fund this session.

Plus, Brian Sweany of Texas Monthly, Shelley Kofler of KERA and Mike Ward of the Austin-American Statesman take part in our political roundtable to talk about the legislature’s opening weekend, the race for House Speaker and the budget challenges ahead.

Join us for “In Session, In-depth” this Sunday morning at 8:30 on KXAN News.

Texas Senate press corps on opening day of 83rd Legislative Session (Josh Hinkle/KXAN)

From Senate staffers fainting during Gov. Rick Perry’s opening address to a clogging team clacking away in support of Rep. Debbie Riddle, the Texas Legislative Session was underway. Day 1 brought crowds of little kids running among the desks in the chambers and protesters slowly lining the hallways.

The governor outlined his hopes for lawmakers, warning against tapping the rainy day fund and overspending after a better-than-expected revenue outlook. No emergency items just yet, but his office says to “stay tuned.”

Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus are holding a joint press conference Wednesday morning. Perhaps we will find out more about potential emergencies items – those bills lawmakers can tackle in the first 60 days of the session.

Next in line – committee assignments and committee leadership. All eyes will be on Dewhurst and Straus during that time, as those decisions will have a direct impact on how this session plays out and who calls the shots.

Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio (Texas House of Representatives)

Lawmakers and their families will crowd the chamber floors at the Texas State Capitol on Tuesday, as the 83^rd Legislative Session officially begins. Both the House and Senate will convene at noon.

Members will be sworn in, then elect their own leaders. Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, is set to become the President Pro Tem of the Senate.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio (Texas Senate)

It is largely a ceremonial post as the lieutenant governor actually runs the Texas Senate. But the post does mean that Van de Putte will be in line to become governor, right after Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, is expected to retain his role as leader of the House, though he faces conservative competition from sophomore Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview.

Gov. Rick Perry will also address each chamber, laying out his vision for the session ahead. In the past, he has also declared some early emergency items for lawmakers to begin tackling in their first sixty days at the Capitol. Some have suspected Perry’s first issue this session might be abortion-related, as he has already shown strong support for “fetal pain” legislation.

Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin (Texas House of Representatives)

This Sunday on the inaugural edition of KXAN’s “In Session, In-depth,” Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, weighs in on the Texas Women’s Health Program and the recent legal decision that kept Planned Parenthood out of the mix.

Plus, Jay Root of the Texas Tribune, Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News and Tim Eaton of the Austin-American Statesman take part in our political roundtable to talk about the state’s water woes, tapping the rainy day fund and why school finance might not be one of the big topics this legislative session.

Join us for “In Session, In-depth” this Sunday morning at 8:30 on KXAN News.