The Austin Democrat has made a name for himself with his viral social media presence. His entry to the race pits him against former U.S. Rep. Colin Allred in the increasingly crowded primary.

The legislation was crafted in response to the state's historic July 4 floods which killed more than 130 people, including nearly 40 children.

A bill to end Texas' state-mandate STAAR test is headed for Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. House Bill 8 replaces the year-end assessment with three shorter tests, but critics say that only increases the burden on students.

When the governor called the Texas Legislature into special session after July's historic floods, he topped his priority list with passing bills to better prepare the state for future natural disasters. Here's a look at six new measures lawmakers just passed.