The cause of a fertilizer plant explosion in West that killed 15 people on April 17 has been ruled “undetermined,” officials announced at a press conference in the town's high school parking lot. While an investigation into what triggered the blaze is ongoing, investigators’ examination of the scene has concluded. Because they cannot rule out an intentionally set fire, the matter is still considered a criminal investigation.

With exoneree Michael Morton by his side, Gov. Rick Perry signed a measure that aims to avoid wrongful convictions by preventing prosecutors from suppressing evidence. Morton was convicted in 1987 and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife. He was exonerated in 2011 after DNA testing connected another man to the brutal crime. In their investigation, Morton's lawyers discovered that the prosecutor in the original case had withheld critical evidence that could have pointed to the real killer and spared Morton the quarter-century he spent behind bars.

The Texas Railroad Commission won’t get a new name or a new set of rules and regs, either; for the second session in a row, lawmakers trying to pass an RRC sunset bill got stuck. The Senate passed a bill, but after intense lobbying by the three commissioners, Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, said he couldn’t get it out of the House. Among the provisions that fail with the bill are a name change, a resign-to-run restriction on commissioners using the post as a political springboard and restrictions on campaign contributions.

Term limits for governors and other statewide officeholders flew through the Senate but died in the House, apparently killing that issue for the session. Had it passed there, the issue would have been on the November ballot for voters to finally decide. Rick Perry, governor since 2000, has said he’s considering another reelection bid in 2014 and will announce his plans after the legislative session. The proposal wouldn’t have been retroactive.

Regents of the state's public university systems would be required to attend training — including ethics training — before being allowed to vote on budgetary or personnel matters, under legislation on its way to the governor. SB 15, authored by Senate Higher Education Chairman Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, was filed amid concerns about what he called "micromanagement" at the University of Texas System. Laying out the bill in the lower chamber, House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas, called it the "higher ed governance clean up bill." Still to come: Confirmation hearings on the governor’s three latest picks to join the board of regents at the University of Texas.