The Legislative Budget Board on Monday set the state's spending cap for next year's budget, allowing for an 11.68 percent growth in non-dedicated state spending over the next two years. The panel also approved the transfer of money within the current budget to free up $86 million to continue the deployment of Department of Public Safety personnel to the border until the end of August.

Greg Abbott, in one of his last major actions as attorney general, announced that Texas and 16 other states were suing to halt an executive order issued by President Barack Obama that temporarily shields up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from immediate deportation.

Gov. Rick Perry announced an executive order directing state agencies and those contracting with state agencies to use the federal E-Verify system to ascertain the legal status of their workers. Skeptical of it before, Perry now says the system is improved and is "the most accurate and efficient way to check a person’s legal work in the United States."

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals stayed the execution of Scott Panetti, a mentally ill death row inmate, just hours before his scheduled execution Wednesday night. His pending execution had spurred an unusually broad-based opposition from people across the political spectrum.

The House Administration Committee adopted new rules for granting members of the press access to the chamber floor during session with one significant change: reporters seeking credentials must affirm that they are not lobbyists.

Three Republicans — Lois Kolkhorst, Gary Gates and Charles Gregory — competing in the SD-18 special election to succeed state Comptroller-elect Glenn Hegar debated on Tuesday night. Two Democrats in the race did not attend the debate. The election is set for Saturday.