The judge hearing the criminal case against Rick Perry on charges related to his threat to veto funding for the Travis County DA's public integrity unit refused to dismiss the charges outright. But the judge also suggested that one count was vague, raising the possibility of another challenge by Perry's legal team.

The Senate released is $205.1 billion base budget, which includes $4 billion set aside for tax relief. About $3 billion was identified for "meaningful" property tax cuts.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick seemed to change course during the week on whether open carry legislation would make it to the floor of the Senate. On Tuesday, he said the votes weren't there. But a day later, he said progress on a campus carry bill would let him focus on open carry, "which I have consistently supported."

University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven weighed in on the campus carry debate on Thursday, saying in a letter to legislative leaders that allowing concealed weapons on campus would create "less safe" environments.