Texas

After seven months of growth, the Texas Economic Activity Index has dipped, reflecting the impact of falling oil prices, according to Comerica Bank.

A private corporation that sought to build a toll road east of Dallas would lose its power to condemn land through eminent domain under a bill introduced by State Rep. Cindy Burkett.

The Texas Senate's version of a $205.1 billion biennial budget includes $4 billion for tax cuts, despite uncertainty over revenues in a weakening economy.

The San Antonio Water System will lower its debt by $46.9 million through a $303 million deal that combined new money and refunding.

Moody's Investors Service raised the Harris County Houston Sports Authority's subordinate debt to investment grade after settlement of a lawsuit with its bond insurer and financial restructuring.

The Texas Department of Transportation saved $380 million in net present value, or 21% of its refunded debt, through a $1.68 billion toll bond issue, officials said.

Standard & Poor's anticipates overall stability for the majority of its rated local governments in Texas despite a dramatic oil price drop reminiscent of the 1980s.

Years of underfunding pose a rising threat to state and local pensions in Texas, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service.

The San Antonio Water System is combining new money bonds for its growing system with refunding in a $291 million issue.

Former Norton Rose Fulbright partner Marcus W. Deitz has joined the public finance practice at McGuire Woods in Houston.

In an attempt to solve legal challenges to the Texas school finance formula, House Public Education Committee Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock has introduced a bill that would create 30 school finance districts across the state.

Newly inaugurated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who sued President Obama 31 times as attorney general, promised to continue fighting the federal government in his first speech as chief executive of the Lone Star State.

Ten Texas financial advisors with Southwest Securities jumped to Samco Capital Markets after SWS was acquired by Hilltop Holdings Inc., the parent firm of First Southwest Co.

After a record year of debt issuance, the Texas Transportation Commission expects a significant reduction in borrowing costs for its Central Texas Tollway System as it issues $1.8 billion of refunding bonds.

In a farewell speech to the Texas Legislature that some saw as a prelude to another presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Perry highlighted his accomplishments after a record 14 years in office but did not mention prospects for a weakening economy.

The Texas economy will continue to grow in 2015 but at a slower pace than the past year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Local governments and school districts in the major oil and gas producing regions of Texas could suffer economically if the price of crude remains at its current lows, according to Fitch Ratings.

Texas' new leaders will have more money to work with as the 2015 Legislature begins work on the state's next budget. The higher official revenue projections come even as the slumping price of oil casts a shadow over the Lone Star State's economy.

Texas' new comptroller, Glenn Hegar, started his term on a positive note, reporting a 4.3% increase in sales tax revenue.

The San Antonio-based Frost Bank public finance team will expand into the Houston area with the hiring of former BOSC Inc. managing director Ryan O'Hara.