A weekly publication, the Texas Register serves as the journal of state agency rulemaking for Texas. Information published in the Texas Register includes proposed, adopted, withdrawn and emergency rule actions, notices of state agency review of agency rules, governor's appointments, attorney general opinions, and miscellaneous documents such as requests for proposals. After adoption, these rulemaking actions are codified into the Texas Administrative Code.

This report focuses on selected legal issues related to the use of hydraulic fracturing. It examines some of the requirements for hydraulic fracturing contained in major federal environmental laws. It also provides an overview of issues involving state preemption of local zoning authority, as well as state tort law.

This report examines the confluence of factors that led to the rise of dark pools; the potential benefits and costs of such trading; some regulatory and congressional concerns over dark pools; recent regulatory developments by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which oversees broker-dealers; and some recent lawsuits and enforcement actions garnering significant media attention.

This report summarizes legislative actions taken to repeal, defund, delay, or otherwise amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) since the law's enactment.

This report provides a brief list of telephone numbers, room numbers, and Internet addresses of use to new congressional staffers who work with legislative procedures and conduct legislative research. Internet access restrictions are noted. Some of the websites listed are available only to congressional offices; other sites are restricted further and are only available to House or Senate offices.

This report explains the nature of U.S. authority over offshore areas pursuant to international and domestic law. It also describes the laws, at both the state and federal levels, governing the development of offshore oil and gas and the litigation that has flowed from development under these legal regimes. Also included is an outline of recent changes to the authorities regulating offshore development, as well as a discussion of recent executive action and legislative proposals concerning offshore oil and natural gas exploration and production.

This report analyzes court decisions that have examined the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA's) obligation to assist veterans during the claims process.

Photograph of Michael Greig (left) and Neal Smatresk (right) at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Greig was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Professor award. He is a Professor in the Department of Political Science.

Photograph of unidentified guests at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event. Both have refreshments.

Uplift Summit International Preparatory students listen to a presentation about primary source materials from the University of North Texas Special Collections. The presentation took place during the 2014 Day at UNT event in the library.

Items from the UNT Special Collections displayed at a 2014 Day at UNT event. The photographs depict historical moments at the University of North Texas. The displayed photographs show a women's organization and an original hat worn by female students.

Photograph of Derrick D'Souza standing to be honored at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event in the Apogee Stadium Club. D'Souza received the President's Council Teaching Award. He works in the College of Business.

Westlake Academy Charter School students sit on the floor while watching University of North Texas Special Collections student employees give a presentation during the 2014 Day at UNT event in the Willis Library. They are looking at primary source material from the university archive.

Photograph of Paul Dworak (left) and Neal Smatresk (right) at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Dworak was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. He is a Professor of Music Theory.

Photograph of Nancy Boyd Lillie standing to be honored at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event in the Apogee Stadium Club. Lillie received the Outstanding Online Teacher and Course Award. She works in the College of Business.

Photograph of Dee Ray (left) and Neal Smatresk (right) at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Ray was the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Professor award. She is a Professor in the College of Education as well as the Director of the Child and Family Resource Clinic.

Photograph of Audhesh Paswan standing to be honored at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Paswan received the Toulouse Scholar Award. He is a Professor in the Department of Marketing and Logistics as well as Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Business.

Photograph of (L-R) Shirley Agustin, Deborah Smatresk, Neal Smatresk and unidentified pose for a photo at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Shirley Agustin is the Industry Liaison at the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism and Neal Smatresk is the President of UNT.

Photograph of Jane Huffman (left) and unidentified (right) at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Huffman was the recipient of the Research Leadership Award.

Items from the UNT Special Collections displayed at a 2014 Day at UNT event. The photographs depict historical artifacts from the University of North Texas archives. The items displayed include historical maps, official documents from the State of Texas, currency, and microfilm.

Photograph of (L-R) Neal Smatresk, unidentified, Guido Verbeck, and John Ishiyama at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Ishiyama is shaking hands with the unidentified man. He received the Ulys and Vera Knight Faculty Mentor Award at the event.

Photograph of Jane Huffman (black dress) and her family at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Huffman is a Professor of Educational Administration at the College of Education.

Photograph of Ian Liu (right) and guest at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event. Liu is the Finance Ph.D. advisor in the College of Business.

Photograph of dining tables and guests at the 2014 Salute to Faculty Excellence event, held in the Apogee Stadium Club. Visible are thirteen tables of guests.