Dark Money: The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments today (Tuesday) in a case challenging the state’s ban on corporate contributions, PAC disclosure requirements and the point at which a politically active nonprofit corporation triggers donor disclosure. The Texas Democratic Party sued the King Street Patriots, a Houston-area Tea Party group, years ago over the group’s provision of poll watchers to benefit Republican candidates in the 2010 general election.  In 2012, then-250th District Judge John Dietz ruled that the group was an unregistered PAC. The group is represented by James Bopp Jr., an attorney key to the Citizens United case that gave corporations and unions the ability to make unlimited independent expenditures.

Eltife Approved: The Senate approved Gov. Greg Abbott’s three nominees, including former Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler), for the University of Texas System Board of Regents by a 29-0 vote.

CD6: Waxahachie songwriter and progressive activist Jana Lynne Sanchez filed a statement of candidacy to challenge U.S. Rep. Joe Barton (R-Ennis) as a Democrat.