Stiles was one of the presenters at a Watchdog Workshop last weekend in Austin organized by Investigative Reporters and Editors.

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These are handy tools if you’re analyzing public data and need to create a graphic or map that will help readers immediately grasp what your analysis shows.

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This year, bills have been filed that prohibit human cloning; expand the definition of college hazing; and encourage more “green” jobs in Texas, just to name a few topics.

You can find and track bills at the Legislature’s excellent web site. It allows you to look up proposed legislation by entering a bill number or keyword search. As the bills endure their rite of passage like salmon swimming upstream, you can find out which legislative committee the bills are sent to, and watch the actual committee hearings where supporters and critics testify.

You can also look up bills by author and sponsor, which is what Reporter Greg Jefferson did when he wrote a good profile last Sunday of state Sen. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, who was elected speaker of the House today.

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