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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Central Texas man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the beating and shaking death of his infant daughter.

A judge in Austin on Wednesday sentenced 23-year-old Nathan Hogan. Hogan pleaded guilty to murder in the 2011 death of his 7-week-old daughter, Serenity, in a plea agreement.

The Austin man was originally charged with capital murder in the attack that investigators say happened when the baby would not stop crying.

Authorities believe the child was violently shaken and beaten while the girl's mother was at work. An autopsy found the baby had multiple fractures.

Hogan will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers are hearing testimony about the possibility of levying taxes on tobacco firms that weren't part of the state's multibillion dollar 1998 settlement with major cigarette companies.

Big tobacco manufacturers say they are getting undersold by smaller firms that can charge less for their cigarettes because they aren't subject to taxes included in Texas' settlement.

But those companies not in the settlement counter that the larger firms are simply worried about losing market share statewide and want legislation to hurt their competitors.

Two bills proposed during the 2011 legislative session would have expanded taxes to tobacco companies not part of the settlement. But they weren't approved.

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee discussed Tuesday whether similar legislation should be proposed after the Legislature reconvenes in January.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Gov. Rick Perry wants to tap the Rainy Day Fund to spend $3.7 billion on critical water and transportation systems in the state.

In his State of the State speech on Tuesday, Perry said there is more money in the fund than is needed, and that the state should not accumulate any more. He said tapping the fund for a one-time investment in infrastructure was needed to ensure a high quality of life.

Perry also called to use road funding only on transportation projects.

The Republican has for weeks called on the Legislature to cut taxes and continue to hold down government spending — even though Texas' economy is booming. He also called for $1.8 billion in tax relief and said how to do that was still open for consideration.