State
House Finally Hears Senate Priority To Protect Students From Sexual Content
Legislation passed last session failed to keep sexually explicit books out of kids’ school libraries.
Abbott Presses Lawmakers: ‘Citizens or Criminals?’
While the Senate passed its set of bail reform measures earlier in the session, the House has yet to do so.
House Lawmakers Weigh Whether to Ban or Regulate Lottery Ticket Resellers
While one proposal would codify a ban on the practice of allowing Texans to purchase lottery tickets online, another would legitimize and regulate the industry.
Higher Education Employees Fight Reforms in House Hearing
The proposal would end “shared governance” and implement new curriculum reviews.
State Archive
House, Senate Close In on Property Tax Relief Agreement
It appears Texas lawmakers have struck a deal on property tax relief—though critics say it doesn't go far enough to return the state's surplus to taxpayers. During a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Morgan Meyer (R–Dallas) announced that a...
Austin ISD Accused of Violating CRT Ban; Paxton Launches Legal Action
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that his office has initiated legal proceedings against Austin Independent School District, accusing the district of violating state law by promoting Critical Race Theory in the classroom. The legal action seeks to depose Austin...
Abbott Signs School Choice Bill During Celebration at Governor’s Mansion
In a landmark moment decades in the making, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, officially making school choice the law of the land in Texas. The signing ceremony, held at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday, drew an energized crowd of more than 1,400 RSVPs,...
State Representative Refers Texas A&M University to Trump for DEI Practices
This article has been updated since publication. A lawmaker in the Texas House has asked the Trump administration to hold the state’s universities accountable for DEI practices. State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian), an alumnus of Texas A&M University, wrote...
Measure Placing the ‘Gulf of America’ Into Texas Law Heads to House
Texas senators have passed a measure officially recognizing the “Gulf of America” on state maps and documents, and have sent it to House lawmakers. Senate Bill 1717, filed by State Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston), strikes references to the “Gulf of Mexico” in 140...
Bill Targeting Explicit Library Materials in Schools Clears House and Senate
Legislation cracking down on explicit sexual content in Texas school libraries is on its way to the governor’s desk, marking the first Republican Party of Texas priority bill this session to clear both chambers. Senate Bill 412, by State Sen. Mayes Middleton...
Texas House Weakens Transactional Gold Bill Before Passage
A proposed measure that would allow Texas to use precious metals in financial transactions cleared a major legislative hurdle, but with significant revisions. House Bill 1056 by State Rep. Mark Dorazio (R–San Antonio) invokes a frequently overlooked provision in the...
Analysis: Was the Rigging of a $95M Jackpot Legal? No.
The New York Post joined other national outlets in reporting on the Texas lottery this week, and included an oft-repeated misnomer about the legality of the scheme to rig the jackpot. Cribbing the Wall Street Journal, the Post quotes the alleged mastermind behind the...
House Leadership Blocking Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying, Says Texas Lawmaker
A Republican lawmaker says one of the Texas GOP’s legislative priorities is being quietly sidelined this session by the chairman of a key House committee. State Rep. Brent Money (R–Greenville) says that taxpayer-funded lobbying—a long-standing target of conservative...