State
Conservative Lawmakers Warn Texas House Is Running Out of Time To Pass GOP Priorities
As the regular legislative session heads into its final weeks, conservative House members say leadership needs to move quickly to address Republican priorities.
House Committee Prioritizes Controversial ‘HPV Plan’ Over National Security Measures in Higher Ed
A Republican-controlled committee is pushing a pro-Big Pharma proposal while a measure to better protect higher education from national security threats lacks key enforcement.
Texas House Approves Former Speaker Dade Phelan’s Meme Regulation Bill
Punishment under the legislation could result in up to a year in jail.
Will Senators Revive Proposed Ban on Lawmakers’ Children Benefiting From School Choice Funds?
While the Texas Senate’s version of the school choice program originally included the prohibition, House lawmakers took it out.
State Archive
State Sen. Creighton Introduces Sweeping Higher Education Reform Bill
Legislation proposed in the Texas Senate would bring major reforms to higher education. Senate Bill 37 was filed by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who chairs the Senate Education K-16 committee. Among other things, his measure aims to specify the roles of...
New Legislation Would Block School Library Books Deemed Too Explicit for Prisons
A new measure targeting children’s access to sexually explicit materials in schools has been filed just ahead of the legislature’s filing deadline. The proposal, House Bill 5021 by State Rep. Andy Hopper (R–Decatur), would prohibit public schools from purchasing or...
Election Judge Cautions Against Letting Kids Cast Ballots for Parents
A state lawmaker’s proposal to let Texas children mark their parents' ballots has raised concerns with election workers. House Bill 429 by State Rep. Ryan Guillen (R–Rio Grande City) would allow a child under 16 who accompanies their parent to the polls to mark a...
Gov. Abbott Calls on Pastors to Counter ‘Education Monopolists’ in Texas
AUSTIN—Gov. Greg Abbott delivered a forceful speech at the Texas Pastors Policy Conference in Austin, urging faith leaders to rally behind school choice legislation and push back against what he called the “government monopoly over education.” Addressing a crowd of...
Texas Senators Consider Returning Power Over Election Crimes to Attorney General
Texas senators on the State Affairs Committee considered election-related measures, including a measure that would return to the attorney general the power to unilaterally prosecute election crimes. Senate Bill 1026, filed by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola),...
Texas Senate to Congress: Keep Supreme Court at Nine
Lawmakers in the Texas Senate approved a resolution calling on Congress to protect the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. Since 1869, there have only been nine Supreme Court justices at one time. The proposed “Keep Nine” constitutional amendment would...
Senator Seeks To Stop School Electioneering on Taxpayers’ Dime
A state senator proposed a measure to stop the persistent problem of Texas public school officials using taxpayer-funded resources to influence the outcomes of elections. The measure would add criminal penalties for school electioneering violations. State Sen. Brian...
Texas Senate Moves Quickly as Patrick Releases More Legislative Priorities
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the second round of his top 40 priority bills for the 89th Legislative Session, highlighting new initiatives on teachers' rights, business tax relief, and border security. “The Texas Senate has started the 89th regular legislative...
F.U.R.R.I.E.S. Act Would Ban Animal Behavior in Class
A Texas lawmaker is taking aim at “furries” in public schools with new legislation that would prohibit students from engaging in non-human behavior on campus. House Bill 4814 by State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R–Smithville), also known as the Forbidding Unlawful...