State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
STAAR Test Replacement Heads to Governor’s Desk
The new accountability system increases overall testing in public schools throughout the year.
AG Paxton Sues PowerSchool Over Massive Data Breach Affecting Texas Students
The lawsuit signals a growing legal pushback against technology providers accused of failing to safeguard sensitive personal data.
Lawsuit Filed Against University of Texas Seeks to Neutralize ‘Campus Protection Act’
The case is the latest chapter following the 2024 pro-Palestinian riots on college campuses.
Texas Senate Cracks Down on Abortion-Inducing Drugs
The legislation targets the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs.
State Archive
Banking Lobbyists Reportedly Urging Gov. Abbott to Veto Transactional Gold Legislation
Banking lobbyists are reportedly still attempting to derail legislation that would allow Texans to use precious metals in day-to-day financial transactions, even after it has cleared both legislative chambers. House Bill 1056 by State Rep. Mark Dorazio (R–San Antonio)...
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Costs Millions as Texas House Failed to Act
Despite years of calls from Texas voters to end the use of taxpayer dollars for lobbying, legislation to ban the practice died in committee this session, leaving Texans footing a multi-million-dollar lobbying bill. For years, both Democrat and Republican voters have...
SAVE Data Helps Texas Nab Potential Noncitizen Voters
After gaining access to a federal immigration and citizenship database, state officials have identified potential noncitizens who voted in Texas elections. Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced Thursday that her office has referred 33 potential noncitizens...
Why Didn’t Lawmakers Abolish the Texas Lottery? It’s a Lucrative Business
Although Texas lawmakers sent a measure abolishing the Texas Lottery Commission to Gov. Greg Abbott, they stopped short of ending the gambling enterprise entirely. A potential reason? The Texas Lottery is a very lucrative business for its vendors. In fiscal year 2024,...
Republicans Urge Abbott to Veto ‘Biden-Style’ Loan Repayments for School Counselors
A coalition of 34 Republican lawmakers is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a Democrat-authored bill that would expand state-funded student loan repayment programs—this time, specifically for school counselors and mental health professionals. Senate Bill 646, authored...
UT-Austin Picks Reagan Scholar as Provost Finalist
University of Texas at Austin named William Inboden as the sole finalist for its open provost position. The provost is the Chief Academic Officer of UT-Austin and second in command to the president. The office supervises several aspects of university operations....
Texas Ends In-State Tuition for Illegals Hours After Trump DOJ Files Lawsuit
Just two days after the Texas Legislature adjourned without passing legislation to end in-state tuition for illegal aliens, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Texas. The state has settled, ending the...
Texas Lottery Commission Begins Transfer Process to Department of Licensing & Regulation
Texas Lottery commissioners are already in the process of transferring oversight of the lottery to the Department of Licensing and Regulation, less than a week after lawmakers voted to abolish the embattled commission. The early movement is notable, given that Gov....
Lawsuit Accusing Lotto Ticket Reseller Service of Fraud Dropped
Lottery watchdog Dawn Nettles has voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit against ticket reseller Lottery.com. The class-action suit had accused the entity and former Lottery Commission Executive Director Gary Grief of engaging in “systematic fraud, misappropriating lottery...