State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas House Approves Crackdown on THC Products Following Push From Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
The issue has been one of Patrick’s top priorities for the session.
Texas House Advances Legislation to Block Local Abortion Travel Funding
In recent years, some cities have funneled tax dollars to nonprofit organizations that help women pay for abortions outside of Texas.
House Lawmakers Pass Measure Creating the Texas Grid Security Commission
Under the measure, commissioners would deliver annual reports on threats to the state’s electrical grid and recommend resiliency standards.
Effort To Remove the Marvin Nichols Reservoir Project From State Water Plan Dies in House
The Marvin Nichols project would engulf nearly 70,000 acres in East Texas.
State Archive
Peacock: It’s Time to Cut the Texas Budget
In 2019, the Texas Legislature appropriated a total of $258 billion, a 24 percent increase over what it appropriated in 2017. Looking at it a different way, the $248 billion the Legislature appropriated in 2019 for the current biennium was an increase of $32 billion,...
Legislative Preview: Addressing Citizens’ Painful Property Tax Bills
As the 87th Texas Legislative Session begins, Texans are still struggling with ever-rising property taxes. In order to help get the situation under control, a property tax expert is advocating for stricter limits on how much property taxable values can increase year...
COVID Tests Mandatory to Enter Texas Capitol on Opening Day
Visitors to the Texas Capitol on the opening day of the 87th Legislative Session will be forced to submit to a mandatory COVID-19 test, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS, who oversees the police force in the Capitol, made the announcement on...
Texas Republicans Rally for Legislative Priorities Ahead of Session
Waving flags of red, white, and blue, hundreds of Texas Republicans gathered in support of their legislative priorities intended to guide Republican legislators going into Texas' 87th Legislative Session. The rally took place across from the Texas Capitol on...
Phelan Confirms He Will Appoint Democrats to Chair House Committees
Despite Republican control of the Texas House, Democrats will once again be given chairmanships to House committees. State Rep. Dade Phelan (R–Beaumont), the presumptive House speaker, made the confirmation during an interview with The Texas Tribune ahead of the start...
Middleton Files Election Integrity Bills Ahead of Legislative Session
Election integrity is poised to be one of the top issues facing the Legislature when they reconvene this week. Ahead of the legislative session, State Rep. Mayes Middleton (R–Wallisville) filed two election integrity bills to prevent voter fraud and ensure only...
Texas Lawmakers to Face $1 Billion Budget Shortfall
When state lawmakers return to the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, they will have a nearly $1 billion shortfall to address, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. That projection was part of Hegar’s biennial revenue estimate, which he released on Monday. Hegar says the...
Legislative Preview: Legal Challenges Impact Election Integrity Reforms
Election integrity is not only a major concern nationally in the wake of the hotly contested 2020 presidential race, but it's also the top legislative priority for Texas Republicans—meaning state lawmakers are expected to make voting reforms a key part of their agenda...
Will Texas Lawmakers Finally Pass Constitutional Carry?
Constitutional carry has been a top priority for the Republican Party of Texas and gun owners across the Lone Star State for over a decade, but efforts to eliminate the requirement of a state gun permit were once again defeated during the last legislative session....