State
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Calls for Special Session to Eliminate Property Taxes
Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to order a special session on education later this month.
Texas GOP Calls for Legislative Action Over Illegal Alien Settlement
The illegal alien settlement in Liberty County is straining local resources.
Paxton Demands Backpay After Hegar Withheld Salary During Impeachment
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office says it will “consider all legal avenues to redress this issue.”
Federal Judge Rules University Did Not Violate First Amendment by Canceling Drag Show
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that “The First Amendment does not prevent school officials from restricting ‘vulgar and lewd’ conduct that would ‘undermine the school’s basic education mission.’”
State Archive
Property Tax Hikes in the Texas House
Nobody may have campaigned on higher property taxes last election cycle, but legislators are poised to encourage them in the Texas House. On the calendar for Wednesday is legislation that would permit up to 20% increases of certain school district property tax...
Clock Ticking for Conservatives
With sine die and the end of the legislative session drawing near, the window is rapidly closing for Republican lawmakers to deliver on the campaign promises that propelled them to victory. Nobody campaigned on the status quo; rather they advocated for less...
Driving Texas Leftward
Illegal immigrants could soon receive permits from the state to drive legally on Texas roads if one lawmaker is successful. Many would expect such an initiative from Democrats and, unsurprisingly, many of them are in support. However, the representative trumpeting the...
Tribune Misses Fraser’s Biggest Conflict of Interest
Last week the Texas Tribune issued a report on State Sen. Troy Fraser (R–Horseshoe Bay), linking the senator’s financial interests with auto dealers to his opposition to legislation designed to allow Tesla Motors to sell directly to consumers in Texas. The Tribune...
Senate Approves Comprehensive Property Tax Relief
Keeping in step with their approach to property tax relief, the Texas Senate passed SB 1760 by Conroe Republican Brandon Creighton. The measure increases transparency and accountability for taxpayers. Specifically, SB1760: Eliminating the requirement that taxpayers...
Ethics Overhaul Passes Texas Senate
On Tuesday, the Texas Senate passed a major ethics overhaul bill, SB 19. Spearheaded by State Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano), the initiative carries the endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott, who labeled ethics reform as one of his emergency issues. The legislation would expand...
House Passes Tax Relief Measures
Tax relief moved easily through the Texas House on Tuesday, a full month after the Senate passed their package. Both the House and the Senate are working to implement tax relief, but the two chambers currently differ over the proper method. The Senate’s $4.6 billion...
Obstructing Real Reforms
There are many measures by which this legislative session will be judged, but no measure is more important than their success in reforming the very operating systems of government in Texas. As the great Sam Houston put it, “A leader is someone who helps improve the...
House GOP: Sales Tax Cut ‘Compelling’
With a majority of Texans dissatisfied with the burden of property taxes, House members are this weekend working to sell a sales-tax-cut plan to taxpayers. Meanwhile, the media is pushing an "analysis" alleging that the highest paid Texans would benefit if the sales...