State
House Leadership Attacks Lawmaker After Exposing Obstruction in Austin
State Rep. Brian Harrison has ramped up calls for a ban on COVID vaccine mandates in Texas, angering some in House leadership.
Federal Judge to Block New Law Keeping Explicit Materials Out of Texas Schools
The Republican Party of Texas expects the acting attorney general to appeal the ruling.
Federal Judge Allows Sexually Explicit Shows Targeting Kids to Continue
The judge claims a new law protecting children will violate the First Amendment.
Nearly 800 New Laws Go Into Effect in Texas
Some high-profile legislation remains tied up in legal battles.
State Archive
Patrick Takes Position as Lieutenant Governor
Texas began its changing of the guard this morning as Dan Patrick was sworn in as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of the Lone Star State. Receiving the oath of office from his son, a state district judge from Houston, Patrick will take the position alongside Gov. Greg...
OAG Report Vindicates Wallace Hall (Again)
A new report on the financial malfeasance at the University of Texas – released late on Friday afternoon before a long weekend – offers harsh criticism of a payola scandal begun when UT President Bill Powers was head of the law school. Without naming him, the report...
Conservatives Win Big in Rules Fight
Under a time crunch imposed by Texas House leadership and facing a troubling rules resolution proposal, conservative state representatives who two days ago faced down the Speaker won several important battles at the Capitol Thursday. The rules proposal, House...
Orwellian Committee Unveiled in New House Rules
On the third day of the 84th legislative session, the Texas House is set to take up a rules resolution, which if adopted, would make permanent an investigatory committee with an Orwellian name and draconian powers. The proposal, House Resolution 4, is scheduled for...
Confirmed: Margin Tax Drags Down Texas
The Tax Foundation released a report today that analyzed the Texas Margin Tax and confirmed its insidious consequences for Texas’ business environment. The margin tax was created in 2006 as an attempt to haul in extra revenue for school financing after the statewide...
A Glimpse at Patrick’s Session Priorities
At a press conference in the Texas Capitol, Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Patrick delineated major items on his legislative agenda for the 84th session. Naturally, news outlets across the state bewailed the conservatism of Patrick’s checklist, suggesting recklessness...
Conservative Mandate Gets Red-Light
The Texas House gaveled the 84th Legislature into session Tuesday afternoon and the election of a speaker headlined the agenda. Conservative and Tea Party Republicans, frustrated with a moderate-to-outright-liberal speaker with a proven track record of killing...
With Surplus, Tax Breaks First
With the comptroller having now forecasted that lawmakers will have $113 billion in general revenues, Texans should expect meaningful tax breaks from the Legislature. As Cary Cheshire reported yesterday, this forecast includes an 8.9% increase in sales tax revenues....
Comptroller Releases Revenue Estimate
Monday morning, State Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE). Because the Texas Constitution requires a balanced budget, this estimate will set a total spending cap for the legislature as it comes into session this week. Hegar expects...