State news in Texas
State
EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds Protest Transparency, Border Security at State Capitol
Multiple children were encouraged by adults to wave LGBT flags and participate in the rally.
Texas Attorney General Sides Against State Agency in Free Speech Fight
Rather than backing the agency tasked with enforcing Texas lobbying laws, Ken Paxton is arguing that the TEC’s enforcement is unconstitutional and represents a violation of First Amendment rights.
Lawmaker Proposes Security Council for Top-Tier Research Universities
With Texas now home to the most Tier 1 research institutions in the country, one lawmaker seeks to strengthen research security.
Attorney General Paxton Launches Investigation Into Chinese AI App
Paxton expressed concerns that artificial intelligence company DeepSeek could be violating the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act.
State Archive
Abbott Names New Secretary of State
Texas has a new secretary of state. On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Ruth Ruggero Hughs to fill the vacancy left by his unconfirmed nominee David Whitley, who left office in May at the end of the legislative session. The secretary of state is the chief elections...
Commentary: What Should Taxpayers Know About Property Taxes?
Q: Who controls property tax bills paid by Texas homeowners and businesses? A: Your property tax bill is controlled by several local taxing entities: your county, city, school district, and others. Every year, each body of elected officials debates and votes on...
Houston Democrat Retiring from Texas House
A Houston-area Democrat elected to the Texas Legislature more than 25 years ago is hanging it up. On Friday, State Rep. Jessica Farrar announced on Twitter she will retire from the legislature effective September 30. Farrar says she is stepping down in part to help...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Healthy After Heart-Health Scare
In an official statement Saturday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s office acknowledged Patrick had experienced a health scare last week. Patrick said last Thursday he had experienced chest pain, and his wife, Jan, “immediately took him to the hospital.” “After a number of...
Abbott: “I Don’t Know Any of the Facts”
Despite nonstop coverage by every major media outlet regarding allegations made against the House speaker, Gov. Greg Abbott says he “[doesn’t] know any of the facts of what happened.” Media coverage of the June 12 meeting between House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and...
Burrows Resigns as House Republican Caucus Chairman
Just before noon Friday, a West Texas radio host indicated sources close to Lubbock State Rep. Dustin Burrows revealed that the embattled lawmaker had resigned his post as chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus. Chad Hasty, host of the The Chad Hasty Show on...
Commentary: Demand Truth and Integrity
I traveled to Austin this week to listen to the Bonnen/Sullivan meeting recording. After listening to it, I have drawn the same conclusion that many of my Texas grassroots colleagues have drawn, which is: Bonnen and Burrows must resign. Yes, there are issues with the...
Lawmakers Continue to Sound Off on Bonnen Investigation
Members of the Texas House continue to sound off after listening to the audio recording of the meeting between Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan and Speaker Dennis Bonnen, in which Bonnen made a quid pro quo offer of House media credentials in exchange for...
Bonnen Spokesperson Promotes Defense of Alleged Behavior
In the spotlight of a new investigation by the Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit, a spokesperson for Speaker Dennis Bonnen appears to be defending his behavior as just "politics as usual." On Monday morning, the Texas House General Investigating Committee...