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
Letter to Governor Rick Perry
To the Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas: The just-ended legislative session grows government too much and offers too little tax relief. Download PDF of letter to Gov. Perry. Call his office at (512) 463-4630. The 83rd Texas Legislature appropriated...
Adding ESF to Endowment to the Call
The Legislature may be using the special session to talk about redistricting maps for the next week or so, but that isn’t stopping two state senators from throwing out ideas for generating more transportation funding. State Sens. Tommy Williams (R–The Woodlands) and...
Session Ends With a Wince
With all key pieces of the budget puzzle squarely in place, the regular session of the 83rd Regular Session adjourned sine die (“without another day”) yesterday. This session will be remembered for the dramatic increase in spending, little reforms, and lackluster tax...
Cards Come Back
According to several members of the Texas House, allies of House Speaker Joe Straus are distributing "pledge cards" to legislators. The message is clear: promise—in writing—to support Joe Straus for speaker in 2015, or face retribution from the lobby. It had been...
Perry Veto Protects Texans From Official Intimidation
Texans are again safe from the threat of official harassment and intimidation simply by virtue of their contributing to nonprofit entities that speak out politically, thanks to a veto by Texas Gov. Rick Perry. Gov. Perry vetoed Senate Bill 346, which the bill authors...
System Benefit Fraud
With lawmakers still scrabbling to make a Faustian deal for a mammoth state budget that is long on spending and short on tax relief, electric rate-payers aren't going to be getting a rebate from an un-utilized fund for which we've been overcharged. The good news: the...
Lawmakers Should Hit “Reset”
Last night’s passage of HB 1025 and SJR 1 signal the “budget deal” has now been set in motion. In light of both chamber’s agreement to pull down nearly $4 billion from the Rainy Day Fund, members should take a moment to review why the RDF was created in the first...
Padding Their Own Pensions
While those focusing on the budgeting process during the last few weeks of session will likely key in on hot topics like water, transportation and education, many will likely miss the Legislature’s cowardly attempt to pad their own pensions under the auspices of a...
Wheels Fall off Darby’s Fee Hike Bill
Texas drivers can celebrate a small victory tonight because San Angelo State Rep. Drew Darby’s bill hiking fees for vehicle registrations hit a legislative roadblock in the House. After facing stiff opposition from legislators not wishing to break campaign pledges of...