State news in Texas
State
Abbott Pushes for School Choice, Teacher Pay Raises, and Tax Relief in State of the State Address
Gov. Greg Abbott issued seven items for the legislature to begin addressing immediately.
EXCLUSIVE: Anti-ICE Protestors Delay Construction in Pflugerville
A law enforcement officer told Texas Scorecard that the protestors were delaying road construction.
Texas Students’ Test Scores Shrink as Spending Grows
An economic analysis shows declining returns on investment for states’ increasing education dollars.
Texas Officials Criticize Proposed $500 Million in Corporate Welfare to Movie Industry
The pushback follows the release of a commercial featuring Matthew McConaughey and other actors advocating more funding for the industry.
State Archive
Are Bonnen and Zerwas Killing Spending Limit Bill?
Despite passing out of the Texas Senate over a month ago, a piece of conservative priority legislation may be dying in the Texas House. Senate Bill 1891 by State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R–North Richland Hills) seeks to cap the growth of state spending at population plus...
Texas Lawmakers Speeding to Give Taxpayer Cash to F1 Race
After promoters of Formula One’s Grand Prix squealed past a deadline to obtain a state subsidy for their event, state lawmakers are racing to give them another chance to win the cash. According to The Associated Press, the Grand Prix depends heavily on state cash to...
The Final Countdown: Dates to Know for the End of Session
The 86th Texas Legislature is soon coming to the end of its 140-day session and, for the next two weeks, the Capitol will be full of action (or inaction) on priority legislation. Bills on issues such as red-light camera bans, free speech on college campuses, and...
Privacy Rights Prevail in Battle over Drones
A long-running behind-the-scenes feud over your right to privacy is finally over in the 86th Texas Legislature. Amazon, drone manufacturers, and big government have all been quietly determined to get one thing this session: images of your home and private property....
Key Election Bills Slated for Hearings
With just two weeks left in the legislative session, a number of key election bills are moving a step closer to passage. Senate Bill 9, this session’s highest-priority election integrity legislation, is set for a hearing in the House Elections Committee on Wednesday....
Instead of Property Tax Relief, House GOP Proposes a Study
Without action in the coming days, most Texans will not see any meaningful property tax relief as a direct result of the legislative session. Instead, Republican members of the Texas House are giving taxpayers yet another study on the property tax levy coupled with a...
How Sen. Seliger’s Voting Record Impacts West Texans
With less than a month left until the 86th Texas Legislative Session comes to a close, State Sen. Kel Seliger’s repeated votes against Republican-supported legislation have isolated him from his own party. Could he also be further isolating his constituency? Seliger,...
Constitutional Ban on Income Tax Narrowly Passes Texas House
A measure to prohibit the Lone Star State from implementing a state income tax is headed to the Texas Senate after passing out of the Texas House Thursday. House Joint Resolution 38 by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Plano) would amend the state’s constitution to ban a state...
Texas to End Forced Annexation Statewide
In a big win for property rights in the Lone Star State, Texans are about to be freed from the unfair practice of forced annexation. A bill to stop all cities in Texas from annexing property without owners’ consent has passed the state House and Senate and is headed...