State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Groups Warn Texas Ethics Commission Is Chilling Citizen Speech
The Institute for Free Speech warned that Texas’ interpretation of lobbying could have ensnared the Founding Fathers themselves.
AG Paxton Investigates Islamic Center’s Potential Violations of Consumer Protection Laws
The investigation follows Gov. Abbott’s declaration that “Sharia Cities” are not allowed in Texas.
Ex-Professor Admits To Stealing Nearly $1 Million From Tarleton State University
Julie Howell used a university payment card for “personal expenditures, primarily related to gambling.”
Texas Senators Unanimously Approve Biennial Budget
Only $6 billion of the budget is allocated to new property tax relief.
State Archive
After Killing Ban, House Approves Disclosure on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
An outright ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying might be dead for this legislative session, but the Texas House has revived legislation that would require government entities to disclose their contracts with lobbyists. When Senate Bill 65 by State Sen. Jane Nelson...
Overwhelming Majority of GOP Legislative Priorities Officially Dead
With the conclusion of the Texas Legislature’s session fast approaching, Republican activists across the state have been fighting for a number of conservative priorities. But as recalcitrant lawmakers continue to side with lobbyists and bureaucrats over citizens, most...
Controversial “Mental Health” Legislation Killed in Texas House, Resurrected Hours Later
This article has been updated since its original publishing. Controversial legislation designed to create the “Texas Mental Health Care Consortium” was killed in the Texas House Tuesday evening on procedural grounds, if only for a few hours. Senate Bill 10 by State...
Climate Change Policies Clean Taxpayers’ Wallets
Cities such as Austin are rolling full steam ahead toward policies that have increased taxes and electricity bills and brought blackouts in other countries while doing nothing for the environment. Recently, Texas Scorecard reported how the City of Austin recently...
Senate Sends Ban on Income Tax to November Ballot
A bill banning the state from imposing an income tax on hard-working Texans passed the Texas Senate on Monday after being held up by Democrat senators. Democrats decided to hold out and prevent the bill from being passed with the necessary two-thirds support to send...
Texas House Lawmakers Vote Down Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban
Legislation originally intended to ban the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying in the Texas Capitol has been defeated by the Texas House after being severely watered down by the bill’s own sponsor and a handful of liberal Republicans who teamed up with Democrats to...
“Save Chick-fil-A” Advances in Texas House
After a theatrical showdown on the Texas House floor, legislation referred to as the “Save Chick-fil-A" bill passed on second reading in the lower chamber of the Texas Legislature on Monday. Senate Bill 1978 passed last week in the Texas Senate by State Sen. Bryan...
Election Integrity Efforts Die in Texas House
In the Texas Legislature, with its strict deadlines and 140-day calendar, delay is death, and now priority legislation to promote election integrity is officially the latest conservative casualty to die in the hands of the Texas House. Yesterday the House Calendars...
Hurricane Taxes
Legislation on Tuesday’s House calendar would give taxpayers affected by a disaster a break in their property taxes. After Hurricane Harvey ripped through southeast Texas, taxpayers were outraged to find they still owed 100 percent of their property tax bill—even if...