State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Lawmakers Consider Measures to Ensure Only US Citizens Vote in Texas Elections
Proposed proof-of-citizenship requirements align with provisions of the federal SAVE Act, which awaits Senate approval.
Jilted Lottery Ticket Reseller Sues the Texas Lottery Over Ban
Claims leveled in the suit burn former directors Gary Grief and Ryan Mindell, validating watchdog claims.
Burrows Blocks Effort Limiting Scholarship Program to US Citizens
The Texas House Speaker killed a series of conservative amendments to a proposed scholarship program.
Texas Lawmakers Consider Advantaging Entities Seeking to Silence Citizens
A proposal heard by Texas representatives this week would cut into First Amendment protections against frivolous defamation lawsuits.
State Archive
Paxton Political Prosecutors Denied Rehearing
The long and drawn-out political prosecution against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton received yet another blow on Wednesday morning and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a rehearing over last years’ decision over payment of the appointed prosecutors. In a...
Texas Democrats Won Battle to Raise Smoking Age
In 1986, caving to pressure from groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving and following California's lead, the federal government decided to give all other states an ultimatum: raise the drinking age to 21 or have your highway funds slashed by 10 percent. Texas was...
Bowie Knife Veto Shows How Little Lawmakers Read Before Voting
The governor felt compelled to veto a proposed law declaring the Bowie Knife the “Official State Knife of Texas” after discovering a factual error in the commemoration language. The lack of effective oversight by lawmakers speaks to a common problem of the members of...
Texas Becomes 50th State to Allow Beer To-Go
Craft breweries and Texans who enjoy a cold one have something to raise a glass to after Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law legislation allowing beer to-go sales from craft breweries across Texas. The bill allows visitors, tourists, and patrons of craft breweries to...
Abbott Approves Bloated Budget
In the final days of the veto period, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the biennial budget passed by the Texas House and Senate during the legislative session in its entirety, growing state spending beyond Texans’ ability to pay for it. The 2020-2021 Texas budget comes in at...
WhataSurprise: Texas Burger Joint Bought by Chicago Company
Considered a Texas treasure for more than 50 years, many Texans were devastated to learn one of the Lone Star State’s most popular and beloved businesses might not be truly Texan for very much longer. On Friday, Whataburger announced that it had agreed to be acquired...
Texas GOP: Big 3 Didn’t Deliver
In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, the Republican Party of Texas’ executive committee admits lawmakers failed to pass its priorities during the 86th regular session. The State Republican Executive Committee, or...
Abbott Uses Hurricane Harvey to Extend Plumbing Regulations
The State of Texas will continue to license plumbers despite the state legislature declining to renew the agency, after Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order extending the agency through 2021, using emergency powers after Hurricane Harvey as his justification for...
Setback Occurs in Fight for Free Speech at UT
Like many of their fellow students, conservatives at the University of Texas at Austin will very likely be making a trip to New Orleans this coming fall. But unlike many of their fellow Longhorns, these students won’t be headed to Bourbon Street—they’ll be going to...