State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas House Lawmakers Pass Self-Defense, Pro-Second Amendment Measures
The proposals would bolster lawful use of force or deadly force, ban gun buyback programs, and permit licensed handgun carrying at certain polling locations.
Narcotics Dog’s Nose in Car Window Triggers Bill of Rights Discussion
A case in which a narcotics dog stuck its nose through a car’s open window has sparked discussion about Fourth Amendment rights.
With Clock Ticking, Texas House Faces Pileup of Legislation After Slow Start
Early in the session, the House took frequent long weekends and delayed committee activity, a pace that has now come back to haunt the chamber as the deadline looms.
Plan To Protect Kids From Sexual Content in Public Libraries Passes House
Time is running short for the Texas GOP priority to pass the Senate and go to the governor.
State Archive
Allen West: Dennis Bonnen Should Resign
A candidate for Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas has called on Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen to resign following revelations he tried to entice Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan into targeting Republican lawmakers in primary elections in exchange...
Democrats Ramp Up Texas-Sized Ambitions
It is no secret that Texas' Democrat Party wants to take back their former stronghold. If Texas had gone blue in 2016, Donald Trump would have lost and Hillary Clinton would have become president. Trump carried Texas by nine points in 2016, but with Ted Cruz only...
Jared Patterson Brags About Being Democrats’ “Favorite Freshman”
A Republican lawmaker from North Texas is bragging about being Democrats’ “favorite freshman” due to his “relationships” with leadership. During a Legislative Recap hosted by the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, freshman State Rep. Jared Patterson (R–Frisco) shockingly...
Commentary: Tone-Deaf Lawmakers Circle the Wagons
Dennis Bonnen needs to resign so that the GOP House delegation can move forward (to borrow a phrase). What began as an embarrassingly bad attempt at cloak-and-dagger political maneuvering has left Bonnen's insubstantial credibility in a smoldering heap. Doubling down...
Texas House to Investigate Bonnen’s Backroom Deal
The fallout of Speaker Dennis Bonnen’s backroom offer to Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan continues to escalate. This afternoon, the House General Investigating Committee announced it will hold a public hearing to begin an investigation into the matter. The...
Conservatives Not Buying Bonnen “Apology”
Following a meeting with Empower Texans CEO Michael Quinn Sullivan in which Speaker Dennis Bonnen insulted members of the House and offered press credentials in exchange for political targeting of specific Republican legislators, Bonnen sent a partial apology to Texas...
Paxton Joins Suit Against Dallas Sick Leave Ordinance
After the Dallas City Council implemented a mandatory paid sick-leave ordinance, two Dallas-area employers have challenged the ordinance in court. Now the state’s top lawyer is joining the case. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that he would join the legal...
Commentary: Klick’s Committee Spared Texas from Flawed Election Legislation
On behalf of the Harris County Republican Party (HCRP), we take issue with Daniel Greer’s recent account of how the Texas House Committee on Elections handled Senate Bill 9 in the 86th Legislative Session—a bill that would have mandated paper ballots in all Texas...
Calls For “Red-Flag” Gun Confiscations Heat Up Again
After the tragic mass shooting in El Paso on Saturday, calls for “red-flag’ gun confiscation laws are stacking up, with at least one Texas Republican publicly supporting the measure. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R–TX), who is currently serving his first term in Congress,...