State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Texas Senators Consider Measure Protecting Children From Sexual Content in Public Libraries
Under the proposal, sexually explicit materials would be moved to the adult section of all municipal libraries.
Hundreds of Bills Die as Texas House Hits Major Deadline
Senate bills are still eligible to be considered in the coming weeks, but for many House lawmakers, their priority bills are effectively finished.
Texas Alliance for Life Accused of Sabotaging Pro-Life Bill
Activist Abby Johnson accused TAL of pressuring a committee chairman to deny a hearing for legislation that would treat all abortion-related deaths as homicide.
Gov. Abbott Requests Waiver to Ban Unhealthy SNAP Purchases in Texas
Texas now awaits a response from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the SNAP program.
State Archive
Senate Moves to Close Legislature-to-Lobby Revolving Door
The revolving door between lobbyists and legislators may be harder to swing through if legislation passed unanimously by the Texas Senate on Wednesday makes it to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 13 by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) implements several new...
Texas House Delays Property Tax Reform…Yet Again
On April 11, the Texas House was scheduled to hear omnibus property tax reform legislation. Bill author State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R–Lubbock) delayed the legislation over the weekend to Monday, April 15. On Monday, April 15, while the Texas Senate passed similar...
DNA First, Due Process Later
NOTE: This article has been updated with additional information since it was initially published. Nearly two-thirds of the members of the Texas House believe government should have the ability to take your DNA and input it in a criminal database before you’re...
Poll: 66% of Texans Want Much Bigger Say on Property Tax Burden
While the Texas House has yet to take up serious property tax reform, Texans want far more say in how much their tax burden rises. A new poll shows 66 percent of Texans think voters should have much tighter control over property tax burdens. When asked at what point...
Will the Texas House Water Down Property Tax Reform?
Wednesday the Texas House is scheduled to begin debate on the issue most important to Texans—property tax reform. Unless, of course, House leaders decide to delay it again, as they’ve already done twice previously. But let’s assume for a moment that lawmakers don’t...
Carsharing Tax Bill Could Mean Rough Road for New Businesses
As the Texas Legislature continues a session centered on spending money, they’re also seeking “additional sources of revenue”—a technical term for pulling more cash out of taxpayers’ wallets. So far they’ve proposed applying the state’s sales tax to additional goods...
For Whom the Bell Tolls: House Committee Deadline This Week
As the final month of the legislative session approaches, lawmakers have been ramping up their activity. Bills are being voted out of committee following hearings and public testimony, and legislation is being voted out of one chamber to be considered in the other....
DPS Footage Contradicts Media Narrative Regarding Constitutional Carry Advocate
Earlier this month, Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen made waves by declaring constitutional carry legislation “dead” after alleging that a gun rights activist attempted to visit his home in a threatening manner while he was away. Now new body-cam footage obtained...
Pro-Life Texans Testify to Close Late-Term Abortion Loophole
The Texas House finally held a public hearing on one of the pro-life movement’s top priorities Wednesday evening: closing a loophole in the state’s ban on abortions after the 20-week mark of a pregnancy. The hearing, held by the Texas House Committee on State Affairs,...