State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
A Russian Businessman’s Connections to the Texas Lottery
The indictment was unsealed mere days before Gov. Abbott pushed DPS off the sidelines.
Dr. Mary Talley Bowden’s Social Media Use Under Scrutiny in Hearing
The Texas Medical Board highlighted Dr. Bowden’s use of social media in a hearing before state administrative law judges.
Texas Lottery Commissioners Finalize Ban on Ticket Resellers
The move comes amid pressure from lawmakers to take action on ticket resellers and address connections to suspicious jackpot winnings.
Republican Lawmakers Challenge Speaker Burrows Over Stalled Party Priorities
State Reps. Andy Hopper and Brent Money attempted to force votes on E-Verify and a taxpayer-funded lobbying ban, but were shut down by Speaker Dustin Burrows.
State Archive
Texas House Passes Bloated Budget, Surrenders on Property Tax Relief
Just after midnight, the Texas House voted 149-0 to advance a budget that grows the size of government by nearly 16 percent and provides only a meager whisper of property tax relief. Despite a strong Republican majority of lawmakers who campaigned on property tax...
Landmark Taxpayer-Funded Lobby Ban Clears Committee Hurdle
Landmark legislation banning the practice of cities, municipalities, and other taxing entities to hire lobbyists with taxpayer dollars was passed out of a special meeting by the Texas House Committee on State Affairs Wednesday afternoon. The policy, long fought off by...
Hearing Set for State Spending Limits in Texas Senate
Legislation to impose a state spending limit is set to be heard next week in the Texas Senate, and the bill as currently filed has garnered a lot of support. Senate Bill 1891 by State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R–North Richland Hills) seeks to cap the growth of state...
Senate Approves Bill for Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Disclosure
Currently, political subdivisions are not required to publicly disclose the expenditures paid to hire lobbyists or contributions of dues to associations that lobby. That could soon change, thanks to legislation approved by the Texas Senate. Senate Bill 702 by State...
Texas Legislature Inches Closer to Outright Red-Light Camera Ban
On Tuesday, local government officials and municipal law enforcement fought hard to preserve red-light cameras which they argue provide needed revenue and make cities safer—but citizens arguing against the allegedly unconstitutional and ineffective devices fought...
Burrows Poised to Surrender, Remove School Taxes from Property Tax Reform
State lawmakers are preparing for a lengthy debate of the state’s budget. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee is expected to finally take up property tax reform, and consider various proposals to gut the legislation so that it doesn’t cover the majority of...
House School Finance Plan Would Not “Reduce Robin Hood”
Texans looking for long-awaited property tax reductions from state lawmakers could be disappointed, based on how a key proposal is being sold to voters. House lawmakers who support “The Texas Plan” continue to claim the legislation—filed as House Bill 3—would “reduce...
Texas House to Vote on Spending Spree Budget, Meager Property Tax Relief
Today the Texas House will consider House Bill 1, the state budget. In the bill as currently written, lawmakers are proposing to increase the size of government by a jaw-dropping 16 percent—all while providing little in terms of property tax relief for overburdened...
Constitutional Carry on the Ropes in Bonnen’s House?
Is the window for constitutional carry closing in the Texas Legislature? According to the bill’s author, it may be. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) took to Facebook last week to sound off on the stalling of House leadership as it pertains to his legislation,...