State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Paxton Instructs Texas School Districts To Follow State’s Ten Commandments Law
Despite a federal judge’s court order halting display of the Ten Commandments in 11 districts, the rest of the state is still required to follow the new law.
Gov. Abbott Adds Election and Public Safety Legislation To Special Session Agenda
The special session can only last for up to 30 days.
Texas House Approves Stricter Cap on Local Property Tax Increases
Conservative amendments proposed during debate strengthened the legislation.
House Republicans Reject Effort to Punish Democrat Quorum Breakers
The debate comes days after Gov. Greg Abbott added “legislation to impose penalties or punishments for legislators who willfully absent themselves during a session” to the special session agenda.
State Archive
Judge Blocks Texas A&M Drag Show Ban, Permits ‘Draggieland’ on Campus
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Texas A&M University System regents’ ban on drag shows across all of its campuses. The ruling allows the annual drag event, "Draggieland," to proceed as planned on Thursday in Rudder Theatre at the university’s flagship...
Texas Senators Tackle Squatter Problem
Texas lawmakers proposed two measures aimed at addressing the growing squatter crisis across the state in a Senate committee hearing. Senate Bill 38 deals with formal eviction processes and jurisdiction while Senate Bill 1333 focuses on unauthorized entry and...
Federal Judge Blocks Voter ID Requirement for Texas Mail Ballots
A federal judge ruled that a Texas law requiring voter ID for mail-in ballots unconstitutionally discriminates against disabled voters. The challenged measure sought to align voter ID requirements for in-person voting and voting by mail. U.S. District Judge Xavier...
Cornyn and Cruz Warn Texas Lobbying Law Threatens Political Speech
Texas’ Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a case against the Texas Ethics Commission, warning that Texas’ lobbying laws pose a serious threat to core political speech protected by the First Amendment....
Audit Shows $5.1 Million Price Tag for Failed Paxton Impeachment
More than 18 months after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick first requested an audit of the taxpayer cost of Attorney General Ken Paxton's failed impeachment, the State Auditor’s Office has released its report: $5,110,038—the vast majority of which was incurred by the House's...
Republican Lawmaker’s Mic Cut by Democrat Chair After Objecting To Alleged Rules Breach
A Republican legislator’s mic was cut off by a Democrat subcommittee chairman after the legislator objected to what he says is a breach of Texas House rules. State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) raised a point of order Thursday as a House Subcommittee on...
Analysis: A Bad Week for Gambling Interests in Texas
This week, the Texas Legislature took steps to strip power from the Texas Lottery Commission, possibly setting the agency up for abolition, and Las Vegas Sands’ casino plans suffered a setback in Irving at the hands of outraged citizens. On Monday, State Sen. Mayes...
Professors Testify Against Faculty Senate Reform Proposal
Texas Senators considered testimony from professors and members of the public on legislation to reform higher education. Senate Bill 37 by State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who chairs the Senate Education K-16 Committee, aims to specify the roles of governing...
Court Blocks Biden-era Rule Demanding Foster Care Providers Affirm LGBT Identities
Attorney General Ken Paxton successfully challenged a Biden administration rule that aimed to impose specific requirements on foster care providers regarding the affirmation of children's “gender identities.” The rule, promulgated by the U.S. Department of Health and...