State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Parents Praise Passage of Protections From Sexual Predators in Schools
An army of advocates worked with lawmakers to protect students from sexual abuse and exploitation.
Joan Huffman Launches Campaign for Texas Attorney General
Huffman joins a field that already includes State Sen. Mayes Middleton and former U.S. Department of Justice official Aaron Reitz.
Is Texas Shielding Thousands of Illegal Aliens From Deportation With ‘U Visas’?
“U” visas are intended to grant temporary legal status and work authorization to illegal aliens who are victims of certain serious crimes.
Meet the AAUP: Pauline Strong
How a radical nationwide organization’s tentacles extend into Texas higher education.
State Archive
Attorney General Confirms Elected Officials Can Be Tax-Funded Lobbyists
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released an opinion Tuesday confirming there is no specific law prohibiting state legislators from being employed as tax-funded, local government lobbyists while simultaneously serving in public office....
New State Revenue Estimates Show “Difficult Choices” Ahead of Legislative Session
On Monday, Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the 2020-2021 Biennial Revenue Estimate, projecting $119.2 billion available for the state to use for general purpose spending. This amount represents an increase of 8.1 percent from the previous biennium, in which the state...
What are the Real House Deadlines?
With the 86th legislative session just around the corner, it is important that activists know the important real deadlines they’ll need to confront in order to ensure bills they are backing actually pass. Under the Texas Constitution, bills and constitutional...
Middleton Files Bill to End Tax-Funded Lobbying
Just a few days before the Texas Legislature is set to gavel in, State Rep.-elect Mayes Middleton has filed priority legislation, House Bill 281, to end tax-funded lobbying.A long-standing practice in the halls of the Texas Capitol, tax-funded lobbying...
It’s Time to End the Corporate Welfare Arms Race
Large corporations are scrambling to get special perks and cash handouts — paid for by you, the hardworking taxpayer. The problem shows no signs of slowing, which reinforces the need for the legislature to allow the enabling law to expire this coming session. Chapter...
Straus Pledges Remaining $8.5 Million to Influence Legislature
In his last days as Texas House Speaker, Joe Straus told reporters from his office in the Texas Capitol that he will commit his remaining campaign dollars accumulated at the helm of the lower chamber to forming an “advocacy group,” pledging to influence the Texas...
UT Tops Rankings of Craziest College Campuses in 2018
The University of Texas is once again one of the highest ranked universities in the nation, but Longhorns might not be bragging about their most recent accolade any time soon. The ranking stems from Campus Reform, a journalistic project of the Leadership Institute...
Abbott’s Property Tax ‘Trigger’ Under Attack
Democrats and other big-government apologists are ending 2018 by attacking a key plank of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's 2019 property tax reform plan. Abbott's plan would require school districts to get voter approval if property tax burdens are to rise more than 2.5...
Conservative Coalition Urges Abbott to Stop Voter Fraud
After Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos stepped down and Gov. Greg Abbott appointed David Whitley, his former Deputy Chief of Staff, to the position, grassroots leaders are imploring Abbott and Whitley to enforce election law and tamp down on voter fraud. As...