State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
House Committee Considers Property Tax Relief in the Form of Tax Rate Compression
The House’s plan differs from the Senate’s, which prioritizes raising the homestead exemption over additional compression.
Senators Hear From the Public on Parental Rights in Education
Senate Education Committee members considered nearly a dozen proposals designed to empower Texas parents.
Texas A&M Regents Ban On-Campus Drag Shows
The regents’ resolution acknowledged President Trump’s executive order banning the use of taxpayer dollars for the promotion of gender ideology.
‘Texas Strip’: Lone Star State Looks To Carve Out a New Name for a Classic Steak
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Senate will consider a resolution to give the New York Strip a more fitting name.
State Archive
Capitol In Crisis!
An autocratic politician has taken hostages in the Texas Capitol! Now, only a small group of patriots can free them before time runs out! No, that's not the premise for a gritty, made-for-TV, action-thriller. It’s what’s happening right now at the Texas Capitol with...
Straus Mimics Harry Reid … Again
Once labeled the “Harry Reid of Texas” by Forbes, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was back to his old tricks mimicking the former Democratic leader last week. Straus moved to consolidate power in the Texas House with little protest, save from a band of conservatives....
In Clash of Budgets, Senate Reigns Supreme
The war over state fiscal matters will reach another milestone in the 85th Legislative Session when the House committee substitute for CSSB1, the state's budget, hits the floor on Thursday. After months of jockeying by key players in both chambers, House members will...
House Republicans are Dunces for Democrats
Last Wednesday, the Democrat coalition that governs the Texas House overrode Republican opposition to expand welfare in the state, but what happened the next day was even more mind boggling. At issue was HB 132, by State Rep. Ina Minjarez (D–San Antonio), which would...
Lawmakers Should “Just Say No” to Raiding the Rainy Day Fund
Over the past few years Republican lawmakers have steadily rejected one of their own as he sought to bring Obamacare to Texas, now he’s back with another scheme they should overrule: raiding the Rainy Day Fund. A liberal member of the Democrat coalition that governs...
Texas Senate Passes Package of Conservative Priorities
The Texas Senate capped off an extremely busy week in which lawmakers passed a large number of conservative priorities. Here are some major items you might have missed: Phasing out the Franchise Tax The franchise tax is Texas’ onerous business tax that imposes a heavy...
Democrat Leadership Coalition Limits Members’ Power
Members of the Texas House are leaving Austin this week with decidedly less power than they had when they arrived. Amending bills on the floor was once considered an almost sacred right of every member of the state’s lower legislative chamber, limited only by...
Diluted School Choice Proposal Passes Texas Senate
Though school choice legislation has passed the Texas Senate, advocates for the issue have a lot less to celebrate than originally planned. Championed by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, school choice has been a major issue this session with advocates for and against the...
Voter ID Update Passes Texas Senate, Heads to House
On a bipartisan 21-10 vote, the Texas Senate on Tuesday passed modifications to the state’s photo voter ID law aimed at ensuring it passes constitutional muster while protecting election integrity and preventing voter fraud. SB 5, authored by State Sen. Joan Huffman...