State news in Texas
State
Meet the Freshmen: Matt Morgan
Morgan has identified several priorities for the upcoming session, including border security, property tax relief, government spending, and insurance reform.
Texas on Track To Crack Down on Chinese Influence
Gov. Abbott has already been addressing foreign influence in the state, and lawmakers are expected to take additional action.
School Choice Plans Gain Energy in 2025
Lt. Gov Dan Patrick says the Republican-majority Legislature is poised to pass school choice in 2025.
Republican Incumbents Knocked Off in 2024 Primaries
In this year’s primary season, grassroots Republicans claimed victory over more moderate incumbents in the Texas House and Court of Criminal Appeals.
State Archive
Tribune Misses Fraser’s Biggest Conflict of Interest
Last week the Texas Tribune issued a report on State Sen. Troy Fraser (R–Horseshoe Bay), linking the senator’s financial interests with auto dealers to his opposition to legislation designed to allow Tesla Motors to sell directly to consumers in Texas. The Tribune...
Senate Approves Comprehensive Property Tax Relief
Keeping in step with their approach to property tax relief, the Texas Senate passed SB 1760 by Conroe Republican Brandon Creighton. The measure increases transparency and accountability for taxpayers. Specifically, SB1760: Eliminating the requirement that taxpayers...
Ethics Overhaul Passes Texas Senate
On Tuesday, the Texas Senate passed a major ethics overhaul bill, SB 19. Spearheaded by State Sen. Van Taylor (R-Plano), the initiative carries the endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott, who labeled ethics reform as one of his emergency issues. The legislation would expand...
House Passes Tax Relief Measures
Tax relief moved easily through the Texas House on Tuesday, a full month after the Senate passed their package. Both the House and the Senate are working to implement tax relief, but the two chambers currently differ over the proper method. The Senate’s $4.6 billion...
Obstructing Real Reforms
There are many measures by which this legislative session will be judged, but no measure is more important than their success in reforming the very operating systems of government in Texas. As the great Sam Houston put it, “A leader is someone who helps improve the...
House GOP: Sales Tax Cut ‘Compelling’
With a majority of Texans dissatisfied with the burden of property taxes, House members are this weekend working to sell a sales-tax-cut plan to taxpayers. Meanwhile, the media is pushing an "analysis" alleging that the highest paid Texans would benefit if the sales...
Senate Budget Conferees Appointed
On Thursday afternoon, the Senate released the names of its five members who will serve on the conference committee for the state budget, HB 1. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has appointed Sens. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa (D-McAllen), Charles...
House Budget Conference Committee Members Appointed
On Wednesday afternoon, the House released the names of its five members who will serve on the conference committee for the state budget bill HB 1. Speaker of the House Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) appointed Reps. John Otto (R-Dayton), Sylvester Turner (D-Houston),...
Tyranny in the Texas House
When he was selected to serve as a figurehead Speaker of the Texas House by an insurgent faction of Democrats and liberal Republicans, Joe Straus promised to deliver a “member-driven” House. But Straus has proven throughout his tenure in the Speaker’s chair that he is...