State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Medicaid Provider Under Investigation for Spying on Patients and Legislators
Superior HealthPlan CEO acknowledges company hired investigators to research patients, journalists, and state officials.
Trump’s Executive Order Strengthens Election Laws
Texas already complies with most of the order’s sweeping election reforms.
Republicans Try Reviving Red-Light Camera Ticketing for School Buses
Opponents say photo-enforced ticketing is an unconstitutional form of policing that fails to make Texans safer.
State Rep. Harrison Calls for End to UT Gender Studies Dept. After Attending ‘Transgender Conference’
Harrison said that he will advocate for ending all UT Austin state funding unless the school terminates the department.
State Archive
Zerwas: The ObamaCare Republican
Two years ago, State Rep. John Zerwas was a relentless zealot for imposing ObamaCare on Texas. Conspiring with House Democrats, the Simonton Republican used parliamentary tricks and floor confusion to sneak an amendment into the budget that would have pulled Texas...
Who Do You Serve?
With religious liberty under near constant assault in Houston, Plano, and other Texas cities legislation was needed to protect the rights of business owners. Originally filed by State Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas), HJR 55 would do exactly that. If passed the bill...
Hall Monitor on Duty
Abortion advocates rallied at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday to lobby the legislature for increased access and taxpayer funding for themselves as part of Planned Parenthood Lobby Day. In advance of the event, Texas Right to Life distributed signs saying, “Former...
Haste at the Expense of Diligence
On Wednesday, the full body of Texas Senate moved to approve Gov. Abbott’s recent nominations to the University of Texas Board of Regents in the face of resistance from some of its conservative members. After an unprecedented five hour-long vetting process in the...
TPPF, Burton Propose the Liberty City
Most reform efforts aimed at restricting a city’s authority occur long after it’s incorporation, either by adopting new charter amendments or by citizen-led petition drives that force ballot referendums. But freshman State Sen. Konni Burton (R-Colleyville) is...
Franchise Tax in Creighton’s Crosshairs
State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) presented his three bills to the Senate Finance Committee last week that aim to provide relief from the state's franchise tax, also known as the gross margins tax. In his testimony, Creighton observed how the free economic...
Strengthening the Spending Cap
At a press conference Tuesday, State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick unveiled new legislation that would dramatically improve Texas' constitutional spending cap. Under the Texas Constitution, the current cap constrains the...
Stickland Fighting for Constitutional Carry Hearing
Over a month ago, sophomore State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) officially requested a hearing for his bill, HB 195. Also known as “Constitutional Carry,” the bill would allow for the unlicensed open carry of handguns in areas of the state where concealed carry...
Rushing on Regents
Despite senators just last week having expressed serious misgivings about nominees to the University of Texas Board of Regents, the Nominations Committee today forwarded those nominees to the full Senate with just one vote dissenting. Misgivings were offered by the...