State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Judge Blocks Texas A&M Drag Show Ban, Permits ‘Draggieland’ on Campus
The judge ruled that demeaning and inappropriate content is subjective.
Texas Senators Tackle Squatter Problem
Legislative proposals include an expedited eviction process and allowing law enforcement to remove unauthorized occupants.
Federal Judge Blocks Voter ID Requirement for Texas Mail Ballots
Judge Xavier Rodriguez has ruled against several provisions of a comprehensive election integrity measure enacted in 2021.
Cornyn and Cruz Warn Texas Lobbying Law Threatens Political Speech
Texas’ senators say the time has come for the Supreme Court to provide clarity on how lobbying regulations should be reviewed when they implicate First Amendment rights.
State Archive
UT Gets ‘Common Core’ Regent
Coming out of the gate with appointments, the team advising Gov. Greg Abbott seems to have made an initial early misstep by appointing an advocate of “common core” to the University of Texas board of regents. This is most surprising, given the strong stance Abbott has...
Senate Two-Thirds Rule Reformed As Promised
Conservatives around the Lone Star State rejoiced Wednesday afternoon when the Texas Senate did away with the long reviled two-thirds rule by a vote of 20–10*, with Sen. Craig Estes voting “present, not voting." A united Republican caucus joined by lone Democrat Sen....
Abbott Takes the Reins of Texas
For the first time in 14 years, Texans will have a new leader in the Governor’s mansion. Taking over from longtime Governor Rick Perry, Greg Abbott was sworn in Tuesday morning before throngs of Texans on the south steps of the Capitol with a Texas-sized dose of pomp...
Patrick Takes Position as Lieutenant Governor
Texas began its changing of the guard this morning as Dan Patrick was sworn in as the 42nd Lieutenant Governor of the Lone Star State. Receiving the oath of office from his son, a state district judge from Houston, Patrick will take the position alongside Gov. Greg...
OAG Report Vindicates Wallace Hall (Again)
A new report on the financial malfeasance at the University of Texas – released late on Friday afternoon before a long weekend – offers harsh criticism of a payola scandal begun when UT President Bill Powers was head of the law school. Without naming him, the report...
Conservatives Win Big in Rules Fight
Under a time crunch imposed by Texas House leadership and facing a troubling rules resolution proposal, conservative state representatives who two days ago faced down the Speaker won several important battles at the Capitol Thursday. The rules proposal, House...
Orwellian Committee Unveiled in New House Rules
On the third day of the 84th legislative session, the Texas House is set to take up a rules resolution, which if adopted, would make permanent an investigatory committee with an Orwellian name and draconian powers. The proposal, House Resolution 4, is scheduled for...
Confirmed: Margin Tax Drags Down Texas
The Tax Foundation released a report today that analyzed the Texas Margin Tax and confirmed its insidious consequences for Texas’ business environment. The margin tax was created in 2006 as an attempt to haul in extra revenue for school financing after the statewide...
A Glimpse at Patrick’s Session Priorities
At a press conference in the Texas Capitol, Lieutenant Governor-elect Dan Patrick delineated major items on his legislative agenda for the 84th session. Naturally, news outlets across the state bewailed the conservatism of Patrick’s checklist, suggesting recklessness...