INSIDER
Democrats and other critics say Texas legislation threatens to keep citizens who can’t easily access the right documents from voting.
Voting rights advocates worry that legislation approved by House and Senate committees could make it harder to get more people on the rolls.
The lower chamber overwhelmingly voted in favor of House Bill 2, a sweeping $8 billion piece of legislation that would also limit schools’ reliance on teachers without formal classroom training.
The Senate voted Wednesday to give initial approval to a bill that would require buildings, including public schools and universities, among others to segregate private facilities, like bathrooms, by sex.
El Paso’s dry climate — it rains just 9 inches annually — is one of the reasons the city has taken water management so seriously.
The proposal would require counties who opt for hand counts to use ballots that can be scanned and tabulated by a voting machine.
While Democrats and abortion access advocates pushed to ensure pregnant women aren’t criminalized, some conservatives questioned whether this bill is needed.
Lawmakers are pursuing legislative changes that would keep more people locked up in overcrowded county jails while awaiting resolution to their cases.
The House Public Education Committee voted to advance a pair of priority bills to create education savings accounts and to raise how much state money public school districts receive.
Supporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
Critics fear increased election prosecutions could intimidate voters and local election officials. Attorney General Ken Paxton has long sought more autonomy over election cases.
Most lawmakers — as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick — want to invest big in water. Here are the proposals that would do it.
The state House and Senate have similar proposals to solve the state's water crisis, but there are stark differences on how to invest billions of dollars to resolve.
The bill would have set deadlines for the oil and gas industry to plug inactive wells, which can pose a danger to the environment.
All 20 GOP senators signed on to Senate Bill 16, which would apply to currently registered voters, and restrict some to only congressional elections.
As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts.
House and Senate lawmakers plan to spend at least $6 billion on property tax cuts, but haven't yet agreed on how much relief should go to homeowners over businesses.
Among the proposals is a bill that would force more inspections of power lines, which a committee concluded ignited a blaze that burned more than 1 million acres last year.
The Lufkin school district says it must do a better job of promoting itself amid growing competition from charter schools and homeschooling.
Supporters hope easing zoning rules will entice landlords to renovate and ease the state’s housing crisis.
The designations come at a tumultuous time for universities as funding could be cut off and efforts to end tenure continue.
The marquee proposal would increase the amount of a home’s value exemption from school taxes to $140,000 from $100,000. The legislation must win approval from the House next.
Legislators are expected to take up a $360 million proposal that would change the landscape of financial aid in the state.
Senate Bill 2 now heads to the House, where top officials say they have the support to create education savings accounts.
Gov. Greg Abbott said cutting taxes is a top priority, however, state lawmakers don’t have as much money to plug into tax cuts as they did two years ago.
Election administrators say letting people cast a ballot at any polling site is more convenient for voters and cheaper for local governments.
Both chambers set aside $1 billion for a voucher-like education savings account program — double what was on the table two years ago — in a sign that supporters are emboldened after recent electoral gains.
Here’s a rundown of how legislation moves through the Capitol, the ways lawmakers operate and who the power players are.
Proposals to allow online registration and broaden photo ID options may have a chance to advance, supporters say.
Officials hope state lawmakers will boost the budget of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, an independent state agency, which can often be an elderly Texan’s only lifeline to the outside world.
A Votebeat analysis shows how such requirements risk disenfranchising key voter groups, including Native Americans and college students.
Republicans who vote against party leaders’ preferred candidate could be barred from running in primaries. Lawsuits could follow.
Faculty senates have long played a key role in developing curriculum and protecting open inquiry. State leaders have also accused them of liberal indoctrination.
The proposal comes after the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency said it needs more money to plug wells that are in some instances erupting.
