Texas senators grill utility executives about massive power failure after Hurricane Beryl
A special committee of the Texas Senate has convened to hear executives from Houston's largest utility provider explain the massive electricity failure that occurred when Hurricane Beryl hit the city on July 8.
Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how theyโre complying with the stateโs DEI ban
Tuesdayโs Texas Senate hearing comes as lawmakers are expected to propose new laws next year to enforce the DEI ban and prevent antisemitism.
Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdown
As administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.
UT-Austin announces round of firings in latest step to comply with Texasโ DEI ban
The firings come after state leaders criticized universities for not doing enough to enforce the ban. Students say UT-Austin has already overcorrected.
Senate fast-tracks passage of vouchers and border security legislation
The Senate revved to life Thursday, holding committee hearings with little advance notice and advancing four bills that satisfy Abbottโs agenda.
House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher program
The Senateโs Republican bill would let state leaders grow the program by taking money from other agencies without the Legislatureโs approval. The House bill would bar the practice.
Texasโ main voucher bill seeks to avoid other statesโ mistakes but keeps ideas that attracted criticism
Like in Texas, voucher programs in other states sparked vigorous debates, came with the same promises and faced similar concerns. Not all predictions came true.
School voucher bill gets initial approval in the Texas Senate, heads over to a more skeptical House
The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2, which would infuse $5.2 billion to school districts to help them with teacher raises and rising costs. Gov. Greg Abbott said he would add those items to the special sessionโs agenda once lawmakers approve a voucher program.
Vouchers return this special session โ and school funding might be left out. Hereโs what you need to know.
Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to Austin to try again to pass education savings accounts, which would let families use state funds to pay for their childrenโs private schooling. Teacher pay was not part of his agenda.
University of Houston students brace for LGBTQ Resource Center closure in response to Texasโ DEI ban
The announcement confronted students with the impact of a new law that will require all state-funded colleges and universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices.
Texas Republicans ended a patchwork of local rules they say hurt business. They also eroded powers of city councils.
Lawmakers delivered Gov. Greg Abbott a long-sought bill to stop local governments from enacting local laws that exceed state law on a number of fronts.
Texas Senate again advances proposed restrictions on lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation
For the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines.
Texas Senate committee revamps school funding bill to revive voucher-like proposal
The Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didnโt pass.
School voucher bill hangs by a thread as key deadline approaches
The House public education committee chair said Wednesday he currently has no plans to bring the bill for a vote. Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to call a special session if the House doesnโt โexpand the scope of school choice.โ
Texas GOPโs broadest attempt yet to erode blue citiesโ power gets one step closer to becoming law
Gov. Greg Abbott and other supporters of the bill have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations that they say hamper business owners and harm the stateโs economy.
Texas Houseโs version of the Senateโs voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR test
The Texas Houseโs education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.
Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universities
A new version of Senate Bill 18 scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday would keep faculty tenure and direct university governing boards to establish policies to grant and revoke tenure.
University of Texas regents approve creation of new college to house Civitas Institute at UT-Austin
The Civitas Institute was conceived with the help of conservative donors and state lawmakers to lead research and education based on free-market principles.
For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careers
While the proposed tenure ban will likely face steep opposition in the Texas House, faculty say lawmakersโ recent attacks on higher education have raised concerns about whether Texas is the best state to build their career.
Texas Senate approves bill that would ban diversity programs in public universities
The legislation heads to the Texas House, where members have been more muted about the proposal to disband offices, programs and training that foster diversity.
Texas House approves sweeping limits on local regulations in GOPโs latest jab at blue cities
City officials say the full scope of the legislation advanced Tuesday is still unclear, but it would limit their ability to issue worker protections, water restrictions and more.
Texas Senate approves education savings account bill โ but House signals a tough road ahead
A Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Senators also passed a bill on Thursday that would give teachers a one-time bonus.
LGBTQ groups criticize Texas billโs broad restrictions on school lessons and activities about sexuality and gender identity
Senate Bill 8 supporters say the legislation protects the rights of parents who donโt want their kids to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation. Critics say it could force schools to ignore the existence of LGBTQ people.
In Texas Senate hearing, education savings accounts face questions about accountability and impact on public schools
More than 380 supporters and opponents signed up Wednesday to testify on the proposal, which would allow parents to use state funds to send their children to private schools.
Texas cities have adopted ordinances to benefit workers. Sweeping legislation could roll many back.
Lawmakers say their bills are needed to provide small businesses with consistent regulations and that regulatory power should be returned to the state. Labor groups say the proposal could undo hard-fought measures to protect workers.
Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own college
Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has filed legislation that would establish The Civitas School of Civic and International Leadership as a formal college at the University of Texas at Austin.
Texas Families would get $8,000 in tax dollars to send students to private school in sweeping โparental rightsโ bill backed by Lt. Gov.
The bill, which has the blessing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will create new rules on how gender and sexual orientation is taught. It will face a tougher test in the House.
Texas Senateโs priority bills on higher ed would end tenure, diversity policies
The bills are part of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrickโs list of priorities and, if passed as filed, could have profound impacts on how Texas universities recruit top faculty and other employees.
What you need to know about education savings accounts, the voucher-like program championed by Gov. Greg Abbott
Texas is the latest state to pitch a version of the program, which lets parents who opt out of their local school districts use tax dollars to pay for private schooling.
Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill allowing college athletes to profit off their own name and likeness
More than a dozen states have passed similar legislation allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name, image or likeness as state lawmakers have called on the federal government to set national guidelines.
Texas bill to ban the teaching of โcritical race theoryโ spiked at the last minute on a technicality
Texas educators worried the bill would have a chilling effect on tough conversations about race and racism. GOP lawmakers said they wanted to ensure teachers' personal biases stay out of their lessons
Texasโ divisive bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism passed by Senate
The bill aims to ban critical race theory in public and open-enrollment charter schools. Supporters say it merely ensures students aren't taught that one race or gender is superior to another. Critics say it limits how race in America is taught.
Pending state legislation limits what what ethnic studies teach in public schools, San Antonio professor says
As one of the few states that has both African-American and Mexican-American studies as a high school credit, an assistant professor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio said the pending legislation in Austin is being followed nationally.