Texas youth camps push back on safety bill requiring cabin removal from floodplains
Read full article: Texas youth camps push back on safety bill requiring cabin removal from floodplainsAs the Texas legislature debates a new camp safety bill, three Kerr County camps are pushing to have one part of the bill removed. They say the costs of moving cabins out of flood zones could cause them to close.
Rep. Alma Allen, longtime Houston Democratic lawmaker, to retire from Texas House
Read full article: Rep. Alma Allen, longtime Houston Democratic lawmaker, to retire from Texas HouseAllen, known for her focus on public education issues, announced her retirement after 20 years in the House. She endorsed her son, Lawrence Allen Jr., to succeed her.
Texas AG Ken Paxton encourages students to recite Lord’s Prayer in latest test of church-state separation
Read full article: Texas AG Ken Paxton encourages students to recite Lord’s Prayer in latest test of church-state separationThe endorsement comes as Texas elected officials push for more Christianity in public life and as Paxton’s office fights a legal challenge to religion in education.
Parents of kids swept away in Texas floods beg lawmakers to protect future campers
Read full article: Parents of kids swept away in Texas floods beg lawmakers to protect future campersParents of the 27 campers and counselors killed when floodwaters rushed through a girl's summer camp in the Texas Hill Country pleaded with lawmakers to pass a bill that would boost camp safety.
El Paso judge blocks Ken Paxton from taking legal action against Beto O’Rourke’s political group
Read full article: El Paso judge blocks Ken Paxton from taking legal action against Beto O’Rourke’s political groupThe order bars Paxton from prosecuting O’Rourke’s nonprofit or otherwise bringing legal action aimed at revoking Powered by People’s charter.
Judge blocks Beto O’Rourke from financially supporting Texas Democrats who left the state
Read full article: Judge blocks Beto O’Rourke from financially supporting Texas Democrats who left the stateThe order came at the request of Attorney General Ken Paxton, who O’Rourke accused in a separate lawsuit of going on a “fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned.”
KSAT Q&A: ‘Quorum-breaking is a legislative tradition,’ but latest attempts to stop are ‘unprecedented’: insider says
Read full article: KSAT Q&A: ‘Quorum-breaking is a legislative tradition,’ but latest attempts to stop are ‘unprecedented’: insider saysTexas Capitol insider Scott Braddock joined the KSAT Q&A to discuss the current quorum break by Texas lawmakers and what may happen next for the special session.
Texas dispute highlights nation's long history of partisan gerrymandering. Is it legal?
Read full article: Texas dispute highlights nation's long history of partisan gerrymandering. Is it legal?A spat over congressional redistricting in Texas marks the latest episode in a long national history of gerrymandering.
WATCH LIVE: Texas lawmakers meet on flooding, disaster preparedness for first time in special session
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Texas lawmakers meet on flooding, disaster preparedness for first time in special sessionThe joint committee of state legislators assembled by Gov. Greg Abbott to address the flooding in the Hill Country and Central Texas is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, as part of the special session.
State legislators on new flood disaster committee lay out expectations for special session
Read full article: State legislators on new flood disaster committee lay out expectations for special sessionAfter the devastating and deadly July 4 floods in the Hill Country, emergency response became the priority for the Texas legislature's special session.
KSAT Q&A: Texas Capitol insider Scott Braddock previews special session, whether Dems will show up
Read full article: KSAT Q&A: Texas Capitol insider Scott Braddock previews special session, whether Dems will show upTexas Capitol insider Scott Braddock joined KSAT’s Q&A segment on Thursday to discuss the upcoming Texas special session.
Faith leaders and families sue to block Texas' new Ten Commandments in schools law
Read full article: Faith leaders and families sue to block Texas' new Ten Commandments in schools lawA group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.
New Texas law will require Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom
Read full article: New Texas law will require Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroomTexas will require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a new state law that will make the state the nation’s largest to attempt to impose such a mandate.
As Trump celebrates military, Texans protest president’s aggressive immigration enforcement
Read full article: As Trump celebrates military, Texans protest president’s aggressive immigration enforcementDemonstrations in McAllen, Midland, Odessa, Austin and elsewhere in Texas have been largely peaceful, as some protests are expected to go well into the night.
Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions came
Read full article: Anti-Trump demonstrators crowd streets, parks and plazas across the US. Organizers say millions cameDemonstrators came out in cities across the U.S. to protest President Donald Trump.
Texas parents and teachers worry bills to root out liberal sway from public schools pave the way for conservative bias
Read full article: Texas parents and teachers worry bills to root out liberal sway from public schools pave the way for conservative biasAdvocates say the bills will give parents more power over their children’s schools. Critics say they don’t give parents anything they didn’t already have and will only strain their relationship with teachers.
Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill signed by governor
Read full article: Texas will require public school classrooms to display Ten Commandments under bill signed by governorGov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10, even though a similar Louisiana law was deemed unconstitutional. Supporters say Christianity is core to U.S. history.
"See how we do things": Austin cannabis shop invites Texas lawmakers wanting to ban THC
Read full article: "See how we do things": Austin cannabis shop invites Texas lawmakers wanting to ban THCA bill that would make it illegal to sell THC products could soon head over to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. For a cannabis store employee, lawmakers don't know enough about the industry they're trying to shut down.
Bill to teach Texas kids the dangers of communism — but not fascism — clears the Legislature
Read full article: Bill to teach Texas kids the dangers of communism — but not fascism — clears the LegislatureThe bill won bipartisan support despite efforts from multiple Democrats that would have also required students to learn about fascism and Nazism.
Texas bill proposes high-speed rail along I-35 corridor connecting major cities, including San Antonio
Read full article: Texas bill proposes high-speed rail along I-35 corridor connecting major cities, including San AntonioA bill that would enable a high-speed rail connecting San Antonio to Austin and Dallas is now sitting in the House Committee.
Texas lawmakers approve $1B private school voucher plan
Read full article: Texas lawmakers approve $1B private school voucher planTexas lawmakers on Thursday passed a $1 billion education bill that allows families to use public money to pay for private school tuition, a major victory for school voucher proponents nationwide that was cheered on by President Donald Trump.
Texas House committee expected to discuss school vouchers funding proposal on Thursday
Read full article: Texas House committee expected to discuss school vouchers funding proposal on ThursdayThe Committee on Public Education in the Texas House of Representatives is expected to hold a hearing on school vouchers sometime Thursday.
San Antonio educators rally against school choice vouchers at Texas Capitol
Read full article: San Antonio educators rally against school choice vouchers at Texas CapitolDozens of educators, including several from San Antonio, convened at the Texas Capitol on Monday to voice their opposition to school choice vouchers.
Transgender staffer navigates Texas Capitol with guarded care amid growing hostilities
Read full article: Transgender staffer navigates Texas Capitol with guarded care amid growing hostilitiesMo Jenkins is one of only a few openly transgender staffers working in the Capitol as lawmakers are making headway in restricting rights for LGBTQ+ Texans.
Texas House majority signs on to new bill restricting the use of bathrooms in public buildings by transgender people
Read full article: Texas House majority signs on to new bill restricting the use of bathrooms in public buildings by transgender peopleHouse Bill 239, which echoes a bathroom bill that failed in 2017, includes new provisions for shelters and prisons.
Texas GOP chair claims church-state separation is a myth as lawmakers, pastors prep for “spiritual battle”
Read full article: Texas GOP chair claims church-state separation is a myth as lawmakers, pastors prep for “spiritual battle”Abraham George’s comments are the latest sign of the state GOP’s embrace of fundamentalist ideologies that seek to center public life around their faith.
Texans only Democrats in Congress to vote for bill restricting trans athletes
Read full article: Texans only Democrats in Congress to vote for bill restricting trans athletesRepublicans accused Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of supporting gender transitions for children throughout the 2024 election cycle, which he said took a political toll.
Focus on higher education system featured in early bill filings for next Texas legislative session
Read full article: Focus on higher education system featured in early bill filings for next Texas legislative sessionIf early bill filings for the next Texas Legislative Session are anything to go by, then one thing is clear: Lawmakers are again hyperfocusing on the state’s higher education institutions.
Texas man whose execution was halted by subpoena won’t testify in person before lawmakers
Read full article: Texas man whose execution was halted by subpoena won’t testify in person before lawmakersA Texas man whose execution was halted because of a last-ditch subpoena won't testify in person before lawmakers.
Texas man drops lawsuit against women he accused of helping his wife get abortion pills
Read full article: Texas man drops lawsuit against women he accused of helping his wife get abortion pillsA Texas man who sued his ex-wife’s friends for helping her obtain an abortion informed the court that the two sides reached a settlement, forgoing the need for a trial that would have tested his argument that their actions amounted to assisting in a wrongful death.
Texas is a young state with older elected officials. Some young leaders are trying to change that.
Read full article: Texas is a young state with older elected officials. Some young leaders are trying to change that.The average age of Texans last year was 37, while the Legislature’s average age was 55. Hurdles to voting and the unique challenges young candidates encounter fuel the mismatch.
Will San Antonio take a harder stance on anti-LGBTQ bills in Austin next year?
Read full article: Will San Antonio take a harder stance on anti-LGBTQ bills in Austin next year?Council members on the Intergovernmental Relations Committee want the city's state legislative priorities to more explicitly include support for the LGBTQ community.
How a Texas man is testing out-of-state abortions by asking a court to subpoena his ex-partner
Read full article: How a Texas man is testing out-of-state abortions by asking a court to subpoena his ex-partnerA Texas man is petitioning a court for information over his former partner's alleged out-of-state abortion, setting up a first-of-its-kind legal test to the limits of statewide abortion bans.
Enforcing Texas’ new immigration law may be challenging, even for authorities that support it
Read full article: Enforcing Texas’ new immigration law may be challenging, even for authorities that support itA new law allowing local authorities to deport migrants remains tied up in court. Even if it goes back into effect, logistical challenges could complicate enforcement.
Texas Supreme Court refuses to hear ethics lawsuit brought by conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court refuses to hear ethics lawsuit brought by conservative activist Michael Quinn SullivanIn 2014, and following a two-year investigation, the Texas Ethics Commission fined Sullivan $10,000 for failing to register as a lobbyist.
Appeals court rules lawsuit seeking Jan. 6 emails from Texas governor, attorney general can move forward
Read full article: Appeals court rules lawsuit seeking Jan. 6 emails from Texas governor, attorney general can move forwardOn Jan. 6, 2021, Ken Paxton spoke at a rally that preceded a mob of Donald Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol.
Police in Texas could arrest migrants under a bill that is moving closer to approval by the governor
Read full article: Police in Texas could arrest migrants under a bill that is moving closer to approval by the governorTexas is moving closer to giving police broad new authority to arrest migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Texas teachers grapple with their raises caught up in voucher fight
Read full article: Texas teachers grapple with their raises caught up in voucher fightAs a special session starts with a focus on “school choice” but no mention of public school funding, some teachers said they are even considering leaving the profession.
Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial escalates Texas Republican civil war
Read full article: Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial escalates Texas Republican civil warPaxton’s far-right supporters doubled down on their promises for swift retribution against fellow Republicans who supported his removal from office.
Captivated by the historic trial, Texans respond to Paxton acquittal with delight, disappointment
Read full article: Captivated by the historic trial, Texans respond to Paxton acquittal with delight, disappointmentThose disappointed by the Senate vote, blame political polarization. Those pleased with the acquittal say the evidence fell short.
Ken Paxton was acquitted. See how each Senator voted.
Read full article: Ken Paxton was acquitted. See how each Senator voted.After spending two weeks listening to both sides make their case, Texas Senators voted to acquit Paxton on all 16 articles of impeachment. Because of this vote, Paxton will remain in office.
Texas high court allows law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors to take effect
Read full article: Texas high court allows law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors to take effectThe Texas Supreme Court will allow the new state law banning gender-affirming care for minors to take effect on Friday, setting up Texas to be the most populous state with such restrictions on transgender children.
Texas heat wave has inmates' families worried about lack of air conditioning in state's prisons
Read full article: Texas heat wave has inmates' families worried about lack of air conditioning in state's prisonsAs a summer heat wave continues to bake most of Texas, family members of inmates are calling for all of the state’s prisons to be fully air conditioned.
Families and doctors sue Texas over its new ban on transgender care for minors
Read full article: Families and doctors sue Texas over its new ban on transgender care for minorsA group of Texas families and doctors have sued in state court seeking to block the state’s new law that bans gender-affirming care for minors.
Gov. Greg Abbott sends more state police to patrol Austin after city leaders call for end to partnership
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott sends more state police to patrol Austin after city leaders call for end to partnershipAustin Mayor Kirk Watson had said that troopers pulling a gun on a 10-year-old prompted the end of the agreement. A video of that encounter shows troopers with guns pointed at the ground, not the child.
New Texas laws favor parents in child abuse investigations as legislators try to limit number of kids in foster care
Read full article: New Texas laws favor parents in child abuse investigations as legislators try to limit number of kids in foster careLegislators also passed bills that will provide foster kids entering the troubled system with duffel bags or backpacks and those aging out of the system with help setting up bank accounts.
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill that would give people with disabilities new option to vote by mail
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes bill that would give people with disabilities new option to vote by mailThe bipartisan legislation was long sought by advocates for disabled voters, including some of the governor’s own allies.
Impeachment trial of Texas’ Ken Paxton to begin no later than August 28
Read full article: Impeachment trial of Texas’ Ken Paxton to begin no later than August 28A historic impeachment trial in Texas to determine whether Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton should be permanently removed from office will begin no later than August in the state Senate.
Republican priorities on school choice, border fail, but late-night compromises resurrect others
Read full article: Republican priorities on school choice, border fail, but late-night compromises resurrect othersRushed agreements and suspended rules rescue legislation on the electric grid and economic incentives for companies, and work is still being done on a property tax proposal.
Texas governor sent bill abolishing position of Harris County elections chief
Read full article: Texas governor sent bill abolishing position of Harris County elections chiefThe Texas Legislature has approved abolishing a position Democrats in the state's largest county created to oversee more than 2 million voters around Houston.
Austin doctors who treated trans kids leaving Dell Children’s clinic after AG Paxton announces investigation
Read full article: Austin doctors who treated trans kids leaving Dell Children’s clinic after AG Paxton announces investigationAttorney General Ken Paxton previously announced an investigation into “potentially illegal” activity. Parents are scrambling to find transition-related care for their kids as the Legislature appears poised to ban it altogether.
Rare momentum on a Texas gun bill stalls in the state's Republican-controlled legislature
Read full article: Rare momentum on a Texas gun bill stalls in the state's Republican-controlled legislatureRare momentum in the Texas Capitol for a tougher gun law has flickered out, days after a mass shooting near Dallas left eight people dead.
Democrats again delay Texas House debate on banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kids
Read full article: Democrats again delay Texas House debate on banning puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans kidsSenate Bill 14 spurred protests that led to altercations with state police earlier this week. Bill supporters and opponents again showed up at the Capitol for an expected vote Friday.
Rep. Bryan Slaton declines to discuss attendance at closed investigative hearing
Read full article: Rep. Bryan Slaton declines to discuss attendance at closed investigative hearingThe Royse City Republican, accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an employee, emerged from a room where a House investigative panel was meeting.
Protesters evicted from Texas Capitol as clash between LGBTQ residents and GOP leaders escalates
Read full article: Protesters evicted from Texas Capitol as clash between LGBTQ residents and GOP leaders escalatesTexas state police detained and handcuffed people protesting legislation that would prohibit transgender kids from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The House separately delayed a vote on Senate Bill 14 until later this week.
Senate OKs bill to allow construction of anti-abortion monument on state Capitol grounds
Read full article: Senate OKs bill to allow construction of anti-abortion monument on state Capitol groundsThe original sculpture was installed in the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome last year and is often interpreted as a depiction of Mary and Jesus.
As the legislative clock ticks, Houston language advocates angle for a committee hearing
Read full article: As the legislative clock ticks, Houston language advocates angle for a committee hearingThe window is closing for Woori Juntos in its pursuit of legislation to improve language access to state health programs.
In overnight testimony, Uvalde victims’ family members call on Texas lawmakers to raise age to buy semi-automatic guns
Read full article: In overnight testimony, Uvalde victims’ family members call on Texas lawmakers to raise age to buy semi-automatic gunsThe families of Uvalde shooting victims waited hours to testify at a House committee hearing in support of House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.
After years of little progress, Texas gun control and safety advocates see some small openings for dialogue at the Capitol
Read full article: After years of little progress, Texas gun control and safety advocates see some small openings for dialogue at the CapitolMany bills that would limit access to firearms or ammunition likely won’t become law anytime soon. But people who advocate at the Texas Capitol see emerging signs that there’s appetite for finding some middle ground.
Law enforcement says no explosives detected after bomb threat called in to state Capitol
Read full article: Law enforcement says no explosives detected after bomb threat called in to state CapitolThe Texas Department of Public Safety did a sweep of Capitol grounds with K-9 dogs and found no explosive devices.
Terrified and angry, LGBTQ Texans and allies rally at Capitol to protest bills targeting queer community
Read full article: Terrified and angry, LGBTQ Texans and allies rally at Capitol to protest bills targeting queer communityWith six weeks remaining in the legislative session, advocates implored Texans to join the “resistance” against fast-moving efforts to curb health care, drag queens, education, trans athletes and more.
The eyes of LGBTQ Texans are upon Dade Phelan and the House
Read full article: The eyes of LGBTQ Texans are upon Dade Phelan and the HouseSpurred by a groundswell of far-right support, the Texas Senate has passed all of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priority LGBTQ bills — and then some. What the House does next will impact queer Texans’ lives and could determine Speaker Phelan’s future.
Complaint alleges Rep. Bryan Slaton had “inappropriate relationship” with an intern
Read full article: Complaint alleges Rep. Bryan Slaton had “inappropriate relationship” with an internThe complaint came after an incident in which Slaton and the staffer allegedly met up at his Austin apartment last weekend. A separate staffer told The Texas Tribune that Slaton drank alcohol with an intern under 21 years old.
Sen. Kelly Hancock opens up about rare kidney disease, as he advocates for Texas bill to increase living organ donors
Read full article: Sen. Kelly Hancock opens up about rare kidney disease, as he advocates for Texas bill to increase living organ donorsHancock, a North Richland Hills Republican, was diagnosed at age 27 with a rare genetic kidney disease that occurs when the immunoglobulin A antibody builds up in the kidneys.
Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren’t saying who removed it.
Read full article: Quran taken from Texas Capitol chapel recovered by state police. They aren’t saying who removed it.Days after it went missing, DPS identified the person who removed a family Quran Rep. Salman Bhojani had placed in the chapel. The state has since provided its own copy.
Staff of Houston state Rep. Jolanda Jones resigns, citing hostile work environment
Read full article: Staff of Houston state Rep. Jolanda Jones resigns, citing hostile work environmentJones said in a new statement that she was outraged at the allegations the former employees made about her son, who works in the office, which she said are false.
Here’s what to know about transition-related health care, which Texas has banned for children
Read full article: Here’s what to know about transition-related health care, which Texas has banned for childrenSenate Bill 14 prohibits trans kids from receiving puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Here’s what medical experts and trans Texans say about such care.
Houston language advocates race to keep their one small request from disappearing in Capitol bedlam
Read full article: Houston language advocates race to keep their one small request from disappearing in Capitol bedlamWoori Juntos began the legislative session hoping to win over a majority of legislators to their cause — making it easier for Texans who speak no or limited English to communicate with state agencies and access crucial services. First, they needed a lawmaker to file their bill.
Uvalde families ask to join suit pushing for DPS to release public records
Read full article: Uvalde families ask to join suit pushing for DPS to release public recordsThe lawyers for some of the Uvalde families say there is “a compelling need” for records into the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary to be publicly released.
Families of Uvalde victims confront Texas’ police chief
Read full article: Families of Uvalde victims confront Texas’ police chiefFamily members of victims killed in the Uvalde school shooting have confronted Texas’ police chief in an emotional end to a day of protests at the state Capitol over gun laws.
A Texas lawmaker wants voters to decide whether legislators deserve a raise
Read full article: A Texas lawmaker wants voters to decide whether legislators deserve a raiseState Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, has proposed an amendment to the state constitution to raise legislator pay and tie it to teachers’ pay, saying it would give lawmakers a living wage and allow a broader range of Texans to serve.
Uvalde’s state lawmakers face an uphill battle raising the age limit for semi-automatic guns. They’re trying anyway.
Read full article: Uvalde’s state lawmakers face an uphill battle raising the age limit for semi-automatic guns. They’re trying anyway.Many relatives of Uvalde victims back bills that state Rep. Tracy King and Sen. Roland Gutierrez are pushing in the Legislature. But limits on gun access don’t fare well at the Capitol.
Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections bills
Read full article: Two years after Texas’ voting rights showdown gripped the nation, lawmakers again push dozens of elections billsState policymakers have mapped out familiar territory early in the legislative session, with Democrats seeking to expand voting access and Republicans pledging to make elections more secure.
Help us identify what matters most to Texans during the 2023 legislative session
Read full article: Help us identify what matters most to Texans during the 2023 legislative sessionWe would like to know more about what you’re seeing in your community to help guide our reporting during the 88th legislative session.
Oaths, M&Ms and a historic Quran: Texas’ freshman lawmakers begin their inaugural legislative session
Read full article: Oaths, M&Ms and a historic Quran: Texas’ freshman lawmakers begin their inaugural legislative sessionNew Texas House members were sworn into office Tuesday, including some who have already made history.
Birth control ruling to see fresh scrutiny at Texas Capitol
Read full article: Birth control ruling to see fresh scrutiny at Texas CapitolTexas lawmakers are returning to the Capitol for the first legislative session since a statewide abortion ban took effect, and access to birth control for minors is likely to command fresh attention.
Alex Jones files for bankruptcy after juries award Sandy Hook parents almost $1.5 billion
Read full article: Alex Jones files for bankruptcy after juries award Sandy Hook parents almost $1.5 billionA handful of the Texas-based conspiracy theorist’s companies already filed for bankruptcy. Earlier this year, a Texas jury awarded Sandy Hook parents $49 million in a defamation case against Jones.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritizes property tax relief, electric grid fixes and border security for 2023 legislative session
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick prioritizes property tax relief, electric grid fixes and border security for 2023 legislative sessionPatrick, who presides over the Senate and wields tremendous power over legislation, said lawmakers have an “extraordinary opportunity” to shape the future of Texas at the start of the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 10.
Texas Republican files bill to allow pregnant women to use HOV lane
Read full article: Texas Republican files bill to allow pregnant women to use HOV laneA new bill has been filed in Texas that seeks to allow pregnant women to use the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane even when the other passenger seats are unoccupied.
Same-sex marriage bill heads for Senate passage over opposition from Cornyn and Cruz
Read full article: Same-sex marriage bill heads for Senate passage over opposition from Cornyn and CruzThe bill would provide federal recognition and interstate portability of same-sex marriages, but it stops short of guaranteeing a right to such marriages.
Appeals court allows Texas to withhold list of people it thinks are noncitizens and can’t vote
Read full article: Appeals court allows Texas to withhold list of people it thinks are noncitizens and can’t voteThe appellate court reversed a previous ruling that found that Texas violated federal law by refusing to release the list. The suit was brought by five civil rights groups that sought to hold Texas accountable if it disenfranchised naturalized citizens.