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Texas may study the impact of immigration again, but focus only on costs
Read full article: Texas may study the impact of immigration again, but focus only on costsThe only time the state conducted such an assessment two decades ago, it found that undocumented Texans contributed more to the stateโs economy than they cost the state.
Amended bill clarifying Texas abortion laws receives Senate panel approval
Read full article: Amended bill clarifying Texas abortion laws receives Senate panel approvalThe revised bill, which seeks to clarify when a doctor can perform medically necessary abortions, aims to address concerns from abortion advocates and conservative groups.
Why Texas Republicans are trying to rein in high home prices and rents
Read full article: Why Texas Republicans are trying to rein in high home prices and rentsThereโs political urgency for Republicans to deal with housing affordability, especially as surveys find most Texans say housing costs are a top concern.
Early Texas hospital data shows millions spent in care for non-U.S. citizens
Read full article: Early Texas hospital data shows millions spent in care for non-U.S. citizensA state employee testified Monday that tens of thousands of people in the U.S. unlawfully were treated, but it was unclear how long the data had been collected.
Texas Lottery executive director resigns as lawmakersโ scrutiny mounts
Read full article: Texas Lottery executive director resigns as lawmakersโ scrutiny mountsThe Texas Lottery Commission did not immediately clarify why Ryan Mindell chose to resign, as lawmakers have discussed abolishing the lottery outright.
With the border quiet, Texas ponders spending another $6.5 billion on border security
Read full article: With the border quiet, Texas ponders spending another $6.5 billion on border securitySome are questioning whether lawmakers should commit billions more to border security with illegal crossings dwindling and a Trump immigration crackdown.
Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the bud
Read full article: Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the budAs lawmakers work to close loopholes that allow minors access to cannabis consumables, hemp farmers warn a total THC ban would strangle a once-hailed crop.
East Texans united to stop a water sale to Dallas suburbs โ for now
Read full article: East Texans united to stop a water sale to Dallas suburbs โ for nowAfter a deal to pipe water from Lake Oโ the Pines to North Texas came to light, residents voiced opposition everywhere they could to block it.
Texas bill increasing public school funding and teacher pay gets final House approval
Read full article: Texas bill increasing public school funding and teacher pay gets final House approvalThe lower chamber overwhelmingly voted in favor of House Bill 2, a sweeping $8 billion piece of legislation that would also limit schoolsโ reliance on teachers without formal classroom training.
Abbott gave Trump credit when Texas closed a border site for booking migrants. But arrests were already low.
Read full article: Abbott gave Trump credit when Texas closed a border site for booking migrants. But arrests were already low.Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas was able to close the Jim Hogg County facility because of Trumpโs immigration policies. Records reveal that the reality is more nuanced.
String of law enforcement suicides rattles first responders and exposes gaps in state support
Read full article: String of law enforcement suicides rattles first responders and exposes gaps in state supportFour people tied to the Harris County Sheriffโs Office committed suicide recently, calling attention to ongoing mental health struggles among law enforcement.
The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.
Read full article: The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.Lawmakers are quietly pushing bills that would limit access to bathrooms and measures preventing trans people from changing government documents.
A message from our CEO, Sonal Shah
Read full article: A message from our CEO, Sonal ShahSince 2023, we have worked diligently to reach new audiences in Texas, increase trust in our work and expand into local news. At the end of this year, with a strong leadership team in place, I will be transitioning.
Five news organizations join Texas Tribune and ProPublica investigative initiative
Read full article: Five news organizations join Texas Tribune and ProPublica investigative initiativeEl Paso Matters, Fort Worth Report, Houston Chronicle, The Texas Newsroom and WFAA will join us to support accountability journalism in Texas.
Texas Republican lawmakers unwilling to change abortion laws to address doomed pregnancies
Read full article: Texas Republican lawmakers unwilling to change abortion laws to address doomed pregnanciesFor the first time since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions, lawmakers are clarifying the โlife of motherโ exception. But they donโt plan to address cases where the fetus wonโt survive.
To avoid a water crisis, Texas may bet big on desalination. Hereโs how it works in El Paso.
Read full article: To avoid a water crisis, Texas may bet big on desalination. Hereโs how it works in El Paso.Desalination can create millions of gallons of fresh water a day. But it is expensive and there are many environmental concerns.
Bill to create a Texas Homeland Security Division passes state Senate
Read full article: Bill to create a Texas Homeland Security Division passes state SenateSenate Bill 36, a priority bill for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, would create an office within the Department of Public Safety focused on immigration enforcement, organized crime and threats to state infrastructure.
Toilet to tap: El Paso is about to embark on a whole new way to save its limited water supply
Read full article: Toilet to tap: El Paso is about to embark on a whole new way to save its limited water supplyEl Pasoโs dry climate โ it rains just 9 inches annually โ is one of the reasons the city has taken water management so seriously.
State offers specific measles guidance for 10 West Texas โoutbreakโ counties
Read full article: State offers specific measles guidance for 10 West Texas โoutbreakโ countiesState health officials added four more counties to what they consider โoutbreak areasโ and advise those visiting or living in those counties to consult measles vaccination guidance for those areas.
Verifying hand-counted ballots in Texas elections may be easier under GOP bill
Read full article: Verifying hand-counted ballots in Texas elections may be easier under GOP billThe proposal would require counties who opt for hand counts to use ballots that can be scanned and tabulated by a voting machine.
Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.
Read full article: Renewable energy companies face little regulation in Texas. A state lawmaker wants to change that.The legislation would put new requirements on wind and solar companies that oil and gas companies in Texas do not face.
Bipartisan support for Texas bill clarifying when doctors can perform an abortion shows early cracks
Read full article: Bipartisan support for Texas bill clarifying when doctors can perform an abortion shows early cracksWhile Democrats and abortion access advocates pushed to ensure pregnant women arenโt criminalized, some conservatives questioned whether this bill is needed.
Eagle Pass park reopens more than a year after the state seized it for border security
Read full article: Eagle Pass park reopens more than a year after the state seized it for border securityThe Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard presence has largely disappeared from Shelby Park, which sits next to the Rio Grande.
Attorney General Ken Paxtonโs former aides win $6.6 million in whistleblower case
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxtonโs former aides win $6.6 million in whistleblower casePaxton vowed to appeal the โbogus rulingโ that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption.
South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new bill
Read full article: South Texas county leaders will lose some authority over SpaceX launches under new billThe lawmakers behind the bill promised there would not be an increase in the number of days the beach is closed.
Officer previously accused of excessive force confirmed for state board by Texas Senate
Read full article: Officer previously accused of excessive force confirmed for state board by Texas SenateOne Senate Democrat joined Republicans, providing the margin needed to approve Justin Berry to the state law-enforcement board.
From desalination to water treatment: Bill that prioritizes creating new water supplies get Texas Senate OK
Read full article: From desalination to water treatment: Bill that prioritizes creating new water supplies get Texas Senate OKSenate Bill 7, which won unanimous approval, is among legislation that seeks to avert a looming water crisis as the stateโs population booms.
How couriers changed the playing field of the Texas Lottery
Read full article: How couriers changed the playing field of the Texas LotteryLottery couriers have gained newfound scrutiny in Texas after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick raised questions about the use of a courier to sell an $83.5 million jackpot ticket.
Legislation creating statewide emergency communication system advances in Texas House
Read full article: Legislation creating statewide emergency communication system advances in Texas HouseThe legislation was written after the stateโs largest wildfire scorched more than 1 million acres in the Panhandle last year.
Private school voucher bill clears first test in Texas House
Read full article: Private school voucher bill clears first test in Texas HouseThe 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.
Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials under oath on transgender athlete policy
Read full article: Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials under oath on transgender athlete policyPaxtonโs office launched an investigation into the districtโs policy after an administrator was caught on tape discussing a possible loophole in the stateโs ban.
Lawyers for Houston-area midwife accused of illegal abortions condemn stateโs investigation
Read full article: Lawyers for Houston-area midwife accused of illegal abortions condemn stateโs investigationMaria Rojasโ attorneys got their first chance to address the claims against her Thursday. She was released on bond but a judge ordered the clinics to remain closed.
Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortions
Read full article: Abortion opponents laud bill that would clamp down on pill providers and out-of-state abortionsSome health care providers in support of Senate Bill 2880 said people who are mailed abortion pills arenโt given instructions and do not receive follow-up care.
Amid support from doctors group, bill to clarify Texasโ abortion ban does little to save lives, critics say
Read full article: Amid support from doctors group, bill to clarify Texasโ abortion ban does little to save lives, critics saySenate Bill 31 supporters say it would clarify when doctors should intervene to save a pregnant womanโs life, but critics say its vagueness and a measure to resurrect pre-Roe laws hamper it.
Texas AG investigating insurance company accused of spying on lawmakers, journalists, other Texans
Read full article: Texas AG investigating insurance company accused of spying on lawmakers, journalists, other TexansSuperior HealthPlanโs CEO, whom lawmakers grilled about the companyโs alleged hiring of private investigators, was reportedly fired after the inquiry was announced.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says heโll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes fail
Read full article: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says heโll push for special session if THC ban, bail changes failOnly Gov. Greg Abbott can call for a special session. But in his role presiding over the Texas Senate, Patrick can block any bill from passing, giving him leverage to compel overtime sessions by killing must-pass legislation.
Jewish Texans disagree on how to combat antisemitism in schools during hearing on Senate bill
Read full article: Jewish Texans disagree on how to combat antisemitism in schools during hearing on Senate billLawmakers propose addressing antisemitism by requiring schools to use a set definition. Critics say the measure will stifle speech.
Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas Senate
Read full article: Billions more for tax relief and border security under budget approved by Texas SenateNext step will be action in the state House, where budget writers have different plans for distributing property tax help.
West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needs
Read full article: West Texas lawmakers push bills to divert some oil and gas taxes to help oil-producing counties with roads, other needsReps. Tom Craddick and Brooks Landgraf want to divert 10% of taxes collected on oil and gas production to help budget-strapped counties keep up with growth.
Lawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritize
Read full article: Lawmakers push to spend billions of dollars for water projects and debate which ones to prioritizeGov. Greg Abbott has made water a priority for this legislative session. Lawmakers will debate whether to invest more into new water supplies or repairing old, leaking pipes around Texas.
Texasโ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discrimination
Read full article: Texasโ DEI debate centers on a disagreement about whether programs perpetuate or prevent discriminationSupporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
Republican lawmakers revive effort to give attorney general more power to prosecute election crimes
Read full article: Republican lawmakers revive effort to give attorney general more power to prosecute election crimesCritics fear increased election prosecutions could intimidate voters and local election officials. Attorney General Ken Paxton has long sought more autonomy over election cases.
Texas Senate advances bill to allow smaller homes on smaller lots
Read full article: Texas Senate advances bill to allow smaller homes on smaller lotsLawmakers, who are preempting locals on lot sizes in new subdivisions, have been eyeing ways to allow more homes to be built as the state faces a shortage.
Jackpot withheld, $83 million winner โcaught in crossfireโ amid lottery courier investigations
Read full article: Jackpot withheld, $83 million winner โcaught in crossfireโ amid lottery courier investigationsThe winning ticket, purchased online through the courier Jackpocket, is being scrutinized by lawmakers concerned about the legality of third-party services.
Trump administration drops challenge to Texas law targeting people who illegally cross the border
Read full article: Trump administration drops challenge to Texas law targeting people who illegally cross the borderSenate Bill 4, the Texas law that makes illegally crossing the border a state crime, will continue to be challenged by two immigrant rights groups and El Paso County.
Bills seek to improve stateโs response to wildfires a year after devastation in Panhandle
Read full article: Bills seek to improve stateโs response to wildfires a year after devastation in PanhandleA proposal to create a statewide system connecting emergency personnel and agencies is among several bills that target problems exposed in 2024.
Lawmakers weigh moving bingo operations out of Texas Lotteryโs purview amid agencyโs uncertain future
Read full article: Lawmakers weigh moving bingo operations out of Texas Lotteryโs purview amid agencyโs uncertain futureA possible reassignment of the charitable games comes as 15 bills in the Legislature seek to either alter or abolish the troubled agency.
These are the proposals lawmakers hope will save Texasโ water supply. Track them here.
Read full article: These are the proposals lawmakers hope will save Texasโ water supply. Track them here.Most lawmakers โ as well as Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick โ want to invest big in water. Here are the proposals that would do it.
Texas Republicans seek to clarify when doctors can intervene under abortion bans
Read full article: Texas Republicans seek to clarify when doctors can intervene under abortion bansA Senate bill filed Friday does not expand abortion access, but aims to give doctors clarity while operating under laws that come with up to life in prison.
Paxton says trans Texans canโt use court orders to change sex on driverโs licenses, birth certificates
Read full article: Paxton says trans Texans canโt use court orders to change sex on driverโs licenses, birth certificatesPer the attorney generalโs nonbinding opinion, state agencies should change gender markers on government documents back to a personโs sex assigned at birth.
Texas lawmakers are pushing harsher criminal penalties while prison and jail populations soar
Read full article: Texas lawmakers are pushing harsher criminal penalties while prison and jail populations soarProposed legislation includes increased penalties for retail theft, car burglaries and forgery, among others.
Texas lawmakers will debate saving the stateโs water supply after key legislation is introduced
Read full article: Texas lawmakers will debate saving the stateโs water supply after key legislation is introducedThe 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.
DOJ drops fight against Texas political maps as Trump administration retreats from voting rights cases
Read full article: DOJ drops fight against Texas political maps as Trump administration retreats from voting rights casesThe Biden administration had challenged a Republican-led redistricting plan that diluted the political power of minorities. Other legal challenges will continue.
Paxton investigates Dallas for alleged sanctuary city policies
Read full article: Paxton investigates Dallas for alleged sanctuary city policiesAttorney General Ken Paxton said a recent statement by Dallasโ interim police chief raised concerns that the city might be violating a state law against so-called sanctuary city policies.
Want to understand Texasโ water crisis? Start with the guide to water terms.
Read full article: Want to understand Texasโ water crisis? Start with the guide to water terms.Water is complex. So are the terms used to describe it. Get to know the language as Texas debates how to save its water supply.
Texas is running out of water. Hereโs why and what state leaders plan to do about it.
Read full article: Texas is running out of water. Hereโs why and what state leaders plan to do about it.The stateโs water supply faces numerous threats. And by one estimate, the stateโs municipal supply will not meet demand by 2030 if thereโs a severe drought and no water solutions are implemented.
In Texas, private firms cash in on property tax late fees, piling debt onto struggling homeowners
Read full article: In Texas, private firms cash in on property tax late fees, piling debt onto struggling homeownersTexans who fall behind on their property taxes face one of the most punitive systems in the nation, where private collection companies can tack up to 20% onto their bill.
Texas Senate majority unveils bill requiring voters to prove their citizenship
Read full article: Texas Senate majority unveils bill requiring voters to prove their citizenshipAll 20 GOP senators signed on to Senate Bill 16, which would apply to currently registered voters, and restrict some to only congressional elections.
How state lawmakers are trying to crack down on illegal immigration
Read full article: How state lawmakers are trying to crack down on illegal immigrationFrom requiring law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal officials to forcing state contractors to use E-Verify to spot undocumented workers, here are the bills that could reshape the stateโs immigration policies.
Will lawmakers let Texasโ maternal mortality committee review abortion deaths?
Read full article: Will lawmakers let Texasโ maternal mortality committee review abortion deaths?The Legislature is considering bills that would lift long-standing restrictions on how Texasโ panel can investigate maternal deaths and near-misses.
Federal appeals court reverses Texas death row inmateโs conviction
Read full article: Federal appeals court reverses Texas death row inmateโs convictionBrittany Marlowe Holberg was convicted in 1998 of robbing and murdering an 80-year-old man in his Amarillo home. The appeals court said critical evidence was withheld.
With crumbling public health infrastructure, rural Texas scrambles to respond to measles
Read full article: With crumbling public health infrastructure, rural Texas scrambles to respond to measlesThe measles outbreak in rural Texas has exposed how hospital buildings are ill-equipped. Meanwhile, long distances between providers makes testing people and transporting samples difficult.
Thrust into the spotlight by a school shooting, Uvaldeโs former mayor finds his footing as a lawmaker
Read full article: Thrust into the spotlight by a school shooting, Uvaldeโs former mayor finds his footing as a lawmakerDon McLaughlin isnโt shy about speaking his mind and has disagreed with victimsโ families and fellow Republicans. Now he brings his direct style to the Capitol.
Christi Craddick, Don Huffines announce bids for Texas comptroller after Hegar tapped for A&M chancellor
Read full article: Christi Craddick, Don Huffines announce bids for Texas comptroller after Hegar tapped for A&M chancellorHegarโs impending departure from the comptrollerโs seat creates a rare opening for one of Texasโ coveted statewide offices.
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.
Texasโ DOGE committee takes inspiration from Elon Muskโs federal operation
Read full article: Texasโ DOGE committee takes inspiration from Elon Muskโs federal operationThe new legislative panel has been tasked to reduce the size and scope of government. But Democrats say theyโre not interested in replicating Muskโs slash-and-burn approach.
Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fund
Read full article: Texas Senate advances bill to start a $3 billion dementia research fundThe legislation would require voters to approve the $3 billion start-up cost, and then the fund would be maintained at no more than $300 million annually.
Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patients
Read full article: Why a Rio Grande Valley hospital is helping to feed its patientsAs the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texasโ food deserts.
With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the Capitol
Read full article: With Texas facing soaring electricity demand, the politics of energy quietly shift at the CapitolThe Legislature has tried to clamp down on renewable energy resources in the past, but many lawmakers are recognizing the need to support all types of generation to meet record demand growth.
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.
Following Trumpโs lead, Gov. Abbott pushes state agencies to end telework
Read full article: Following Trumpโs lead, Gov. Abbott pushes state agencies to end teleworkThe directive comes as some state agencies have downsized their office spaces after the pandemic forced many employees to work remotely.
Part of pro-Palestinian student art exhibit at UNT removed amid antisemitism complaints by state lawmakers
Read full article: Part of pro-Palestinian student art exhibit at UNT removed amid antisemitism complaints by state lawmakersFive GOP lawmakers who targeted the exhibit also called for the cancellation of the โPalestinian Children and the Politics of Genocideโ lecture, which is still scheduled.