Hill Country News 3160
Priority Water Infrastructure, Nuclear Power Bills Considered in Texas House
Two issues have dovetailed together more than most others in the Texas Capitol this session: water infrastructure and nuclear power. Both bills were heard in House committees on Wednesday, and both are authored by the same person. State Rep. Cody Harris’ (R-Palestine) laid out the nominally unrelated but inextricably linked package of bills in two
Texas Senate Passes Bill Banning Most THC Products, Packaging Appealing to Minors
“Banning THC in Texas” is a top priority for the leader of the Texas Senate and he has indicated that the top elected officials in the state are supportive. Senate Bill (SB) 3, authored by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lobbock), aims to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession of consumable hemp products containing any cannabinoid other
Texas House Committee Takes up Bail Reform, Denial of Bail for Illegal Immigrants
A Texas House committee took testimony Tuesday on a package of criminal justice reforms, including proposed amendments to the state constitution that would allow some violent defendants to be held without bail. Filed by Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Chair John Smithee (R-Amarillo), House Joint Resolution (HJR) 16 seeks to amend the Texas Constitution to require detention
Texas Lawmakers Weigh New Slate of Gun-Related Bills
Texas lawmakers and activists have quarreled over the advancement of major gun rights-related legislation in recent sessions — from open carry of handguns, to permitless “constitutional carry,” to a “made in Texas” suppressor law, all measures that dominated headlines at the time. Fast forward, and all of those aforementioned issues are now law. There is
Texas Lawmakers File Priority Bills Clarifying ‘Life of the Mother’ Abortion Exceptions
Legislation has been filed in both the Texas House and Senate clarifying the state’s exceptions for abortion prosecution in cases to preserve the mother’s health — highly-anticipated bills after the last election cycle’s bloody round in the arena, largely focused on the state’s abortion ban and its effect on healthcare professionals and Texas women. The
Death Star 2.0: Proposal Filed in House to Beef Up Texas’ 2023 Local Government Preemption Law
Two years ago, the Texas Legislature fought it out over a sweeping new field preemption law colloquially named the “Death Star bill” — and now State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) hopes to add to its prohibitions with new legislation. The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, first called the “Death Star bill” by critics before that name
‘I Think I Can Win if I Have $20 Million’: Paxton Re-ups Interest in Challenging Cornyn
Attorney General Ken Paxton is nearing a 2026 bid for U.S. Senate against Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), depending on if he can obtain $20 million in fundraising commitments in the next couple of months. On a trip to Washington, D.C. during which he met with various parties, including the White House, Paxton interviewed with Punchbowl
Predator Control Stepped Up To Help Ducks
As the prairie pothole region’s breeding grounds thaw, Delta Waterfowl’s Predator Management trappers have begun work to increase duck production and boost the hatch in the PPR, an area known as “The Duck Factory” because of its importance to continental duck populations. Delta is operating a program-record 50 sites during the 2025 breeding season, strategically placed in
Legislation Proposed to Reduce Electricity, Energy Waste in Texas Facilities
New legislation by state Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) would create a state board designed to plan for the waste that comes with Texas’ growing energy footprint. Hancock’s Senate Bill (SB) 2455 would establish the Texas Energy Waste Advisory Committee made up of seven officials that includes the heads of the Public Utility Commission
Bill ‘Requiring Local Law Enforcement to Assist the Federal Government’s Deportation Efforts’ Discussed in Senate Committee Hearing
President Donald Trump issued an executive order (EO) in January titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” which set forward a comprehensive immigration enforcement strategy, including directing federal agencies to strengthen border security, increase deportations, and enforce stricter immigration policies. Now, a priority piece of legislation in the upper chamber of the Texas Legislature seeks
TPWD Stocked Millions Of Fish In 2024
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)’s Inland Fisheries Division stocked nearly 27 million fish comprising 17 different species, sub-species or hybrids in Texas public freshwaters during 2024. Roughly 7.9 million of these were stocked in rivers, ponds, and lakes associated with 50 state parks. TPWD actively stocks waterbodies throughout Texas to enhance sportfishing opportunities. Its
Two Texas Universities Investigated by U.S. Department of Education for ‘Race-Exclusionary Practices’
“Race-exclusionary practices” at two Texas universities are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) according to an announcement by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon last week. Rice University and North Texas University are two of the 45 universities listed by the DOE as being allegedly in violation of Title VI of the
