Hill Country News 3160
Sen. Robert Nichols Announces Retirement from Texas Legislature After 20 Years
State Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) announced his retirement on Tuesday afternoon after two decades in the Texas Legislature. Nichols stated in a press release, “Today, I am announcing that I will not be running again for the Texas Senate. I do intend to continue serving the people and communities of Senate District 3 until
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Directs University Presidents to Identify ‘Non-Resident’ Students
Ahead of the fall 2025 semester at universities across the state, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has issued a letter to college presidents requesting the identification of students “who are not lawfully present” after a federal judge struck down the Texas Dream Act. In the letter to the university presidents, Commissioner of Higher
ACLU of Texas Seeks Legal Challenge to Texas’ ‘Parental Bill of Rights’
With Gov. Greg Abbott’s bill signing deadline passed, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas is planning to launch a lawsuit challenging the recently approved “Parental Bill of Rights.” Senate Bill (SB) 12 was authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who explained the legislation during a Senate K-16 committee hearing in February as “reaffirming
BlackRock Launches ETF Focused on Texas-Headquartered Corporations
Texans will now be able to invest in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused solely on companies headquartered in the state via a new offering from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm. Texas Equity ETF — listed as “TEXN” on the Nasdaq — launches on Tuesday and will allow investment in nearly 200 companies whose
Texas Lawmakers, Officials React to U.S. Strikes on Iran
Texas officials have shared mixed responses after the U.S. struck three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities over the weekend, in what President Donald Trump called a “very successful attack.” Trump announced on Saturday evening that “we have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran … All planes are now outside
Sen. Joan Huffman Announces Bid for Texas Attorney General
State Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) announced her candidacy for Texas attorney general on Monday afternoon, citing her extensive experience in criminal justice and 17 years serving in the Texas Legislature. In a press release, Huffman stated, “I will be elected Attorney General because I am the best-qualified, most experienced candidate who understands the intricacies
Patrick Blasts Abbott’s THC Ban Veto, Suggests Governor Wants to ‘Legalize Marijuana’
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a fiery press conference on Monday, voicing his dismay over Gov. Greg Abbott vetoing Senate Bill (SB) 3, a piece of legislation that would have banned the manufacture, sale, and possession of hemp-derived THC products in Texas. While SB 3 garnered mixed media coverage throughout the legislative process, with Patrick
Texas Lawmakers, Hemp Industry React to Abbott’s THC Ban Veto
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed Senate Bill (SB) 3 last night, a piece of legislation that garnered significant attention over the past legislative session from supporters and detractors alike. SB 3, otherwise known as “Banning THC in Texas,” was one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top legislative priorities for the 89th session. Following the veto just before the
Abbott Calls July Special Session Including THC Ban, Human Trafficking Affirmative Defense
The 89th Texas Legislature will gavel back in for a special session on July 21 — called by Gov. Greg Abbott an hour after he vetoed the hotly-debated Senate Bill (SB) 3 banning THC-derived products on Sunday night. Abbott specified five bills that he intends for the Legislature to address besides SB 3: SB 1758
Gov. Abbott Issues Last-Minute Veto of Texas’ THC Ban
Just before the June 22 midnight veto deadline, Gov. Greg Abbott axed Senate Bill (SB) 3, which would have banned the manufacture, sale, and possession of hemp-derived THC products. Otherwise known as “Banning THC in Texas,” SB 3 allowed products to be sold that contained cannabidiol (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG) but with a 21-year-old age
Hemp Industry Stakeholders File Preemptive Lawsuit Challenging Potential Texas THC Ban
With just days until the official bill signing deadline, a group of Texas farmers and hemp business owners are taking proactive legal action in case Gov. Greg Abbott decides not to veto a bill that would ban the sale of THC products. A lawsuit has been filed in the Travis County District Court seeking to
Illegal Alien Smuggling Operation in Texas Lands Former U.S. Soldiers in Federal Prison
Three former U.S. Army soldiers have been sentenced to federal prison after facilitating the smuggling of illegal aliens in Texas for financial gain and injuring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in a high-speed chase. Enrique Jauregui was the lead organizer of the smuggling scheme in 2024, working with his fellow soldiers Angel Palma
