Hill Country News 3160
Abbott’s Deadline Approaches to Sign or Veto Bills, Including THC Ban
Less than 48 hours remain before Gov. Greg Abbott can either act on a bill that would ban the sale of certain consumable hemp-derived THC products in Texas, or allow it to pass into law without his signature. Senate Bill (SB) 3 would completely overhaul the current status of retail THC products in Texas by
Interview: Kelly Hancock on His Bid for Texas Comptroller
Now-former state Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) announced his bid for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts shortly after joining the agency as an employee — a way to get around the constitutional obstacles related to a direct appointment. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium
Texas Joins 27-State Coalition Suing 23andMe to Block Sale of Private Genetic Information
The State of Texas joined a lawsuit against genetic testing company 23andMe, alongside 27 other states and the District of Columbia (D.C.), seeking to prevent sale of customers’ sensitive data without consent, coming after the company filed for bankruptcy. The California-based biotechnology company collected DNA through saliva samples from customers and in turn provided an
Texas Sen. Kelly Hancock Launches Campaign for Comptroller After Joining Agency as Employee
The 2026 race for Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts added a third candidate when state Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills) announced a bid for the office after being hired as the agency’s chief clerk. “For over a decade, I’ve fought for Texas taxpayers in the Legislature, cutting red tape, passing conservative budget reforms, and
Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht Named Chair of National AI Task Force
A criminal justice policy group has announced that former Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) Chief Justice Nathan Hecht will chair a new task force in an effort to “develop standards and evidence-based recommendations for the integration and oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) in the criminal justice system.” The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) announced on
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Tennessee Child Gender Modification Ban
In a 6 to 3 ruling, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has found that a Tennessee law barring gender modification treatment for minors does not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and “satisfies rational basis review.” The ruling came down along political lines, with each of the three liberal
SCOTUS Tosses Texas’ Legal Challenge to NRC’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage License
Texas and other plaintiffs lacked legal standing to intervene in the federal government’s approval of a spent nuclear fuel interim storage license to an Andrews County facility, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. The court decided 6 to 3 in favor of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in their lawsuit against the State of Texas,
Trump Polling Firm Finds Bipartisan Opposition to Banning THC Products in Texas
Senate Bill (SB) 3, a ban on the manufacture, possession, and sale of certain consumable THC products in Texas, is among the most contentious pieces of legislation to pass during the 89th Session. While the bill has less than a week for Gov. Greg Abbott to act upon it, new polling has been released that
Texas Attorney General Paxton Requests Execution Date in Robert Roberson Death Row Case
Death row inmate Robert Roberson’s execution has been delayed on multiple occasions over the course of the past year, but now, Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested that the Anderson County District Court set a new date. The update on the status of Roberson’s execution was provided by his attorney, who has also filed a
Texas House Amendment to Senate Bill Could Impact Tarrant County Reappraisal Plan
An amendment to Senate Bill (SB) 973 during its third reading in the Texas House of Representatives may impact the reappraisal plan that the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) adopted last fall. SB 973, authored by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) and sponsored in the House by Rep. Chris Turner (D-Arlington), allows for certain images and information
Texas AG Ken Paxton Opens Investigation Into 33 Alleged Noncitizen Voters
Texas has opened investigations into 33 alleged noncitizens who voted in the November 2024 general election, following Secretary of State (SOS) Jane Nelson’s referral of the cases to Attorney General Ken Paxton. After Nelson gained access to a federal citizenship database, which she used to cross-reference the voter rolls, her office reported on June 5
A Ride to Hooper’s Restaurant in Kingsland
Words and photos by Steven Ehle My wife, Lu, and I love riding our motorcycle along the backroads of Texas, where we often discover hidden treasures. Our journeys are simple; we select quaint towns that are two to four hours away, discovering great restaurants, local shops, and museums during our travels. Our latest adventure took
