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Texas Secretary of State Sued Over Flagging of Potential Noncitizen Registered Voters
Amid a national debate over whether Congress should require states to verify the citizenship status of voters, the Texas Secretary of State (SOS) faces a federal lawsuit over its use of a revamped database to flag potential noncitizens on the state’s voter rolls. Last year, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson announced that the SOS
Texas Education Freedom Accounts Draws Nearly 275,000 Student Applicants in First Year
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program ended its student application window with 274,183 applicants, following a federal judge extending the deadline from March 17 to March 31. Two federal lawsuits were filed against Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and others, alleging that the TEFA program has excluded Islamic schools. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett said
Texas A&M Joins UNT, UT in Raising Threshold for ‘Free’ Undergraduate Tuition
Texas A&M University (TAMU) has joined a wave of public universities in Texas decreasing costs for incoming college students by offering “free” tuition, as higher education policies in the state government continue to diffuse through public institutions. In an announcement released last month, TAMU stated they are taking “two major steps” to keep “Aggie education
Texas House and Senate Priorities Compared and Contrasted in 2026 Interim Charges
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature released interim charges last week, their leadership-designated focuses for the following months leading up to the 90th Legislative Session, with many similarities and some contrasting priorities. The Texas House of Representatives placed a particular emphasis on oversight of passed legislation and state agencies, while the Texas Senate leaned more
Texas Man, Convicted Rapist Pleads Guilty to Involvement in Online Child Sex Abuse Network
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to his participation in an expansive child sexual abuse network, after being named in a federal indictment while already serving out a sentence for child rape. Twenty-six-year-old Kaleb Christopher Merritt from Spring pleaded guilty to a count regarding his involvement from 2019 to 2022 in CVLT, pronounced “cult,” which
Most Consumable Hemp Products Become Illegal in Texas Today
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced new rules regarding consumable hemp products, and published an official program rule text which will go into effect on Tuesday, March 31. Consequently, certain consumable hemp products will be affected in Texas, including popular smokable products like THCa flower and pre-rolled joints. × This page requires
Here’s a Look at the Public Education Priorities in the Texas Legislature Interim Charges
Both the Texas House and Senate released their 2026 interim charges last week, with some mutual educational priorities and other chamber-specific areas of focus. Interim charges outline what lawmakers in the Texas House and Senate will focus on leading up to the next legislative session, and provide a way for legislators to examine specific issues
Here’s a Closer Look at the Texas House Interim Charges
Among the Texas House’s interim charges released by House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) on Thursday are several broaching issues related to artificial intelligence (AI), foreign actors, health and social policy, criminal justice, the Texas workforce, and the state’s economy as a whole. These charges will shape the House members’ next several months leading up to
Dan Patrick Releases Second Round of Senate Interim Charges Ahead of 90th Legislative Session
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released a more extensive list of Texas Senate interim charges, addressing a number of issues including data center growth, criminal justice, surrogacy exploitation, prediction market gambling, Texas’ electric grid, and government accountability. Similar to the Texas House’s interim charges released on Thursday, Patrick included a focus on identifying and weeding
Texas Comptroller Audit of Attorney General Fuels Hancock-Paxton Feud Over Islamic Schools
A long-planned audit of the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) spending may have further fueled a public spat between Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock and Attorney General Ken Paxton already brewing over whether public education dollars may be used for schools with alleged ties to Islamic terrorist organizations and foreign adversaries. The comptroller conducts
Speaker Burrows Rolls Out Texas House Interim Committee Charges, New Select Committees
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) released his interim committee charges on Thursday, establishing three new committees and addressing a plethora of issues touching upon government accountability, Texas’ infrastructure needs, and hot-button social issues. Interim charges lay the groundwork for what lawmakers in the Texas House and Senate will focus on leading up to the
Patrick Announces Texas Senate Committee Assignments, New Religious Liberty Committee
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the Texas Senate committee assignments this week, with the exit of five members of the Senate and four chairs. Patrick also named interim Senate committee members who will serve through the 90th Legislative Session. Patrick announced the creation of the Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty, which will be made
