The Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to reverse a court order that prevented him from taking expedited action against former Congressman Beto O’Rourke for his involvement in funding Texas Democrats’ recent quorum break. Paxton submitted an emergency appeal to SCOTX on Tuesday, requesting that it vacate a 15th
Both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate have passed a bill that creates new criminal offenses for real property theft and real property fraud. Senate Bill (SB) 16 by Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) passed the Senate on August 18 and the House on August 26. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is
Gov. Greg Abbott has ceremonially signed Senate Bill (SB) 17, a high-profile piece of legislation that prohibits individuals and entities from federally designated adversarial countries from purchasing land in Texas, which faced an extensive amount of opposition before its passage. Joined by members of both the Texas House and Senate Tuesday, Abbott said that SB
Legislation cracking down on chemical abortion pills was favorably reported out of a Texas House committee after backdoor negotiations were had between pro-life lobbyists and lawmakers, in the wake of a dustup between Republicans alleging attempts to kill the legislation. The House State Affairs Committee met for a formal meeting on Monday evening to
A Texas House committee gave approval to a bill authored by state Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) Friday that would shift control of a contract policing program from the Harris County Commissioners Court to the elected sheriff and county constables. Under the county’s unique deputy contract program, the sheriff and eight elected county constables contract with
The early favorite for the most interesting 2026 race in Texas is the campaign for the state’s attorney general, and two new endorsements have ramped the intrigue up to 11. Four candidates are vying for the spot: state Sens. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) and Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston), former Department of Justice appointee Aaron Reitz, and Congressman
One hurdle remains before the new Texas congressional map can become law after the Senate gave it final passage early Saturday morning, voting along party lines to send the plan to the governor. It took a couple of extra weeks and a second special session — the first having been killed by House Democrats’ two-week-long
Gov. Greg Abbott called a second special session of the 89th Legislature just a little over a week ago, then expanded the agenda earlier this week to include allowing Texans to purchase Ivermectin over the counter. “Texans should have increased access to the benefits of Ivermectin,” Abbott wrote about the expanded second special session call
Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) will retire in 2026 after five terms representing House District (HD) 21 and a tumultuous four previous years at the speaker’s dais. Phelan posted on X a video of famed American actor and martial artist Chuck Norris reading his retirement announcement on Thursday afternoon. × This page requires
The Texas House took up and passed a number of flood relief bills on Thursday, addressing camp safety, emergency response, and funding appropriations. The July 4 flooding that took the lives of more than 130 people, including many children from Camp Mystic, has left the Kerrville community grieving, with lawmakers hearing testimony from families and
State Rep. Stan Lambert (R-Abilene) is closing the chapter on his time in the Texas House, after serving House District (HD) 71 since 2017. Lambert announced his retirement via a press release on Thursday morning, confirming that he would not be seeking re-election, but would finish out his current term and then hang up his
Conservative firebrand and U.S. House Freedom Caucus member Congressman Chip Roy (R-TX-21) will run for Texas attorney general, the four-term legislator told The Texan. “It has been my honor to represent the 21st Congressional District of Texas — the best part of the best state in the greatest country in the history of the world.