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Texas Lawmakers Begin Preparing Hill Country Flood Response, Kerrville Hearing to Come
The Texas House and Senate began their appraisal of the flooding calamity that hit the Hill Country earlier this month with a lengthy initial hearing last week and another to come in Kerrville later this week. More than 130 people across Central Texas died during the flash flood that occurred along the Guadalupe River and
Texas House Files Identical Hemp-Derived THC Ban Bill as Senate
Both chambers of the Texas Legislature are in sync at the outset on a prospective hemp-derived THC ban with the lower chamber filing House Bill (HB) 5 on Monday, identical to the Senate’s version. HB 5 is authored by Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston), a different author than the one who carried the regulation bill
GOP Redistricting Effort Kicks Off in Texas Legislative Committee Hearings
The attempted mid-decade redraw of Texas’ congressional map began formally in a Thursday select committee meeting full of irate Democrats and mostly silent Republicans, the latter of whom are positioned to achieve their desired result — even if it’ll be unpleasant. President Donald Trump and the White House are on a mission to find more
Texas Lawmakers Consider Bill Shielding Part of Police Personnel Records from Information Requests
State lawmakers are considering making certain portions of police personnel records exempt from Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) requests over concerns for privacy and abuse of the system, but opponents say that would make law enforcement less accountable. Introduced by Sen. Phil King (R-Weatherford), Senate Bill (SB) 14 resurrects legislation that failed to pass during
‘Water Pirates’: Texas House Committee Grills Investor Over Exploratory Applications for Groundwater Extraction
Water law for the average person in Texas is, to borrow a quote from legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. It’s layered, archaic, and confusing. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in
‘Water Pirates’: Texas House Committee Grills Billionaire Over Applications for Groundwater Extraction
Water law for the average person in Texas is, to borrow a quote from legendary British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. It’s layered, archaic, and confusing. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in
Texas Legislature Given Second Chance to Eliminate STAAR Test During 2025 Special Session
Lawmakers were unable to get a bill eliminating the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) across the finish line during the regular session that ended in June, but they will get another chance with Gov. Greg Abbott placing the issue on the special session agenda. Abbott is asking the members to “eliminate the
Affirmative Defense for Human Trafficking Victims on Special Texas Legislative Session Agenda
Legislation establishing legal protections for human trafficking victims who were coerced into crimes during their captivity was vetoed by Gov. Greg Abbott last month, but is set to be taken up again during the 89th Legislature’s first special session. Senate Bill (SB) 1278, authored by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), sought to create an affirmative
Texas Lawmakers Take Up Renewed Push to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
In response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s special legislative session call, Texas lawmakers will once again attempt to tackle the thorny issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying in hopes of curtailing the practice. “Right now, political subdivisions of state are spending about $100 million per biennium on taxpayer money to hire registered lobbyists, and they’re using those public
Texas Senate Committee Unanimously Approves New THC Regulation Bill
The Senate State Affairs Committee on Tuesday took up Senate Bill (SB) 5, the latest edition of the upper chamber’s attempt to address hemp-derived THC products in Texas, this time for the special session. Authored by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), who also wrote the THC ban legislation during the regular session, began the hearing by
Prominent Texas School Districts Opt Out of Homeschool Participation in UIL Athletic, Academic Events
The University Interscholastic League (UIL), the governing body for athletic, academic, and fine arts competition in Texas public schools, will now be required to allow homeschool students to participate in events by default. Under the former law, districts had to opt in to allow homeschool families to participate in UIL programs, but Senate Bill 401
Texas Bill Cracking Down on Chemical Abortion Pills Expected During Special Session
Legislation increasing penalties in Texas for the manufacture and distribution of chemical abortion pills is expected to be taken up during the special legislative session, following national attention surrounding a similar — although ultimately unsuccessful — bill during the regular session. During the regular 89th Legislative Session, which concluded on June 2, Senate Bill (SB)
