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Paxton, Cruz Alum Aaron Reitz Launches Bid for Texas Attorney General
Aaron Reitz, a former staffer for three top Republican figures, jumped into the race for Texas attorney general on Thursday after resigning from his appointed position in the Trump administration. “We are in a fight for the soul of Texas, our nation, and Western civilization itself,” Reitz said in a release announcing his run. “This
College Athlete NIL Agreements Updated in New Texas Law
College student athlete compensation and representation regarding name, image, and likeness (NIL) was addressed during the 89th Legislative Session, with significant updates to Texas’ legal framework for athletes’ rights to monetize their personal brand — which has been signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. House Bill (HB) 126, which was authored by Rep. Carl
15 States, D.C. Sue to Block Return of Seized Forced Reset Triggers
Attorneys general representing 15 states plus the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in a Maryland-based federal district court to block the federal government from returning seized Forced Reset Triggers (FTRs) to their owners across the country, after a federal court in Texas ruled a Biden-administration era rule banning FTRs was illegal. Looped into the
Reforms to University Governing Boards in Texas Await Governor’s Signature
A bill awaiting signature from Gov. Greg Abbott would reconfigure how institutions of higher education in Texas are governed. Senate Bill (SB) 37 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) will enhance the oversight authority of existing governing boards for public institutions of higher education, requiring them to conduct a “comprehensive review” of general education curriculum
The Texas Legislature passes an” Ibogaine Research Consortium” to Treat Opioid Addiction.
Legislators approved a bill to start clinical tests of ayahuasca, a psychoactive substance supporters believe is effective in treating opioid addiction during the 89th Congressional session, while discussions on health marijuana and low-dose THC products predominated. In order to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) approval for its use in treating opioid
The Texas Secretary of State reaches the attorney general with 33 reported noncitizen citizens
After Secretary of State ( SOS ) Jane Nelson gained access to a federal citizenship database used to cross-reference the voter rolls, 33 potential noncitizens who voted in the November 2024 general election will be reported to the Texas Office of the Attorney General ( OAG ). The SOS claimed that they were able to
AI, Technology, Social Media Legislation Roundup: Bills Taken Up During 89th Session
In an ever-evolving digital environment, the Texas Legislature took proactive measures during the 89th Legislative Session to pass bills that will work to regulate and oversee the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology within the state. To the surprise of some, Gov. Greg Abbott made the announcement during his State of the State address
Veto Tracker: Gov. Abbott’s Vetoes from the 89th Legislative Session
Texas law grants Gov. Greg Abbott the power to reject legislation approved by state lawmakers, which requires a two-thirds vote to override. Once the regular session concludes, the governor is allotted a 20-day window to finalize any veto decisions. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium
Here’s a Look at the Status of Dan Patrick’s Texas Senate Legislative Priorities
The Texas Senate succeeded in pushing a majority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities through both chambers during the regular legislative session. Patrick released a list of 40 pieces of priority legislation in the first three months of the year, covering a variety of issues. Here is the status of the Senate priority bills
Texas Legislature Finalizes $338 Billion 2026-2027 Biennial Budget
A final deal was struck in the closing days of the 89th Regular Session on a $338 billion biennial budget, the one constitutional requirement of the Texas Legislature each time it convenes for the first five months of every odd-numbered year. The budget is a 1.2 percent increase from what has been spent during the
Texas House and Senate Strike Last-Minute Deal on Judicial Pay Raises, Lawmaker Pension Increases
State judges will get their 25 percent pay raise after the Texas House and Senate resolved their differences in a standoff over elected official pension benefits tied to the base judicial salary. Under the deal, judicial base pay will rise to $175,000, and that number will also serve as the basis for lawmaker pensions. However,
Rep. Tony Tinderholt Announces Retirement After Six Terms in Texas House
As Texas’ 89th Legislative Session came to a close on Monday afternoon, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) announced his retirement from public office after having served for six terms — drawing bipartisan congratulations, support, and gratitude on the House floor. “Arguably, my 12 years here has been one of the more difficult combat zones I’ve
