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Texas Lottery Accused of ‘Conspiracy,’ ‘Organized Crime’ in Legislative Hearings
The ongoing controversy surrounding the Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) has seen several new developments, not only regarding the commission’s future but also the looming threat of an investigation. Concerns over recent lottery winners came to light last week following a February 17 jackpot winner who used a courier app called Jackpocket to purchase the winning
Texas Bill Would Allow Property Owners to Shoot Down Trespassing Drones
A bill has been filed in the Texas House that would allow a property owner to disable, destroy, or damage unmanned aircraft flying over their property — both a pressing concern for any Texans who have experienced an unidentified object flying over their home, and a bilateral potential threat to public safety. Rep. Jeff Leach’s
Texas House Proposes Business Tax Cut Opposite Senate’s Homestead Exemption Increase Route
Two years after a stalemate over property taxes, the two chambers of the Texas Legislature again have differing blueprints for applying the at least $10 billion in relief called for by Gov. Greg Abbott. Chairman Morgan Meyer (R-Dallas) filed his House Bills (HB) 8 and 9 alongside House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1, the accompanying constitutional
House Bill Seeks to Restrict Children’s Access to ‘Sexually Explicit Material’ in Public Libraries
Enhanced library oversight, stronger protections for minors, and increased parental involvement have become hot button topics for lawmakers and citizens alike, and now a bill has been proposed that intends to regulate the accessibility of “sexually explicit materials” to minors in public libraries. Freshman Texas legislator Rep. Daniel Alders (R-Tyler) seeks to establish a rigorous
Dan Patrick’s Dementia Research Institute Priority Filed in Texas Senate
One of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top legislative priorities, the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), has been filed in the Texas Senate. Patrick first proposed DPRIT in November 2024 to draw “leading Dementia researchers and companies” to the state, and it has now been filed by Senate Committee on Finance Chair Joan Huffman
Texas House Unveils Education Package, Setting Table for Policy Fights
Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) has said he expects this session to be, more than anything else, an education session, and this week the Texas House dropped a payload of bills to that effect. The two-pronged centerpiece of that package from Chairman Brad Buckley (R-Salado) is House Bills (HB) 2 and 3 — the chamber’s blueprints
‘Make Texas Healthy Again’ Bill Requires Warning Labels for ‘Banned Chemicals’
On the heels of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. being confirmed as the new U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Texas has followed the “Make America Healthy Again” path with its own legislation to address health and wellness. Senate Bill (SB) 25, dubbed the “Making Texas Healthy Again” bill on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s
Texas Senators Approve Constitutional Amendment to Deny Bail for Violent Offenders
In a bipartisan vote, Texas senators have overwhelmingly approved placing an amendment to the state constitution on the ballot in hopes that despite previous failures, this year’s House members will finish the job. Sen. Joan Huffman’s (R-Houston) Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5, would give judges and magistrates the discretion to deny bail to defendants charged
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Ban Priority Bill Filed in Texas Senate
The Texas Senate’s priority taxpayer-funded lobbying ban was filed on Thursday, starting the clock on the latest attempt by some Republicans to establish such a prohibition. State Sen. Mayes Middleton’s (R-Galveston) Senate Bill (SB) 19 is described as “relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying and certain other activities.”
Family Violence Offenders Registry Proposed in New Texas House Bill
A bill filed in the Texas House would create the Family Violence Registration Program, which would establish a system to track family violence offenders who have been convicted or granted deferred adjudication community supervision, forcing offenders to register annually at minimum. “If you lay your hand on an innocent man, woman, or child, you
Texas Lottery Commission, Couriers Come Under Increasing Scrutiny
The Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, prompting one of the state’s highest elected officials to take to the streets and inquire about the issue. Texas voters approved the creation of a state lottery in 1991, and the Legislature established the TLC in 1993. Since 1997, the commission has
Texas Lottery Commission, Ticket Couriers Under Scrutiny from Lawmakers
The Texas Lottery Commission (TLC) has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, prompting one of the state’s highest elected officials to take to the streets and inquire about the issue. Texas voters approved the creation of a state lottery in 1991, and the Legislature established the TLC in 1993. Since 1997, the commission has
