State 945
Texas Offers Border Ranch Land for Trump’s Mass Deportation Effort
The State of Texas has offered 1,400 acres of land in Starr County to the federal government so that the Trump administration can build facilities used to stage its intended mass deportation efforts. General Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham made the offering in a formal letter to former and President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday. × This
Texas Lawmakers File Health and Food-Focused Bills for 2025 Legislative Session
President-elect Donald Trump made “Make America Healthy Again” a theme of his campaign, a message underscored by his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Here in Texas, lawmakers have filed a wave of bills addressing the state’s food system, public health, and
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick Announces Texas Dementia Research Institute as Legislative Priority
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposed launching a new taxpayer-funded research program, the Dementia Prevention Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), to draw in “leading Dementia researchers and companies” to the state — modeled after the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Patrick announced this new “major legislative initiative” for Texas legislators on Monday, saying
Abbott Issues Executive Order Against Chinese Communist Party’s Harassment of Dissidents in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order (EO) in an effort to protect Chinese dissidents in Texas from coercion and harassment by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its governing Chinese Communist Party (CCP). “The Chinese Communist Party has engaged in a worldwide harassment campaign against Chinese dissidents in attempts to forcibly return
Texas Nuclear Power Workgroup Suggests New State Authority, Low-Interest Loans to Spur Development
A new report from a Public Utility Commission (PUC) workgroup made seven recommendations to the state to facilitate the growth of its nuclear power industry, including low-interest loans for capital costs. The Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group’s 78-page report on the stagnation of nuclear power in the state makes multiple recommendations to kickstart expansion
Texas Supreme Court Issues Robert Roberson Opinion Concerning Separation of Powers
The case of death row inmate Robert Roberson, which received increased attention due to Texas lawmakers successfully delaying Roberson’s execution, has received another update — this time from the Texas Supreme Court. Different factions within the Texas House of Representatives have taken opposing sides on the issue, with a coalition of members including Reps. Joe
Chinese Land Ownership, Border Security, Gender Privacy: Legislative Filing Opens in Texas
Texas legislators and legislators-to-be set a new record on the first day of pre-filing Tuesday, filing 1,500 bills for the 2025 session. Among those filed, none of which are yet priorities in either chamber, are various border-related proposals, the revival of a high-profile social issue, and the much-discussed prohibition against hostile nations from purchasing Texas
Hurry Up and Wait: Texas House Speaker Race Gains Post-Election Steam
The phones are buzzing and speculation is mounting in the race for Texas House speaker. Almost as soon as the dust settled on the election last Tuesday did the angling behind the scenes accelerate, maneuvers that had partially paused as voters decided who would have a say in this backroom leadership fight. Republicans gained two
GOP Judicial Victories in Harris County Spurred by Business Community’s Massive $18 Million Push
The top Republican vote-getter in Harris County wasn’t anyone near the top of the GOP ticket last Tuesday. Instead, it was a black-robed candidate for an obscure but pivotal court named David Schenck. The three Republican candidates for the Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) — one-half of the state’s bifurcated court system alongside the Texas
School Choice, Other Education Bills Filed for Upcoming 2025 Legislative Session
Education will be a top priority for Texas lawmakers and Gov. Greg Abbott heading into the 89th Legislative Session, with a number of important education-related bills submitted on the first day of filing. Topping the list is Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) and his “Texas Parental Empowerment Act of 2025.” House Bill (HB) 212 is
Democrat John Bryant Enters Texas House Speaker Race
A second Democratic candidate for Texas House speaker emerged Tuesday as state Rep. John Bryant (D-Dallas) filed paperwork with the Texas Ethics Commission. Bryant is the most tenured freshman in the building as he returned to the Legislature in 2023 after a 40-year hiatus. He served five terms previously from 1974 to 1983. Bryant left
After the November election, the Texas Legislature has a new wave of pro-choice Democrats.
School choice may be coming to Texas now that the elections are closed and the seats have been counted, as a result of the election of a number of new state House members who support school choice on November 5. The governor has prioritized education over option. Greg Abbott over the past two decades. ×
