State 977
Grieving Camp Mystic Parents Testify on Flood Disaster Before Texas Senate Committee
State senators heard from grieving parents during the Texas Senate Disaster, Preparedness, and Flooding Committee hearing Wednesday, as many relayed their anguish and made calls for reform to safety standards. “I’d just like to say that it’s gonna be a little bit of a tough day,” Chairman Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) imparted to the other members […]
Federal Judge Halts Required Classroom Display of Ten Commandments Donated to Texas Public Schools
A federal district court judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking a recently-passed Texas law that requires public schools to display donated copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Senate Bill (SB) 10, which requires public schools to display copies of the King James Bible version of the Ten Commandments in classrooms if donated by an […]
TEA A–F Ratings Put Five Texas School Districts at Risk of State Takeover, Closures
Five public school districts are vulnerable to state intervention following last week’s release of A–F accountability ratings by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Each district has at least one school with five consecutive years of failing ratings, which under state education code will result in either a state-appointed board of managers or closure of the […]
Texas Bill Would Hold Judges Liable for Harm Done by Violent Offenders on PR Bonds
A state lawmaker from Harris County wants to make judges liable for harm done by violent suspects if they are released on a personal recognizance (PR) bond in response to numerous stories in Texas of repeat offenders who commit new crimes. “If the judge makes a bad decision and lets somebody out on a PR […]
Second Special Session of Texas Legislature Kicks Off, House Remains Without Quorum
The second special session of the 89th Texas Legislature kicked off almost immediately after the first one adjourned sine die due to House Democrats breaking quorum — with an almost identical agenda from Gov. Greg Abbott. After the Texas House Democratic Caucus prevented a quorum within the Texas House for two weeks to avoid a […]
Texas Legislature Adjourns Sine Die After Two Weeks of House Quorum Break
The Texas Legislature has adjourned sine die before the scheduled end of the first special session, as Texas House Democrats have temporarily thwarted the Republicans in passing the congressional redistricting map. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. […]
Texas Redistricting Fight Leaves Mark on Legislature as Quorum Break Stalemate Winds Down
United fronts are hard to come by in Texas politics, particularly on the Republican side, the party which controls every statewide office, both chambers of the Legislature, and a large majority of the congressional delegation. When the minority party is so powerless, the fracturing conflicts are concentrated in the party with all the power. But […]
Texas House Public Health Committee Considers Hemp-Derived THC Ban
The Texas House Committee on Public Health took up the lower chamber’s bill banning THC on Wednesday, with medical professionals, industry leaders, and law enforcement descending on Austin to provide testimony on one of the state’s most contentious issues. State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) filed House Bill (HB) 5 — which is an exact […]
Texas Senate Passes Human Trafficking Victims Affirmative Defense Amid House Quorum Bust
Legislation establishing an affirmative defense to prosecution for human trafficking victims who may have committed crimes while in captivity unanimously passed the Texas Senate, where it will likely die before being re-filed during the next special session. Senate Bill (SB) 10 by state Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) creating an affirmative defense to the prosecution […]
George Strait’s Flood Relief Concert Delivers Critical Aid to Kerr County Families
A month and a half after historic deadly flash floods tore through the Hill Country in the early hours of Independence Day, the recovery effort in Kerr County now stretches for miles along the winding Highway River Road. To newcomers, the scene still looks like the height of ruin — mountains of debris piled on […]
Texas Democrats Respond to Friday Sine Die Threat, Say ‘What Happens Next’ is Up to Abbott
Texas House Democrats stated they will “never make quorum again” during the current special session, which state leaders plan to end on Friday, and said they will “issue” their “demands” for the second called session come Friday. “What happens next is entirely up to Greg Abbott,” the Texas House Democratic Caucus (HDC) Chairman Gene Wu […]
Texas Schools Prepare for New Cell Phone Ban, Navigating Enforcement and Pushback
All Texas school districts will begin enforcing the cell phone ban passed under House Bill (HB) 1481 starting on September 1. The law requires that all public and charter schools must “adopt, implement, and ensure the district or school complies with a written policy prohibiting a student from using a personal communication device while on school property […]
