State 977
Texas Senate Committee Advances Priority Property Tax Bill, $40,000 Homestead Exemption Increase
A tidal wave of numbers and Donald Trump impressions flooded the Local Government Committee on Tuesday as the body considered the Texas Senate’s priority property tax relief bill. Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) laid out Senate Bill (SB) 4 that’d increase the standard homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 as it pertains to school district tax […]
Lawmakers Announce New Texas Legislature UK Caucus
The Texas economy continues to grow amid the state’s pro-business environment, and some lawmakers in Legislature want to expand its economic footprint with overseas partners. The announcement of the Texas Legislature UK Caucus, headed up by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) and Rep. Claudia Ordaz (D-El Paso), is an opportunity, they say, to promote economic […]
21 Massage Parlors Closed in Texas Since Passage of Anti-Human Trafficking Law
Legislation passed during the 88th Legislative Session has led to nearly two-dozen busts uncovering illicit activity in massage parlors across the state. Nineteen six-month emergency closure orders have been issued to massage establishments across the state due to suspected human trafficking, thanks to state Rep. Ben Bumgarner’s (R-Flower Mound) House Bill (HB) 3579, which […]
40 Massage Parlors Closed in Texas Since Passage of Anti-Human Trafficking Law
Legislation passed during the 88th Legislative Session has led to 40 busts uncovering illicit activity in massage parlors across the state. Nineteen six-month emergency closure orders have been issued to massage establishments across the state due to suspected human trafficking, thanks to state Rep. Ben Bumgarner’s (R-Flower Mound) House Bill (HB) 3579, which gave […]
Federal Judge Blocks Portions of Texas SCOPE Act
Texas’ Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act has again been partially blocked after a Texas judge preliminarily enjoined it due to a lawsuit challenging the law. Austin District Court Judge Robert Pitman has granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against provisions in the SCOPE Act, writing that “even accepting that Texas has […]
Gov. Abbott Lists ‘Texas Cyber Command’ as Emergency Item for State Legislature
Gov. Greg Abbott delivered his State of the State address several days ago, outlining his priorities for the 89th Legislative Session and listing his emergency items, which included an unexpected addition — the creation of a Texas Cyber Command. “We must deploy cutting edge capabilities to better secure our State,” Abbott declared. × This page […]
Emergency Products, School Choice, Parliamentary Inquiries: This Week in the Texas Legislature
The first week of February is when things in the Texas Legislature, starting off with the initial pleasantries and, in this case, a speaker’s competition, usually start to happen. That’s specifically true this week in two of the three connected channels. × This section requires Browser. For you to be able to read subscription information, […]
Attorney General Paxton Issues Legal Opinion on Student Athletes Going through a” Gender Transition”
At the demand of Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, the attorney general of Texas has requested an opinion regarding individuals who have undergone “gender change” and their participation in public school activities. The University Interscholastic League’s ( UIL ) legal obligations under the Texas Education Code regarding “illegal steroid use” are detailed in the […]
Texas Lawmaker Introduces Bill Establishing Statewide Dangerous Dog Registry
If determined to be dangerous by an animal control authority, dogs in Texas would be registered under a statewide “dangerous dog” registry alongside proof of the owner’s liability insurance and other information, per a bill introduced by state Rep. Liz Campos (D-San Antonio). House Bill (HB) 2325 would establish a collaboration between animal control authorities […]
‘Universal’ School Choice Bill Passes Texas Senate, Faces Upcoming Test in House
The Texas Senate passed its school choice proposal after a lengthy debate among members, featuring arguments from across the political spectrum that highlighted both strong support and deep concerns over the bill’s potential impact on public education. The vote at the end of the evening was 19 ayes to 12 nays to pass Senate Bill […]
Efforts to Legalize Gambling in Texas Face Senate Roadblock After Gaining Ground in 2023
The long road toward the legalization of gambling in Texas pits a legislative obstacle against a supportive populace, backdropped by what has been a blitz of millions of dollars and hundreds of lobbyists. For a couple of sessions now, offices within the Texas Capitol have been beset by lobbyists hired by Las Vegas Sands, Caesars […]
Lawmakers File Texas Constitutional Amendment to Remove Legislature’s Authority to Regulate Firearms
Two nearly identical House Joint Resolutions (HJR) filed by two state representatives would omit the Texas Legislature’s ability to regulate the bearing of arms in the state through an amendment to the Texas Constitution. Rep. Andy Hopper (R-Denton) filed HJR 93 on November 14, 2024, while Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) filed HJR 127 […]
