Athena Strand-inspired “Athena Alert" bill heads to governor’s desk
A bill that will allow law enforcement to issue missing child alerts more quickly is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Bill passed increasing pension payout for Dallas first responders who die from occupational illnesses
A fight to fix death benefits for Dallas first responders who die not because of occupational hazards is over. Their deaths will now be considered line of duty deaths and their surviving family members will receive full benefits.
Sen. John Cornyn pushes for legislative reforms targeting predatory ticketing practices
The goal is to fix the current ticketing system for live performances and events. It targets bots, professional scalpers and predatory sellers on the secondary market overinflate ticket prices and fracture relationships between artists and sports teams and their fans.
Texas lawmakers recommend impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton after Republican investigation
Paxton has been under FBI investigation for years over accusations that he used his office to help a donor and was separately indicted on securities fraud charges in 2015, but has yet to stand trial.
1 year after Uvalde shooting, Texas moves closer to having armed guards in all schools
If House Bill 3 passes, Texas will provide funding for public and private partnerships to help protect the youngest students with armed officers providing school security.
Paxton defends drinking accusations against Phelan, House investigators recount alleged misconduct by Paxton
A day after calling for House Speaker Dade Phelan to resign for allegedly drinking on the job, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is defending those claims. Phelan's camp argued that Paxton is using the video as a way to distract from a public hearing on an investigation into the attorney general on Wednesday.
Texas House votes to repeal sales tax on menstrual products and diapers
The bill, which Democrats have been pushing for years, has become a top priority after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The Senate has already passed the bill, which would provide tax relief on the purchase of menstrual products, diapers and other child care necessities.
Texas Senate passes revamped school funding bill in last-minute bid to implement voucher program
Texas senators have latched education savings accounts to a school funding bill in a last-ditch effort to avoid a special session. But some House members are furious at the revamped version and have vowed not to let it become law.
Texas lawmakers OK bill that aims to keep sexually explicit material out of school libraries
Approved by both chambers, the bill is now on its way to the governor. Unless he vetoes it, the bill will become law, which means book vendors will have to assign ratings to books based on depictions or references to sex.
AG Paxton calls for Texas Speaker Dade Phelan to resign, accuses him of being drunk on House floor
Video from the House floor on Friday night shows Phelan slurring his words on the House floor while debating an amendment to a Senate Bill.
Texas Senate advances strict ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
During a late-night vote Monday, the Texas Senate advanced a controversial piece of legislation that would limit classroom lessons, teacher guidance and school programming in Texas public and charter schools.
Texas lawmakers ban bots that buy concert tickets after Taylor Swift Eras tour glitch
Texas lawmakers, deciding not to not be the anti-hero, looked into the issue that outraged Swift fans last fall. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn hopes to take the issue on in Congress.
Texas House passes bill aimed at keeping kids from seeing sexually explicit performances
The bill no longer targets drag performers, but LGBTQ advocates say the legislation’s vague language could still be used to criminalize such shows.
Texas Senate passes school safety bill that would require districts to bolster their active-shooter plans
Both chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year.
Amended Texas Senate bill revives school voucher debate
A Texas Senate committee is set to debate a new version of a bill that would give parents thousands of dollars per year for their kids' private school education.
Gov. Abbott says he will sign bill banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he’ll sign Senate Bill 14 into law, which will block transgender children from certain treatments.
Taxes, tenure, transgender care, sports bills discussed amid Texas regular session ending
The Texas regular session ends this month, and Thursday was a critical moving day for several key pieces of legislation, including two bills concerning gender-affirming care and transgender collegiate athletes.
Texas House considers bill raising homestead exemptions, lowering yearly tax value increases
House lawmakers are touting this bill as one that would save the owner of a $350,000 home $1,300 next year and $1,500 the year after that.
Texas ranked last in mental health care for young people in 2022. New bills look to change that.
Dallas nonprofit After8toEducate says they are seeing a 30% increase in homeless young people in need of their services. They hope new bills in the Texas Legislature can change that.
Bill would allow temporary change in speed limits due to construction, weather on Texas highways
An investigation of the deadly pileup on I-35W in February 2021 suggested variable speed limits.