Latest Texas state government News

Texas senators fast-track school voucher bill for full vote

Jan. 29, 2025 12:15 PM EST

The Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night voted to advance school voucher legislation for a full vote in the Senate after hours of public testimony largely focused on whether the proposal would live up to its promise of prioritizing low-income families and children with disabilities. ...

A GOP lawsuit to limit people in the US illegally from the census count will be harmful, voters say

Jan. 28, 2025 15:38 PM EST

Voters in California and Texas affiliated with a Democratic group want to intervene in a lawsuit filed by four Republican state attorneys general that is attempting to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from numbers used to divvy up congressional seats among states. The five voters...

Several bills filed to weaken vaccine mandates as more Texas families opt out of immunizations

Jan. 27, 2025 11:24 AM EST

When speech pathologist Rebecca Hardy recalls her up-close seat to lawmaking during the 2015 state legislative session, she remembers how tough it was to find anyone interested in what she wanted: more choice for Texans when it came to getting vaccinated. After forming Texans For...

Supreme Court allows small business registration rule to take effect, aimed at money laundering

Jan. 23, 2025 16:23 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday revived a requirement that owners of millions of small businesses register with an arm of the Treasury Department charged with fighting money laundering and other financial crimes. The justices granted an emergency plea made by the...

Texas budget writers prioritize school vouchers, teacher raises and border security in early drafts

Jan. 23, 2025 12:42 PM EST

Texas lawmakers are looking to spend billions of dollars over the next two years to create a school voucher-like program, cut property taxes, raise teacher pay, shore up water infrastructure and continue the state’s border crackdown, according to initial state budget drafts House and Senate...

Supreme Court could revive lawsuit against Texas officer who shot motorist stopped for unpaid tolls

Jan. 22, 2025 14:02 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed inclined to revive a civil rights lawsuit against the Texas police officer who shot a man to death during a traffic stop in Houston over unpaid tolls. The justices appeared to be in broad agreement that the New Orleans-based...

Pete Hegseth's former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate

Jan. 21, 2025 19:25 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators vetting the nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary received an affidavit Tuesday from a former sister-in-law alleging that the onetime Fox News host was abusive to his second wife, to the point where she feared for her safety. Hegseth denies the allegations. ...

Texas lawmakers eye sharing health care workers with other states to address provider shortages

Jan. 16, 2025 17:06 PM EST

A coalition of health industry leaders are backing a policy they say would help stop the statewide hemorrhaging of health care workers — allowing certain out-of-state professionals to practice in Texas. The plan would allow Texas to join existing interstate compacts for nine...

Texas developer at the center of attorney general's impeachment pleads guilty to federal charge

Jan. 15, 2025 18:55 PM EST

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A real estate developer whose relationship with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was at the center of the Republican's historic impeachment trial in 2023 pleaded guilty Wednesday to a federal charge of lying to a financial institution. The plea by Nate Paul,...

Supreme Court seems open to age checks for online porn, though some free-speech questions remain

Jan. 15, 2025 15:11 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed open to a Texas law aimed at blocking kids from seeing online pornography, though the justices could still send it back to a lower court for more consideration of how the age verification measure affects adults' free-speech rights. ...