The one thing Texas won’t do to save its water supply
Texas property owners can use nearly as much water under their land as they want. That’s unlikely to change even as the state approaches a crisis.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/51098967c1c550c3af67d05420afd365/0521%20Wild%20West%20Water%20AR%2016.jpg)
Texas just defined man and woman. Here’s why that matters.
Critics say House Bill 229, which has gone to the governor, discriminates against trans people, but the full effect remains to be seen.
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/050ac76f3fad0b40e7f8635966972af1/Trans%20Rights%20Rally%20LW%20TT%2007.jpg)
Texas Legislature 2025
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c00eed6d9f45b6e1ebacbb76d9df1920/0127%20School%20Choice%20Lufkin%20CO%20TT%2020.jpg)
Texas Legislature 2025
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a41bec553660f951751854c88a7f0576/Operation%20Lone%20Star%20VGC%20TT%2055.jpg)
Featured series
Loading content
Latest News
-
Legislature to work out differences on bill limiting protests at public universities
The Senate on Thursday refused to agree to changes the House made to Senate Bill 2972 that made it less restrictive, prompting a conference committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0c61926e39c6d0cc26de0f9870127dc6/0424%20UT%20Austin%20Protest%20EH%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Protestors chant at Texas Department of Public Safety troopers as they begin to push students towards Guadalupe Street from the South Lawn during a demonstration in support of Palestine Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at the University of Texas in Austin.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas moves close to ban on some land sales to foreigners
The House has approved a conference committee report that lists sales to certain people from China, North Korea, Russia and Iran as threats to national security. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e7a8399271dbbc5c7b5ae74773965d1d/Steve%20Young%20Milam%20Co%20MM%20TT%2009.jpg)
![A horse grazes on a farm in Milam County on March 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune
-
Texas colleges will soon be able to pay their athletes
House Bill 126, which allows student athletes to receive a slice of the billions Texas colleges generate in revenue from their teams, now awaits the governor’s signature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f4ac6467b75a1ffbb1713ef63d7feaa8/UT%20Football%20EG%20TT.jpg)
![The University of Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin on August 31, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Daily Texan -
Bill that gives Texas increased oversight of largest energy users wins Legislature’s approval
Senate Bill 6, which now heads to the governor’s desk, gives the state’s electricity managers the ability to shut power to large consumers during emergencies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9707f846e16719a9ce1e0e8b906051f/Corpus%20Christi%20Industrial%20MGO%2003.jpg)
![Flint Hills Resources, a manufacturer of fuels and chemicals, site in Corpus on Nov. 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune
-
Texas Legislature approves $8.5 billion boost for public schools after years of stagnant funding
Gov. Greg Abbott has already said he intends to sign the bill, which will give schools funding for salary increases, special education, teacher preparation and operational costs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/986658b7de604911087f55467589335e/090519-Hemphill%20Elementary-006%20TT.jpg)
![Pre-K students learn their numbers at JoAnn Zavala's classroom on Sept. 5, 2019 in Hemphill Elementary.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas House, Senate will seek middle ground on bill to scrap STAAR test
The chambers differ on how much power districts should have to push back in courts over their accountability ratings. They risk keeping STAAR by default if they don’t reach an agreement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/42ae4fc0ad3cde250b79620d3dc1ecfb/STAAR%20Prep%20MS%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Math teacher Becky McLaughlin during a STAAR prep session for 7th graders at Blocker Middle School in Texas City on March 24, 2017.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Stricter bail rules win final passage in Texas Legislature, will go to voters in November
The House passage of the measure asking voters to amend the state Constitution to tighten the state’s bail laws hands a major policy win to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b575b9fa6759b1cb7048f0bd20925a23/0519%20John%20Smithee%20LW%20TT%2003.jpg)
![State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, urges his fellow representatives to vote for his bill regarding bail bonds in Texas on May 19, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune
Your help is needed to deliver trusted journalism for all Texans.
Will you support Texas reporting without a paywall?
DONATE NOW
Will you support Texas reporting without a paywall?
-
Texas parents, school boards may have more control over school library books after House OKs bill
Senate Bill 13 would require school boards or advisory councils to approve new books and review complaints. Critics worry the bill would lead to banning classic titles and create administrative logjams. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fc289a1629a24a3664ea1230ac94fd58/0723%20SEISD%20JH%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School library in San Elizario on July 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Is it law yet? See how far some of the most consequential bills have made it in the 2025 Texas Legislature
We’re tracking the status of major bills through the final stretch of the session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/59c35a1aeb3482d7f73f595a77d6ec42/session-summary-promo-img.jpeg)
![Four squares with four icons: the top left icon is of the Texas capitol with a yellow question mark over it, the top right icon is of a bill with with a yellow question mark over it, the bottom left icon is of the Texas capitol with a red checkmark over it and the bottom right icon is of a bill with a green checkmark over it.]()
Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson -
Texas poised to add $100 million to child care scholarship program
Reallocated funding for the program that will go to providers will benefit nearly 95,000 children on a waitlist for scholarships. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/40e5b29639a55b331336bcd6af49d21c/Yoakum%20Child%20Care%20AM%2029.jpg)
![Teacher Pita Espinosa leads a group of young children in a song that teaches Spanish words at the Learning Tree childcare center in Yoakum on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune
Send us a confidential tip
There are several ways you can securely send tips, documents and photographs to our reporters and editors. Learn more.
-
A bill to air-condition all Texas prisons likely to fail again in the Senate
House Bill 3006 would have required the installation of climate control in state prison by 2032. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/19/PrisonFan.jpg)
![Inmates shuffle past new fans in the TDCJ Memorial Unit in Brazoria Co. on July 12, 2017. The prison was called the Darrington Unit until 2023.]()
Credit: Jolie McCullough/The Texas Tribune -
Texas to increase funding to state film incentive program by $300 million
The Senate accepted amendments to a bill that initially sought $500 million over the next two years into projects filmed in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1d51efbde738c49f6dca98fb56919cb3/Film%20Production%20Showcase%20REUTERS.jpg)
![Charles Steen, an operator during a film production showcase hosted on the Texas Capitol grounds on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman/USA TODAY Network via REUTERS -
Texas to expand how schools discipline students
House Bill 6, which now heads to the governor, targets the increase in violence that has plagued schools since the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6eac3ff9c37d0d0b2dc663dd7bf048d/0127%20Student%20Discipline%20CO%2001.jpg)
![A student walks through the halls of Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune
-
Lawmakers near deal to spend $20 billion over two decades on water crisis
The deal allocates $1 billion a year to water projects for 20 years, which some groups estimate is a fraction of what Texas needs to save its water supply. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e0c16659eb94e872169745ed78c88cc6/SA%20Water%20Treatment%20CS%20TT%2012.jpg)
![The SAWS’ Steven M. Clouse Water Recycling Center in San Antonio on Aug. 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune -
Texas bill allowing smaller homes on smaller lots amid housing affordability crunch advances in House
Senate Bill 15, a top priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, is part of a broad push by lawmakers to put a dent in the state’s high home prices. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e2565da3d040b26c473fc3d16b4d4acd/1230%20Migrant%20Workers%20SB%20TT%2014.jpg)
![A construction worker builds homes in far west San Antonio on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.]()
Credit: Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribune -
Texas DEI ban in public schools approved in the House
Senate Bill 12’s supporters say DEI programs use class time and public funds to promote political agendas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/195b469a8ba4d764d553338ff54edfd4/United_South_HS_TEKS_RZ_TT.jpg)
![Passing period at United South High School in Laredo.]()
Credit: Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribune
-
Political appointees would have more control over Texas universities’ courses and hiring under bill approved in House
Senate Bill 37 would give more power to university regents, who are appointed by the governor, to vet and veto new curricula and administrators. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5fd507963acae20ff3dd640b67874375/Texas%20State%20Campus%20TT%20LS%2004.jpg)
![Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
New limits for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits may become a reality in Texas
The House made changes to the proposal that leave open ways for victims to be compensated beyond medical bills. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a7f4d2ec20806f2f13e710774c7b7659/Seton%20Trauma%20Center%20LS%20TT%2004.jpg)
![An ambulance is parked at Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas
at Austin in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Top deputies to Attorney General Ken Paxton pushed out over sexual harassment allegations, lawsuit says
The harassment allegedly took place while the two were on leave from the agency working on Paxton’s impeachment defense. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5169eeadcae7c4361fa6abc087404125/SCOTUS%20Paxton%20Presser%20EL%20TT%2016.jpg)
![Then-Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone II speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on April 26, 2022.]()
Credit: Eric Lee for The Texas Tribune - More News