Wide-ranging crackdown on abortion pills passes Texas Senate
The bill gives the state new tools to try to stop the flow of abortion pills, but critics say it’s legally dubious on several fronts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f1707a752cd50ba52b98bfe822c664d1/Mifepristone%20REUTERS%2003.JPG)
-
![A nurse drops Mifepristone, the first pill in a medical abortion, into a patient's hand at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, on April 9, 2024.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein -
The Texas House wants voters to approve billions to save the state’s water supply
The Senate has a similar proposal, but is more prescriptive in how the money should be spent. The two chambers must agree on the final proposal to send to voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2c26b661deb6a099dacae33fa7898819/0717%20RGV%20Water%20-%20NASWC%20EG%20TT%2028.jpg)
![Jairo Benavides, center, removes soil as the crew works on upgrading pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on Thursday, July 18, 2024. In order to increase the amount of water the plant is able to distribute, pipes were upgraded and replaced, connect to the plant’s existing facility with the newly expanded infrastructure.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers want to exempt police from deadly conduct charges
Local prosecutors have used the charge to punish police accused of misconduct. Legislation that would prevent that is advancing through the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2fa794aea3bc75fa393d8c9c933c1d1e/DTX%20Vigil%20George%20Floyd%20TT%2020.jpg)
![Police tactical officers prepare for confrontation during a march against police brutality in Dallas on March 29, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Courier’s lawsuit seeks to block Texas Lottery from banning its services
Lotto.com’s suit, which was filed Thursday, comes less than a week before the state agency votes to ban the third-party services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/546e8d3bf659312f9ad518da911d726d/0220%20Winners%20Corner%20LS%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Winners Corner TX LLC in Austin sold the winning $83.5 million Lotto Texas ticket.]()
Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune -
Private school vouchers head to Abbott’s desk to become law
The program will officially launch at the start of the 2026-27 school year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2e49892d718232acbc8fe0dc407fcb5a/Abbott%20DOGE%20KCG%20TT%2014.jpg)
![From left: State Rep. Dustin Burrows, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at the Capitol in Austin on April 23, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Texas may officially recognize Gulf of America change after Senate gives first OK
Senate Bill 1717 would require the name of Gulf of Mexico to be changed in every official reference made by a state agency, resolution, rule or publication. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0eb6ae60bd9d375c394c11667bfbf426/0706%20Beryl%20Corpus%20PG%20TT%2027.jpg)
![Beach goers at the Gulf of Mexico coastline in Corpus Christi on July 6, 2024.]()
Credit: Pete Garcia for The Texas Tribune -
Abbott signs first bill of session into law, creating a Texas DOGE
The first bill to reach Abbott’s desk this session creates a regulation-cutting state agency under the purview of the governor. It was passed with bipartisan supermajorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c94d27e50c9ecdf5cf7e0b4e10704d0e/Abbott%20DOGE%20KCG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![Flanked by House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott signs his first bill into law this session on April 23, 2025. Senate bill 14 establishes a DOGE office in state government. Looking on from behind are the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, and its author, state Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Why Texas Republicans are trying to rein in high home prices and rents
There’s political urgency for Republicans to deal with housing affordability, especially as surveys find most Texans say housing costs are a top concern. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/03beadac1daaddd0dc8136ca29eb6da7/Austin%20Housing%20JJ%20TT%2003%20TT.jpg)
![The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023.]()
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Early Texas hospital data shows millions spent in care for non-U.S. citizens
A state employee testified Monday that tens of thousands of people in the U.S. unlawfully were treated, but it was unclear how long the data had been collected. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c5663b782d2e7f8612e79b3c616fb499/ATX%20Hospitals%20AG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![An Austin-Travis County EMS vehicle parked outside of an emergency room in Austin on July 7, 2020.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas hemp farmers fear full THC ban would nip industry in the bud
As lawmakers work to close loopholes that allow minors access to cannabis consumables, hemp farmers warn a total THC ban would strangle a once-hailed crop. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5036a13a4ce7a66a5449e223005060e3/0410%20Hemp%20Farm%20TrT%20TT%2025.jpg)
![bin of proccessed hemp at Bingham Family Venards outside Meadow, TX.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune -
In private school voucher push, Gov. Abbott breaks through by playing hardball
Anti-voucher Republicans said they voted for the bill so they could fight to improve it, and also to fend off political retribution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af2bd3561ef2b663ed0df0c83777893a/0217%20Abbott%20Voucher%20Night%20SB%20TT%2010.JPG)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at ‘Parent Empowerment Night’ at San Antonio Christian School, in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Scott Stephen Ball for The Texas Tribune -
In historic first, Texas House approves private school voucher program
The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2ee5b16d3e50936620358101d3c7ef9d/0416%20Voucher%20Day%20KCG%20TT%2001.jpg)
![State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, answers questions regarding an amendment for Senate Bill 2 in the House Chamber in Austin on April 16, 2025.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribune -
Legislation could undermine Texas' power grid ability to meet forecasted demand
The state grid’s operator said the current regulation will allow it to meet future demands. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33b2c90f50131277761f76e08f8bfbf/ERCOT%20Command%20Center%20REUTERS%20TT%2003.JPG)
![Reliability Coordinators monitored the state power grid during a tour of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) command center in Taylor in 2012.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Julia Robinson -
Texas House Democrats could hold GOP priorities hostage to force statewide school vouchers vote
More than 50 House Democrats have signed on to a plan to spike all constitutional amendments unless the House allows voters to decide whether school vouchers will be legalized. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6e0254772c2d31291025150f2ec994c5/0410%20House%20Budget%20Day%20BD%20TT%2014.jpg)
![State Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, is surrounded by Democrats on the Texas House floor while he advocates for Medicaid expansion during the budget debate in the Texas House on April 10, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
String of law enforcement suicides rattles first responders and exposes gaps in state support
Four people tied to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office committed suicide recently, calling attention to ongoing mental health struggles among law enforcement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/71791fe04ff30b59ee0e462ad14c1edf/0406%20Law%20Enforcement%20Suicides%20MC%20TT%2008.jpg)
![Dustin Schellinger poses for a photo on Sunday, April 6, 2025 in Coppell, Texas. After loosing two close friends to suicide within six months of each other, Schellinger found that there were not many resources for law enforcement who were struggling and sought to find an opportunity to help.]()
Credit: Maria Crane for The Texas Tribune -
The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.
The Senate voted Wednesday to give initial approval to a bill that would require buildings, including public schools and universities, among others to segregate private facilities, like bathrooms, by sex. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e10533e8a5e11a8f21495935cfbc19d3/0329%20Trans%20Visibility%20March%20SW%2049.JPG)
![Attendees wave a trans flag while marching with over 300 activists and supporters from the Bexar County Courthouse to Crockett Park in “March for Us,” San Antonio's third annual celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, on Saturday, March 29, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.]()
Credit: Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribune -
Push for Texas to weaken vaccine mandates persists as measles surge
Much of the outbreak is concentrated in the districts of Texas House leaders, including Speaker Dustin Burrows. The crisis appears to have done little to change support for “vaccine choice.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eda47349f4c4700a35c61f2739190b04/0406%20Measles%20Funeral%20Seminole%20TT%2017.jpg)
![Signage in English, Spanish and German inform people of measles prevention in the Gaines County Court House in Seminole on April 6, 2025.]()
Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Covering Texas’ new abortion fights
TribCast digs into clarifying bills, crackdowns on pills, lawsuits, arrests and everything else abortion-related. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/257f3d27504348dcbf3b8df71d0a33b9/TribCast%20April%208.jpg)
![An examination room in Alamo Women’s Reproductive Services in San Antonio on June 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ clarifying abortion bill draws criticism
While Democrats and abortion access advocates pushed to ensure pregnant women aren’t criminalized, some conservatives questioned whether this bill is needed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4dbec2e2138d3402258564e71dc91a9d/Nursing%20Shortage%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg)
![An empty emergency room at Goodall-Witcher Hospital in Clifton on August 3, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Republicans take aim at public transit in two major cities
The Texas Legislature is considering bills that transit officials warn could hamper public transportation in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth regions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d15bc277d2b11e003a26a6ea63ae31d5/DART%20DV%20TT%2002.jpg)
![A Dart bus lies idle at a stop near Westmoreland Station in Dallas on Feb. 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Duy Vu for The Texas Tribune