Texas Senate approves new congressional lines as House Democrats remain out of state
Democrats' absence has halted work in the Texas House, which must also approve the new boundaries, for more than a week. Full Story
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![A newly released redistricting map of Texas is visible on a laptop during a Senate session on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas State System dissolves faculty senates, eroding professors' influence on campuses
While other universities move to preserve the advisory bodies, Texas State will abolish them under a new state law that curtails faculty’s influence on campuses. Full Story
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![Texas State University campus in San Marcos in 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Democrats know they may lose redistricting protest, but hope to spark a national fight
Democrats concede there’s only so much they can do to keep Texas from redrawing its maps. But they want to encourage blue states to retaliate. Full Story
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![Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin speaks during a press conference surrounded by members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus at Painters District Council 30 in Aurora, Ill., on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
Texas redistricting standoff complicates preparations for March 2026 primary
New maps would mean months of work for election officials, and key deadlines are approaching. Full Story
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![Voters line up to cast their ballots at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Austin on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022.]()
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Texas Senate OKs stricter limits on city, county property tax revenue
The proposal would put tighter limits on how much property tax revenue cities and counties of a certain size can collect each year. Full Story
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![Republican legislators talk amongst themselves during the 89th legislative special session in the Senate Chambers on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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The Texas redistricting fight spurring a legislative standoff: What you need to know
Texas Republicans are trying to redraw congressional districts to pick up five additional U.S. House seats. Democrats face financial and political risk in their bid to block the GOP plan. Full Story
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![Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu speaks during a press conference alongside dozens of fellow Texas lawmakers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker in Carol Stream, Ill., on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025.]()
Credit: Jamie Kelter Davis for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves bill swapping STAAR exam for three shorter tests
The tests would be administered at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. But the proposal’s fate is unclear with the House in limbo over a redistricting fight. Full Story
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![Students attend a math and reading workshop at a summer camp held at Dobie Middle School at July 23, 2025. The camp, hosted by Austin Voices for Education and Youth, hosts workshops to help students prepare for standarized testing.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune -
Texas cities, counties may face new limits on raising property taxes
Republican state lawmakers want to curb property tax bills by further limiting how much can be collected by cities and counties. Full Story
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![Cars drive on Intersate 35 East with the downtown Dallas skyline looming in the distance on Sunday, July 27, 2025.]()
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Kerr County officials failed to follow certain aspects of disaster plan during Texas floods
The five-year-old plan, required by the state, detailed when additional monitoring was to take place and who was responsible for alerting the public to evacuate. Full Story
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![A woman looks at a pile of debris in Hunt on July 8, 2025.]()
Credit: Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribune -
Texas GOP once again tries to ban local governments from hiring lobbyists in Austin
Critics of the bill say the state’s smallest cities and school districts will be silenced at the Capitol. Full Story
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![Texas state senators take care of business at their desks during floor debate on SB5 the THC regulation bill on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Clockwise from upper left are Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, Sen. Adam Hinojosa, D-Corpus Christi, Sen Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown and Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate once again tries to give the attorney general authority to prosecute election crimes
A similar proposal stalled out earlier this year over disagreements between the House and Senate. This time, lawmakers might clash over whether to approve the new bill along with a constitutional amendment. Full Story
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![Texas Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, argues a point of order on CSSB11 a bill that authorizes the Texas Attorney General to prosecute certain election-related crimes.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Seven House Democrats making day trip to New Mexico amid redistricting battle
With a quorum break on the table for the minority party as a way to thwart a GOP bid for more congressional seats, members travel out-of-state for a third time. Full Story
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![New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) speaks during the Democratic Party of New Mexico Election Night Watch Party at the Isleta Casino and Resort on Nov. 5, 2024 on the Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico.]()
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Texans, Democrats condemn GOP redistricting plans at first public hearing
At the first of at least seven hearings, members of the public aired grievances about the unusual mid-decade redistricting effort. Full Story
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![State Rep. Terry M. Wilson, R-Georgetown, looks at a congressional district map during a House Congressional Redistricting committee meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas again trying to restrict the bathrooms transgender people can use
The bills would carry a $5,000 fine for a first-time violation and comes as momentum for such restrictions has increased in the state and nationally. Full Story
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![Social distancing decals are posted in front of the sinks to be used in a boys restroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The school plans to turn off the water for the sinks and urinals not in use to maintain social distancing between students in the restroom.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, first Texas DOGE chair, will not seek reelection
The Southlake Republican will serve the remainder of his seventh term. Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said on Wednesday he would run for the District 98 seat. Full Story
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![State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, during the Texas Rally for Life at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 22, 2022.]()
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Texas lawmakers largely ignored recommendations aimed at helping rural areas like Kerr County prepare for flooding
Texas lawmakers’ inaction on flood prevention often hits rural and economically disadvantaged communities the hardest, experts said. Full Story
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![Photos and flowers hang on a fence as a memorial to flood victims.]()
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The Texas Legislature is back for a special session. Here’s what we’re watching.
Lawmakers will have 30 days to tackle a packed agenda outlined by Gov. Greg Abbott, from flood relief to redistricting to THC products. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol seen on Monday June 30, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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Elon Musk hired a dozen Texas lobbyists this year. State law keeps the extent of their influence under wraps.
How the billionaire businessman’s lobbyists helped him get so many state Legislature wins is something of a mystery. Full Story
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Texas’ public ed funding boost brings some relief but erodes districts’ independence, school leaders say
A law providing $8.5 billion in new funding for Texas public schools lacks the spending flexibility that previously let districts address their campuses’ needs as they saw fit. Full Story
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![Hank Warner teaches a pre-advanced placement algebra course for ninth graders at Bowie High School in Austin.]()
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Robert Nichols, the most senior Texas Senate Republican, won’t run for reelection
After Nichols announced his retirement, Rep. Trent Ashby said he would run for the open seat. Full Story
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![Left: state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, on the Senate floor on April 9, 2019. Right: State Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, on the House floor on May 3, 2017.]()
Credit: The Texas Tribune