Texas suburbs resist new state law allowing more apartments
Suburban officials in the Dallas-Fort Worth region have enacted rules aimed at curtailing a sweeping new state law to allow more apartments. Full Story
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![A family walks through a neighborhood in Irving on Aug. 1, 2024.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for The Texas Tribune -
ACLU, other groups sue to block Texas' DEI ban on K-12 public schools
The suit alleges the new state law unconstitutionally silences the viewpoints of students and teachers. The law’s supporters say DEI programs use public funds to promote political agendas. Full Story
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![Temple, Texas - 4/17/25: JoMeka Gray teaches a class of kindergarteners at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in Temple, Texas. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune -
As Republicans make gains in the Rio Grande Valley, Democrats are fighting among themselves
A faction of Hidalgo County Democrats has raised concerns over how the party is spending money and blocking the group from doing business for several months. Full Story
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![Madeleine Croll expresses her disagreement as she was one of the people who Stacy Solís did not agree should be precinct chairs that she approved during the Hidalgo County Democrats’ Third Quarter meeting in San Juan, Texas on July 26, 2025. They were hoping to introduce the new precinct chairs during the meeting as well as listening from their newly formed committees. Croll had been precinct chair for a few years before until she missed to fill out a form to continue serving. She has been trying to be precinct chair ever since but she has been unable to as some members, she says, have been keeping her from doing so because she believes that in part it is due to her being a transgender woman.
Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribune -
House Democrats’ frustration with STAAR bill highlights divide over how new test should look
Democrats say recent changes to the bill give too much power to the TEA and fall short of meaningfully easing the pressures of standardized testing. Full Story
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![Austin Voices for Education and Youth hosts a summer camp at the Dobie Middle School in Austin on July 23, 2025.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How will Texas protect its campers from future floods?
In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk to Texas Tribune climate reporter Emily Foxhall about the emotional pleas Camp Mystic parents made to state lawmakers and analyze the proposed new laws in response to the Kerrville floods. Full Story
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![A flood gauge jammed with debris by a creek bridge near Hunt on July 9, 2025.]()
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Texas House approves bill aimed to limit city, county property taxes
Texas cities and counties have already had their budgets compressed by a variety of factors, including the state’s current property tax limits. 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.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
UT System nixes faculty senates, approves restrictions on campus protests
The changes are in response to new state laws seeking to limit faculty’s influence and put guardrails on campus demonstrations. Full Story
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![A view of the UT Tower from the business building on the UT Austin campus during finals week on April 28, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers are debating GOP congressional maps. What does redistricting mean for Texans?
From urban cores to rural regions, Texans' needs differ. Experts worry new districts encompassing geographically distant communities will dilute their voices. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
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How Texas' “bathroom bills” have evolved over a decade
More than 20 bills that would restrict restroom use for transgender people have been proposed since 2015, but their language — and reception — have shifted. Full Story
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![Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, speaks during a press conference, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, on SB 6 The Texas Privacy Act, also known as the "bathroom bill," on Feb. 6, 2017, at the Texas Capitol in Austin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
How Texas’ mid-decade redistricting could affect voters in one Houston community
The congressional seat in Texas’ 18th District, a hub of Black political power, has been vacant for months. Redistricting could further disrupt representation for its voters. Full Story
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![Former state Rep., Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner addresses the crowd gathered on steps of Houston’s City Hall in support of a 10,000 Black Men rally on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Turner, who died in March, represented Houston's Congressional District 18.]()
Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate fast tracks THC ban, flood prep and bathroom restrictions for transgender people
Senators moved fast on Gov. Greg Abbott’s agenda for the second special session. With House Democrats back in Texas, bills can now move through that chamber. Full Story
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![State Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on July 21, 2025.]()
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Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues
In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment. Full Story
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![Protesters marched against the university president’s decision to cancel a drag performance at West Texas A&M University on March. 23, 2023.]()
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Debates over THC, abortion pills, STAAR and more resume as Democrats return for second special session
Now that the Texas House has a quorum following Democrats’ two-week absence, lawmakers are back to debate a wide range of issues, including redrawing congressional maps to benefit Republicans. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, gavels in during the 89th legislative second special session Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters, new state laws bring big changes to Texas schools
Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students. Full Story
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![A sign depicting the Corpus Christi Independent School District's new cell phone policies is shown outside Calk-Wilson Elementary School in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Aug. 11, 2025.]()
Credit: John Oliva/Corpus Christi Caller-Times/USA TODAY Network via REUTERS -
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.]()
Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune -
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